Sino-Nepalese War

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For the later war between Tibet and Nepal, see Nepal–Tibet War (1855–1856).
Sino-Nepalese War
Date1788–1792
Location
Tibet, Nepal, Sikkim
Result Gorkha victory against Tibet in 1789
Qing victory against Gorkhas in 1792
Nepal maintains diplomacy and pays tribute
to Qing Empire.
Belligerents

 Qing dynasty

 Sikkim

 Kingdom of Nepal

Gorkhalis
Commanders and leaders
Qianlong Emperor
Fuk'anggan
8th Dalai Lama
Abhiman Singh Basnyat
Kirtiman Singh Basnyat
Strength
10,000[citation needed] 5,000[citation needed]
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown

The Sino-Nepalese War (

Nepal maintains diplomacy and pays tribute). Nepal paid tribute to China in 1792, 1794, 1795, 1823, 1842 and 1865.[4] Both Nepal and Tibet had also agreed to accept the suzerainty
of the Qing emperor.

Background

Tibet had been using Nepalese silver coins since the time of the

Malla kings. When Prithvi Narayan Shah of the Gorkha Kingdom launched an economic blockade on the Kathmandu Valley during his unification campaign, Jaya Prakash Malla of Kathmandu faced an economic crisis which he tried to alleviate by minting low quality coins mixed with copper. After Prithvi Narayan Shah successfully conquered the Kathmandu Valley in 1769 and firmly established the rule of the Shah dynasty
in Nepal, he reverted to minting pure silver coins. But by then the damage to the confidence of the Nepalese minted coins had already been done. The Tibetans demanded that all the impure coins in circulation be replaced by pure silver ones, a demand that would place a huge financial burden on the newly founded Shah dynasty. Prithvi Narayan Shah was not willing to bear such a huge loss in a matter for which he was not responsible, but was willing to vouch for the purity of the newly minted coins. Thus two kinds of coins were in circulation in the market. The case remained unresolved due to his untimely demise in 1775, and the problem was inherited by successive rulers of Nepal.

By 1788

salt in Nepal came from Tibet
. A Nepalese delegation was sent to Tibet to resolve these issues, but the demands made by the Nepalese were rejected by the Tibetans. The Nepalese found the quarrel over coinage a good pretext to expand their kingdom and to raid the rich monasteries in Tibet. Thus, Nepal launched multi-directional attacks on Tibet.

First Invasion

Kazi Damodar Pande, who led war with Tibetans that resulted in the Treaty of Kerung

In the year 1788,

Sakya Lama then requested the Gorkha troops to have peace talks. So the Gorkha troops left Shikarjong and went towards Kuti and Kerung (Gyirong
).

Territorial Expansions up to Shigatse/Digarcha

When the Qianlong Emperor of China heard the news of the invasion of Tibet by Nepal, he sent a large troop of the Chinese army under the command of General Chanchu. Chanchu came to know the situation from the Tibetan Lamas. He decided to stay in Tibet till the dispute was settled.

The representatives of Tibet and Nepal met at Khiru in 1789 to have peace talks. In the talks Tibet was held responsible for the quarrel and were required to give compensation to Nepal for the losses incurred in the war. Tibet had also to pay tribute to Nepal a sum of Rs. 50,001 every year in return for giving back to Tibet all the territories acquired during the war.[3] It was called the Treaty of Kerung. The Nepalese representatives were given Rs. 50,001 as the first installment. So giving back the territories - Kerung, Kuti, Longa, Jhunga and Falak, they went back to Nepal. But Tibet refused to pay the tributes after the first year of the conclusion of the treaty. As a result, the war between Nepal and Tibet continued.

Second Invasion

As Tibet had refused to pay the tribute to Nepal, Bahadur Shah sent a troop under Abhiman Singh Basnet to Kerung and another troop under the command of Damodar Pande to Kuti in 1791. Damodar Pande attacked Digarcha and captured the property of the monastery there. He also arrested the minister of Lhasa, Dhoren Kazi (Tib. Rdo ring Bstan 'dzin dpal 'byor, b.1760) and came back to Nepal. As soon as this news was heard by the Qianlong Emperor, he sent a strong troop of 10,000 soldiers (with a large proportion of Solon Ewenki soldiers) under the leadership of Fuk'anggan to defend Tibet. Fukanggan's forces reached Lhasa within sixty days, traversing nearly two thousand kilometres.

