Chöying Dorje
Encyclopedia
Chöying Dorje also Choying Dorje, was the tenth Gyalwa Karmapa, head of the Kagyu
School of Tibetan Buddhism
.
Chöying Dorje was born in Khaytri Tang in the kingdom of Golok in Amdo
. At the age of eight, he was recognized by Shamar Mipan Chökyi Wangchuk, the sixth Shamarpa
and received the complete Kagyu transmissions. He traveled extensively through Tibet
, however the country was very unstable, because the Lozang Gyatso, the 5th Dalai Lama, together with Güshi Khan
, the warrior king of the Khoshut Mongols, tried to gain control over Central Tibet. During the reign of the previous Dalai Lama, the Kagyus were allied to the princes of Tsang
and fought against the 4th Dalai Lama.
The army attacked Shigatse
and forced many monasteries to convert to the Gelugpa school. The civil war became such that Chöying Dorje had to flee Tibet and he appointed Goshir Gyaltsab
as the temporary regent. The Kagyu school was almost completely annihilated in the Tsang
province, however it remained in the provinces of Amdo
and Kham
.
During his exile, Chöying Dorje travelled extensively through Bhutan
, Yunnan
(Chinese province
), Burma and Nepal
and founded many monasteries. He returned to Tibet twenty years later, however the Kagyu school was, by then, no longer the most important school of Tibetan Buddhism.
In 1674 the Fifth Dalai Lama met with Chöying Dorje at the Potala, and the reconciliation was welcomed by all after the many conflicts and difficulties.
The exceptional artist Tenth Karmapa Chöying Dorje (1604–1674)
Within the Tibetan artistic heritage, the Tenth Karmapa Chöying Dorje (1604–1674) is perhaps the most exceptional artist of all times. The various biographies agree that the Tenth Karmapa was a talented painter and sculptor already at a young age. It is also repeatetly stated that he was from a young age especially fond of Indian statues from Kashmir. This explains why many of the statues made by the Tenth Karmapa – regardless whether cast in metal or carved in ivory, wood, or conch shell, etc. – are stylistically very close to brass statues from the Kashmir and Swat regions. However, Chöying Dorje was not simply coying ancient Indian and Tibetan works. Just inspired, he rather created his own work of art – albeit using ancient stylistic elements. As mentioned in his biographies, he had ample opportunity to study early statues during his recurring visits to the Jokhang temple in Lhasa. His activities as a painter were evidently influenced by the Chinese tradition, which also explains why Chöying Dorje painted many works on silk. The Chinese influence in the works of Chöying Dorje has its origin in Chinese Arhats/Lohan paintings that he had seen in Tibet and copied several times. The Tenth Karmapa also encountered other Chinese silk paintings during his exile in Lijiang where he stayed for several years at the court of the local ruler. However, Chöying Dorje also created paintings influenced by Kashmir & Western Tibetan styles.
Kagyu
The Kagyu, Kagyupa, or Kagyud school, also known as the "Oral Lineage" or Whispered Transmission school, is today regarded as one of six main schools of Himalayan or Tibetan Buddhism, the other five being the Nyingma, Sakya, Jonang, Bon and Gelug...
School of Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India . It is the state religion of Bhutan...
.
Chöying Dorje was born in Khaytri Tang in the kingdom of Golok in Amdo
Amdo
Amdo is one of the three traditional regions of Tibet, the other two being Ü-Tsang and Kham; it is also the birth place of the 14th Dalai Lama. Amdo encompasses a large area from the Machu River to the Drichu river . While culturally and ethnically a Tibetan area, Amdo has been administered by a...
. At the age of eight, he was recognized by Shamar Mipan Chökyi Wangchuk, the sixth Shamarpa
Shamarpa
Shamarpa of the Red Crown"), also known as Shamar Rinpoche or more formally Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche is a lineage holder of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism and the mind manifestation of Amitabha Buddha, He is traditionally associated with Yangpachen monastery near Lhasa.The first...
and received the complete Kagyu transmissions. He traveled extensively through Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
, however the country was very unstable, because the Lozang Gyatso, the 5th Dalai Lama, together with Güshi Khan
Güshi Khan
Güshi Khan , a Khoshut prince and leader of the Khoshut Khanate, who had supplanted the Tumed descendants of Altan Khan. His military assistance to the Gelug school enabled the 5th Dalai Lama to establish political control over Tibet...
