Dzogon

Dzogon belongs to Nyarong, a historical valley region in eastern Kham. Nyarong follows the middle Yalong River, with Derge to the west, Garzê to the north, the Hor States to the east and Litang to the south. The valley lies lower than surrounding mountains, and its upper course is narrow and difficult to cross. Flat land is scarce, leaving only limited room for cultivation and contributing to the region’s historical poverty. The broader region corresponds mainly to present-day Xinlong County, while also including parts of Litang and Baiyü.

For much of its history no single polity ruled Nyarong. Different tribes controlled the valley, an arrangement made distinctive by the population’s dependence on agriculture rather than pastoralism alone. Isolation kept the district distant from political struggles and trade routes. Nyarong first appears in the historical record in 762, when levies were raised there for the Tibetan Empire’s raids into India. A local legend connects the monastic name Chakdü with Sherap Gyeltsen, who received authority over Nyarong from Kubilai Khan in 1253.

By the nineteenth century, a powerful family known as the Three Iron Knots controlled the valley. Although the Qing dynasty claimed overlordship, Nyarong operated with practical independence, and many inhabitants supported themselves through banditry.