The Qing Empire asked Nepal to return the property to Tibet which was looted at Digarcha. They also demanded them to give back Shamarpa Lama who had taken asylum in Nepal. But Nepal turned a deaf ear to these demands. The Qing imperial army responded to Nepal with military intervention. The Qing forces marched along the banks of the Trishuli River until they reached Nuwakot. The Nepalese troops attempted to defend against the Qing attack, but were already faced with overwhelming odds. Heavy damage was inflicted on both sides and the Chinese army pushed the Gurkhas back to the inner hills close to the Nepali capital. However, a comprehensive defeat of the Gorkhali army could not be achieved.

At the same time, Nepal was dealing with military confrontations along two other fronts. The nation of

Jumla openly revolted. Thus the problems that Bahadur Shah faced made it much harder to defend against the Qing army. The anxious Bahadur Shah asked for ten artillery guns from the East India Company. Captain William Kirkpatrick arrived in Kathmandu,[5]
but he informed the Nepalese the conditions of business treaty which he required the signing of before delivery of the weapons. Wary of what signing the treaty would entail, the deal fell through and the military situation became critical for Bahadur Shah.

After a series of successful battles by Qing where the Ghorkalis lost more than four thousand men, the Qing army had finally suffered a major setback when they tried to cross a monsoon-flooded Betrawati, close to a Gorkhali palace in Nuwakot. As the Qing troops had reached south of the Betravati river, near Nuwakot, it was difficult for the Nepalese troops to wait for them at Kathmandu. At Kathmandu, a Nepalese force of less than 200 soldiers attempted to resist the Qing troops at Betravati. On September 19, 1792, Nepalese troops launched a counterattack against the Qing forces encamped at Jitpurfedi. The Nepalese used a tactic where their soldiers carried lit torches in their hands, tying them to the branches of trees, and tying flaming torches on the horns of domestic animals and driving them towards the enemy. The Qing army suffered a defeat, but the loss failed to dislodge them from Nepal.

A stalemate ensued, and with their resources low and a looming uncertainty regarding how long they would be able to hold on in addition to the need to continue their expansion drive on the western frontier, the Gorkhalis signed a treaty on terms dictated by the Qing that required, among other obligations, Nepal to send tributes to the Qing emperor every five years.

On the 8th day of Bhadra, 10,000 Chinese troops advanced forward from Betrawati river. There were three forts past the Betrawati river namely; Chokde, Dudethumko, and Gerkhu.[6] At Gerkhu, the commanding officer was Kaji Kirtiman Singh Basnyat and at Chokde, the commanding officer was Kaji Damodar Pande.[6] There were serious fightings around all the three forts and heavy repulse from Nepalese forces compelled Chinese troops to retreat to Betrawati river.[6] At Betrawati bridge, the Chinese General Tung Thyang began to punish retreating Chinese soldiers with severe injuries resulting in their death.[6] Two of the Chinese officers who retreated beyond the Betrawati river were punished with injury to their nose.[6] The action of the Chinese General demotivated the troops and increase rapid desertion and retreat through other routes.[6] Many Chinese troops died falling from hills into river and others from the bullets and arrows from Nepalese side.[6] Around 1000 or 1200 Chinese troops were killed in the manner.[1] The Chinese General Tung Thyang lost all hopes of attacking the Nepalese forces and decided to conclude a treaty with Nepal through his letter.[1] The letter from Tung Thyang reached the government of Nepal. In reply, the government of Nepal issued a royal order deputing Kaji Damodar Pande to conclude a treaty with the Chinese Emperor to prevent further hostility and maintain peace with the Emperor.[1] The royal order issued by King Rana Bahadur Shah to Kaji Damodar Pande on Thursday, Bhadra Sudi 13, 1849 (September 1792) is detailed below:

From King Rana Bahadur Shah,

To Damodar Pande.

Greetings. All is well here. We desire the same there. The news here is good. The

Pande
of our court. You are not ignorant of (matters) which will benefit the State and bring you credit. You know (such matters). In this respect, act according to your discretion. Submit a reply to this soon, within 1 ghadi (24 minutes) after you receive this royal order. Delay will be harmful.