, the warrior king of the Khoshut Mongols, tried to gain control over Central Tibet. During the reign of the previous Dalai Lama, the Kagyus were allied to the princes of Tsang
Ü-Tsang
Ü-Tsang , or Tsang-Ü, is one of the three traditional provinces of Tibet, the other two being Amdo and Kham. Geographically Ü-Tsang covered the central and western portions of the Tibetan cultural area, including the Tsang-po watershed, the western districts surrounding and extending past Mount...
and fought against the 4th Dalai Lama.
The army attacked Shigatse
Shigatse
Shigatse is a county-level city and the second largest city in Tibet Autonomous Region , People's Republic of China, with a population of 92000, about southwest of Lhasa and northwest of Gyantse...
and forced many monasteries to convert to the Gelugpa school. The civil war became such that Chöying Dorje had to flee Tibet and he appointed Goshir Gyaltsab
Goshir Gyaltsab
Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche is a leading incarnate lama in the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He is believed by his followers to embody the activity of Vajrapani....
as the temporary regent. The Kagyu school was almost completely annihilated in the Tsang
Ü-Tsang
Ü-Tsang , or Tsang-Ü, is one of the three traditional provinces of Tibet, the other two being Amdo and Kham. Geographically Ü-Tsang covered the central and western portions of the Tibetan cultural area, including the Tsang-po watershed, the western districts surrounding and extending past Mount...
province, however it remained in the provinces of Amdo
Amdo
Amdo is one of the three traditional regions of Tibet, the other two being Ü-Tsang and Kham; it is also the birth place of the 14th Dalai Lama. Amdo encompasses a large area from the Machu River to the Drichu river . While culturally and ethnically a Tibetan area, Amdo has been administered by a...
and Kham
Kham
Kham , is a historical region covering a land area largely divided between present-day Tibetan Autonomous Region and Sichuan province, with smaller portions located within Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan provinces of China. During the Republic of China's rule over mainland China , most of the region was...
.
During his exile, Chöying Dorje travelled extensively through Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
, Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
(Chinese province
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
), Burma and Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
and founded many monasteries. He returned to Tibet twenty years later, however the Kagyu school was, by then, no longer the most important school of Tibetan Buddhism.
In 1674 the Fifth Dalai Lama met with Chöying Dorje at the Potala, and the reconciliation was welcomed by all after the many conflicts and difficulties.
The exceptional artist Tenth Karmapa Chöying Dorje (1604–1674)
Within the Tibetan artistic heritage, the Tenth Karmapa Chöying Dorje (1604–1674) is perhaps the most exceptional artist of all times. The various biographies agree that the Tenth Karmapa was a talented painter and sculptor already at a young age. It is also repeatetly stated that he was from a young age especially fond of Indian statues from Kashmir. This explains why many of the statues made by the Tenth Karmapa – regardless whether cast in metal or carved in ivory, wood, or conch shell, etc. – are stylistically very close to brass statues from the Kashmir and Swat regions. However, Chöying Dorje was not simply coying ancient Indian and Tibetan works. Just inspired, he rather created his own work of art – albeit using ancient stylistic elements. As mentioned in his biographies, he had ample opportunity to study early statues during his recurring visits to the Jokhang temple in Lhasa. His activities as a painter were evidently influenced by the Chinese tradition, which also explains why Chöying Dorje painted many works on silk. The Chinese influence in the works of Chöying Dorje has its origin in Chinese Arhats/Lohan paintings that he had seen in Tibet and copied several times. The Tenth Karmapa also encountered other Chinese silk paintings during his exile in Lijiang where he stayed for several years at the court of the local ruler. However, Chöying Dorje also created paintings influenced by Kashmir & Western Tibetan styles.