Qichen Qian, "“Benign” Bellicosity: Tibetan Military History and the Making of Ganden Podrang (1642–1793)," (Columbia University, 2024)

This dissertation reinterprets Tibetan history by focusing on the Tibetan Buddhist state's military history, challenging the notion of a peaceful Tibet and exploring how the Ganden Podrang regime used warfare to expand its territory and consolidate power. The author analyzes the Ganden Podrang's military reforms, examining the army's organization, training, and weaponry. The dissertation also investigates the Ganden Podrang's conflicts with neighboring states like Bhutan and Ladakh, highlighting the role of figures like Polhané in shaping Tibet's military strategy. The dissertation concludes by exploring the potential of Big Data to provide new perspectives on Tibetan military history, drawing on archival sources, digital mapping, and statistical analysis. Tibetan Military History and Ganden Podrang Regime Reinterpreting Tibetan History: Warfare and Expansion Military Reforms in the Ganden Podrang State Polhané and Tibetan Military Strategy Conflicts Between Tibet, Bhutan, and Ladakh Tibetan Army Organization, Training, and Weaponry Challenging the Myth of a Peaceful Tibet Use of Big Data in Tibetan Military Research Digital Mapping and Statistical Analysis of Tibetan Warfare Archival Sources on Tibetan Military Conflicts Warfare and Power Consolidation in Tibetan History Ganden Podrang's Territorial Expansion Role of Tibetan Buddhist State in Military History New Perspectives on Tibet's Military Past Big Data Applications in Historical Research