Dated Thursday, Bhadra Sudi 13, 1849 (September 1792) at Kantipur.[7]

Aftermath

The Qing celebration of consolidation of Tibet after the Gurkha Campaign (Nepal) 1792

The Qing general Fuk'anggan then sent a proposal to the Government of Nepal for ratifying a peace treaty. Bahadur Shah also wanted to have cordial relations with the Qing. He readily accepted the proposal and they concluded a friendly treaty at Betravati on 2 October 1792.[8] The terms of the treaty were as follows:

  1. Both Nepal and Tibet will accept the suzerainty of the Qing emperor.
  2. The Government of Tibet will pay the compensation of the property of the Nepalese merchants which were looted by the Tibetans at Lhasa.
  3. The Nepali citizens will have the right to visit, trade, and establish industries in any part of Tibet and China.
  4. In case of any dispute between Nepal and Tibet, the Qing government will intervene and settle the dispute at the request of both the countries.
  5. The Qing will help Nepal defend against any external aggression.
  6. Both Nepal and Tibet will have to send a delegation to pay tribute to the Imperial Court in China every five years.
  7. In return, the Qing emperor will also send friendly gifts to both the countries and the people who carry the tribute will be treated as important guests and will be provided every facility.

While Tibet came under greater control of the Qing after the war, Nepal still retained its autonomy, but had to subordinate to Qing dynasty terms and present tribute to China every 5 year. However the weakening of the Qing dynasty during the 19th century led to the disregard of this treaty. For instance, during the

Nepalese-Tibetan War of 1855–56, China was conspicuously absent. The Qing were not particularly interested in ruling Nepal; their war was primarily aimed at consolidating their control of Tibet which, in turn, was related to military strategy throughout Central Asia.[9]

After the 3rd Nepalese-Tibetan war, the Treaty of Thapathali had been made. The first attempt of the treaty failed with China. The second term of treaty succeeded with all side agreeing. The Nepalese paid their last tribute in 1865 and ended any form of submission to China.[citation needed]

Owing to their ethnic ties to Tibet, the Bhutia and Tamang communities of Nepal suffered discrimination as a consequence of Nepal's wars against Tibet.[10]

Subsequent attitude

Later Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa expressed his attitude on the Sino-Nepalese War in a letter to King Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah. He wrote,[11]

Through the influence of your good fortune, and that of your ancestors, no one has yet been able to cope with the state of Nepal. The Chinese once made war upon us, but were reduced to seek peace.

Gallery

Paintings and engravings from a series commissioned by the Qianlong emperor and depicting the "Gurkha Campaign":

  • Capture of Camu (village southeast of Zongga)
    Capture of Camu (village southeast of
    Zongga
    )
  • Capture of Magaer (village northwest of Gyirong Town)
    Capture of Magaer (village northwest of
    Gyirong Town
    )
  • Capture of Jilong (Gyirong Town)
    Capture of Jilong (
    Gyirong Town
    )
  • Capture of Resuoqiao (Rasuwa bridge)
    Capture of Resuoqiao (Rasuwa bridge)
  • Capture of Xiebulu (Syaphru)
    Capture of Xiebulu (Syaphru)
  • The battle at the mountain Dongjiao (Dhunche)
    The battle at the mountain Dongjiao (Dhunche)
  • Capture of Palanggu (Phalangu Khola or Falakhu river, a.k.a. Betrawati river)
    Capture of Palanggu (Phalangu Khola or Falakhu river, a.k.a. Betrawati river)
  • Victory banquet at the Ziguangge (Hall of Purple Glaze) in Zhongnanhai, Beijing
    Victory banquet at the Ziguangge (Hall of Purple Glaze) in Zhongnanhai, Beijing

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e Regmi 1970a, p. 187.
  2. ISBN 9780980045956
    . Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Tibetan and Nepalese Conflict". Official website of Nepal Army.
  4. ^ Gundry, "Nepal," pp. 609-610., p. 609, at Google Books
  5. ^ Kirkpatrick, Colonel (1811). An Account of the Kingdom of Nepaul. London: William Miller. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Regmi 1970a, p. 186.
  7. ^ Regmi 1970b, p. 98.
  8. ISBN 978-93-5118-204-7
  9. ^ Peter Perdue, China Marches West: The Qing Conquest of Central Eurasia (Cambridge: Belknap Press, 2005).
  10. ^ Todd T. Lewis, Newars and Tibetans in the Kathmandu Valley. Ethnic Boundaries and Religious History (Columbia University: Journal of Asian and African Studies, No. 38, 1989).
  11. ^ Prinsep 1825, pp. 457–458.

Sources

Further reading

  • Wright, Daniel, History of Nepal. New Delhi-Madras, Asian Educational Services, 1990

External links
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