The Nya family originated with Nyawa Chozang, one of the nine learned physicians who served in the imperial court during the time of Tri Songdetsen. Nyawa Chozang was originally from eastern Tibet. He travelled to U, and then onward to India upon the emperor's orders. Studying medicine with Indian masters, among them apparently Padmasambhava, he returned to court and acted as the personal physician to Tri Songdetsen. The Lhunding tradition of medicine of the Jangluk (Northern School) is said to descend from Nyawa Chozang.