Tsona
Tsona City, formerly Tsona County, is a county-level city in Shannan Prefecture in the southeastern part of the Tibet region of China. Tsona means "The face of the lake" in Tibetan. It lies immediately to the north of the McMahon Line agreed as the mutual border between British India and Tibet in 1914. China has not accepted the 1914 border delineation, but treats it as the Line of Actual Control ; for this reason, China considers Tsona city to also contain part of the disputed territory of South Tibet/Arunachal Pradesh; under China's claimed border, Tsona city would include Itanagar, the state capital of Arunachal Pradesh. Tsona also borders Bhutan in the southwest.
History
In 1354, the Phagmodrupa dynasty established Tsona County.In the 17th century, sectarian rivalries developed between the Gelugpa sect that was in the ascendant in Central Tibet and the Drukpa sect that got consolidated in Bhutan. The Mera lama of the Merag-Sagteng region in present-day Bhutan, belonging to the Gelugpa sect, was chased out of his native village by the Drukpa forces. He fled to the neighbouring Tawang region. The people of Tawang were apparently indifferent to the sectarian divisions, and the Mera lama requested help from the governor of Tsona. However, the Tsona forces were unable to resolve the conflict between the sects. Eventually a direct appeal to the Fifth Dalai Lama was made asking him to "annex" Tawang. According to Tawang records, an edict to this effect was issued in 1680, establishing a new Gelugpa regime in Tawang. The Mera Lama was placed in a position of authority over the region and made responsible to Tsona. Since the traditional route via Trashigang was now lost to Bhutan, a new route was developed via Dirang and the area under the Sela Pass was brought under Tawang's control.
The Fifth Dalai Lama died two years after these events, and his reincarnation was discovered to have been born in Tawang in 1683. The family of the young boy, the next Dalai Lama, was secretly transported to Tsona, where he was raised under the watch of the Tsona dzongpöns. The family was taken to Nakartsé in 1697, after which the Desi revealed the news of the Fifth Dalai Lama's death and his reincarnation to be installed as the Sixth Dalai Lama.
In 1912, the Tibetan government established Governorate of Lhoka in Tsedang, governing 13 Dzongs including Tsona; in 1952, it belonged to the Gyantse Sub-committee of the Chinese Communist Party; on August 29, 1956, It belongs to the Lhoka Governorate Office ; on May 5, 1959, Tsona County was established, and the county government was stationed in Tsona Town, and it belonged to the Shannan Commissioner's Office; on March 29, 1969, it belonged to the Shannan Regional Revolutionary Committee; in October 1978, it belonged to Shannan Regional Administrative Office; in February 2016, it belongs to prefecture-level Shannan City. On April 3, 2023, the county was withdrawn and established as a city, and the city government was stationed in Mama Menba ethnic township.
Geography
Two main south-flowing rivers Nyamjang Chu and Tsona Chu flow through the county and enter India's Tawang district, where they join the Tawang Chu river. Between Nyamjang Chu and Tsona Chu lies an undulating plateau, with streams flowing west to east, often after collecting into lakes. Napa Yutso and Nyapa Tso are two such large lakes.In addition, the Tsona County also contains the basins of the east-flowing rivers that form the Subansiri River. Loro Karpo Chu in the north leads to the Jorra township. Loro Nakpo Chu leads to the Khartak township.
Tsona Dzong, the main town and the headquarters of the Tsona County, is in the plateau between Nyamjang Chu and Tsona Chu. It is north of Bum La Pass, which marks the border with the Tawang district. Immediately to the north of Bum La is the village of Shao, whose full name Shauk Tago has been associated with Guru Padmasambhava and other Buddhist preachers over centuries. The location is mentioned in these texts as being part of "Monyul" i.e., Tawang area.
The total land area of Tsona is, and the actual jurisdiction area is. The highest peak, Kanggeduo Mountain, is above sea level. Rivers include Donggaxiong, Cuona, Luodu, Luo, Yu, etc. Lakes include Nariyong, Yang, Danba, Bila, Guwu, Gejin, Jimu, etc. The largest, Nariyong, covers an area of.
Climate
Typically for most of Tibet, Tsona has an alpine climate featuring short, cool summers, freezing, dry winters, and large diurnal temperature ranges except during the rainy summer months. The annual average temperature is, the average temperature in July is, and the average temperature in January is. Annual sunshine totals 2589 hours, the annual frost-free period is 42 days, and the annual precipitation totals.Tsona is rich in forest resources, and there are a large number of bamboo forests composed of Tsona arrow bamboo. The national first-class protected animals include Bengal tigers, leopards, snow leopards, red pandas, Tibetan wild donkeys and bisons.