Tubo is now known as Tibet. In the 7th century AD, Qizong Nongtsan, also known as Songtsan Gambo, became the successor of the Tubo kingdom. After unifying many tribes, he established a strong kingdom around the capital Luoxie.

In the 12th year of Emperor Taizong's reign, Song Zanganbu led the Tubo army to attack Sichuan. The Emperor sent Hou Jun to lead his army to battle and the soldiers brought Tubo under their control. Defeated Songtsan Gambo had to bow down to the court and pleaded guilty. He even proposed a marital bond to the Tang kingdom. 
Tang Taizong accepted Songtsan Gambo’s request, and selected a daughter from his clan to be appointed as Princess Wencheng. Princess Wencheng was the daughter of an aristocratic family. She was dignified, mature and cultured, reading poetry since childhood. Although she was doubtful of the faraway land of Tubo, she was also filled with curiosity, so she accepted the proposal. In the winter of Emperor Taizong's rein, Princess Wencheng went to Tubo under the escort of a large troupe. 

The journey took more than a month to travel from Chang'an to Tubo. In addition to carrying a rich dowry, her soldiers also carried a large number of books, musical instruments, cymbals and grain seeds. Along with the servants of Princess Wencheng, there were also a team of scribes, musicians and agricultural technicians. The procession was in effect a cultural mission. 

In order to ensure the stability of the southwest border of the Tang kingdom, Emperor Taizong felt that it was necessary to strengthen the bond with Tubo, so he tried his best to assist them economically and culturally by sending the cultural aspects. Princess Wencheng was in fact holding the political task of marrying the country and her team assisted her in completing this mission.

Leading his soldiers personally, Songtsan Gambo went to Heyuan to meet the Princess and her cavalcade. Once the Tubo king from the great grassland saw the Princess of the Tang Kingdom, he was immediately smitten with her. Princess Wencheng was completely different from the primitive and rough Tubo women. Songtsan Gambo was in Princess Wencheng’s opinion, swarthy and rough, but she noticed his tall, strong body and bold temperament expressed in his valiant personality. The Princess rejoiced to herself that she was marrying a good husband. So, the Tubo kingdom became grateful to the Tang kingdom.

Escorted by the two military units, Princess Wencheng and Songtsan Gambo entered Luoxie city together to begin the wedding ceremonies. They held a grand wedding in accordance with the etiquette of the Han people. The people of the Luoxie city sang and danced to celebrate the great occasion. Songtsan Gambo said to his entourage: "My dear father and my dear clan never had a precedent for such a marriage of alliance to a mighty country. Today I am very fortunate to marry the Princess of the Tang Kingdom, so I have decided to build a magnificent palace for the Princess to show our children.” 

Soon, a beautiful palace was built, and everything inside looked magnificent. All the interior mirrored the Tang Dynasty Palace to help Princess Wencheng settle into her new home and to reduce her homesickness. In order to have more in common with Princess Wencheng, Songtsan Gambo took off his leather jacket that he was fond of wearing, and changed into wearing a silk Tang suit that the princess personally sewed for him. He also tried to learn Chinese from Princess Wencheng. The interracial couple were able to begin their new life together with harmony and respect.

文化大使——文成公主（1）
吐蕃就是现在的西藏，公元七世纪，弃宗弄赞继位作了吐蕃国王，人们又称他为松赞干布，统一了许多部落，建立了以逻些城（今日的拉萨）为中心的强盛王国。

唐太宗贞观十二年，松赞干布率吐蕃大军进攻四川，唐太宗派侯君集督率领大军讨伐，大败吐蕃。松赞干布只好俯首称臣，他在上书谢罪的同时，还特向唐廷求婚。

唐太宗决定答应他的请求，于是在宫中选定了一个宗室之女，封她为文成公主；文成公主是一个侯王的女儿，人长得端庄丰满，自幼饱读诗书，她虽然对遥远的吐蕃心存疑虑，却又充满了新奇的向往，因而也就应允了。于贞观十五年隆冬，在一支十分可观的送亲队伍护送下，文成公主前往吐蕃和亲。

由长安经陇南、青海到西藏有一个多月的路程。这支队伍，除了携带著丰盛的嫁妆外，还带有大量的书籍、乐器、绢帛和粮食种子；组成成员除文成公主陪嫁的侍婢外，还有一批文士、乐师和农技人员，几乎就像是一个“文化访问团”和“农技队”。为保证大唐西南边陲的稳定，唐太宗觉得必须对吐蕃加强笼络，因此千方百计地对他们从经济和文化上予以协助，使吐蕃在潜移默化中感激和追随大唐。文成公主实际上就是肩负著这项和睦邦交的政治任务远嫁的，这支送亲的队伍也是前去协助她完成这项使命的。

松赞干布亲自率领的大队迎亲人马也赶到了河源，并行了大唐婚礼。这位驰骋高原的吐蕃王一见到中土的金枝玉叶，顿时为她而倾倒，只见文成公主与原始质朴的吐蕃女子完全不同。而文成公主所见到的松赞干布，虽然黝黑而粗犷，但配上他高大健壮的身材和眉宇间流露出来的豪爽之气，显得十分英武，文成公主心中暗自庆幸，自己算是嫁了一个伟丈夫。

送亲和迎亲的队伍前呼后拥、威风八面地进入了逻些城，松赞干布与文成公主按照汉族的礼节，举行了盛大的婚礼，全逻些城的民众都歌舞庆贺。松赞干布乐不可支地对部属说：“我族我父，从未有通婚上国的先例，我今天得到了大唐的公主为妻，实为有幸，我要为公主修筑一座华丽的宫殿，以留示后代。”

不久，一座美轮美奂的宫殿就建成了，里面屋宇宏伟华丽。一切建制都模仿大唐宫苑的模式，用来安顿文成公主，借以藉慰她的思乡之情。为了与文成公主有更多的共同语言，松赞干布脱下他穿惯了的皮裘，换上文成公主亲手为他缝制的丝质唐装，还努力地向文成公主学说汉语，一对异族夫妻，感情融洽，互爱互敬，开始了他们新的生活。