Rinpungpa
Encyclopedia
Rinpungpa was a Tibet
an regime that dominated much of Western Tibet and some of Central Tibet between 1440 and 1565. During one period around 1500 the Rinpungpa lords came close to assemble the Tibetan lands around the Yarlung Tsangpo River under one authority, but their powers receded after 1512.
in Tsang
(West-Central Tibet), the family took advantage of a family feud within the Phagmodrupa dynasty
in 1434-35 and seized the important place Shigatse
. The members of the family were patrons of the Karmapa
school of Buddhism
, which was opposed by the Gelugpa. While still acknowledging the Phagmodrupa, they subsequently built up a strong position, bearing the title desi (regent). The Phagmodrupa kings Drakpa Jungne
(r. 1435-45) and Kunga Lekpa
(r. 1448-81) were both born from Rinpungpa princesses. Kunga Lekpa in turn married a Rinpungpa daughter, but the marriage was conflict-ridden and her kinsman Donyo Dorje
eventually invaded the central domain of the king, who was forced to abdicate in 1481.
took power as regent in the Phagmodrupa seat Nêdong
(1491-1499) during the minority of the heir Ngawang Tashi Drakpa
. The years around 1500 saw the high tide of Rinpungpa power, and the authority of Donyo Dorje was almost absolute, being supported by the Karmapa and Shamarpa
hierarchs. There was also a political expansion to the west. In 1499 the important kingdom of Guge
in Ngari (West Tibet) had to acknowledge the Rinpungpa.
between 1498 and 1517. After the deaths of the powerful princes Tsokye Dorje (1510) and Donyo Dorje (1512), however, the power of the Rinpungpa declined. In the early sixteenth century Ngawang Tashi Drakpa of the Phagmodrupa managed to regain a degree of influence. He was friendly disposed to the Gelugpa leader Gedun Gyatso (posthumously counted as the second Dalai Lama
), and the Karmapa faction was expelled from Lhasa. The direct power of Rinpungpa in Ü was henceforth limited.
general Mirza Muhammad Haidar Dughlat
, operating on the orders of the ruler of Kashgar
. The waning of Rinpungpa power was marked by an abortive invasion of the Gungthang kingdom in West Tibet in 1555, which was badly defeated. In 1557 one of the retainers of the Rinpungpa, Karma Tseten
, who was governor of Shigatse since 1548, rebelled against his lord. In 1565, finally, the learned and cultivated Rinpungpa ruler Ngawang Jigme Drakpa
was defeated by Karma Tseten, who founded the new Tsangpa
Dynasty.
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...
an regime that dominated much of Western Tibet and some of Central Tibet between 1440 and 1565. During one period around 1500 the Rinpungpa lords came close to assemble the Tibetan lands around the Yarlung Tsangpo River under one authority, but their powers receded after 1512.
Rise to power
Originally lords of the fief RinpungRinbung County
Rinbung County is a county at the northeastern boundary of the Xigazê Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region.-Settlements:*Ramba...
in 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...
(West-Central Tibet), the family took advantage of a family feud within the Phagmodrupa dynasty
Phagmodrupa dynasty
The Phagmodrupa dynasty or Pagmodru of Tibet was established by Tai Situ Changchub Gyaltsen at the end of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. Tai Situ came from the monastic fief Phagmodru , which was originally founded as a hermitage in 1158 by the famous Kagyu scholar Phagmo Drupa Dorje Gyalpo...
in 1434-35 and seized the important place 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...
. The members of the family were patrons of the Karmapa
Karmapa
The Karmapa is the head of the Karma Kagyu, the largest sub-school of the Kagyupa , itself one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism....
school of Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
, which was opposed by the Gelugpa. While still acknowledging the Phagmodrupa, they subsequently built up a strong position, bearing the title desi (regent). The Phagmodrupa kings Drakpa Jungne
Drakpa Jungne
Drakpa Jungne was a king of Tibet who ruled in 1432–1445. He belonged to the Phagmodrupa dynasty which was the leading regime in Tibet from 1354 to 1435, and exerted some influence until the early 17th century...
(r. 1435-45) and Kunga Lekpa
Kunga Lekpa
Kunga Lekpa was a King of Tibet who ruled in 1448-1481. He belonged to the Phagmodrupa dynasty, which was the leading political regime in Tibet from 1354 to 1435, and retained a certain political status until the early 17th century...
(r. 1448-81) were both born from Rinpungpa princesses. Kunga Lekpa in turn married a Rinpungpa daughter, but the marriage was conflict-ridden and her kinsman Donyo Dorje
Donyo Dorje
Donyo Dorje was the third and most powerful prince of the Rinpungpa Dynasty that held power in much of Central Tibet from 1435 to 1565.-Succession and religious patronate:...
eventually invaded the central domain of the king, who was forced to abdicate in 1481.
Height of political authority
Ten years later Donyo Dorje's uncle Tsokye DorjeTsokye Dorje
Tsokye Dorje was a regent of Tibet who ruled in 1491-1499. He belonged to the Rinpungpa family and headed the central government in Nêdong during the minority of the heir of the Phagmodrupa dynasty.-Rinpungpa ascendency:...
took power as regent in the Phagmodrupa seat Nêdong
Nedong
Nedong may refer to:*Nêdong County, county in Tibet*Nêdong , village in Tibet...
(1491-1499) during the minority of the heir Ngawang Tashi Drakpa
Ngawang Tashi Drakpa
Ngawang Tashi Drakpa was a king of Tibet who ruled intermittently in 1499-1564. He belonged to the Phagmodrupa dynasty which was the dominating regime in Tibet from 1354 to 1435 and maintained a degree of authority until the early 17th century...
. The years around 1500 saw the high tide of Rinpungpa power, and the authority of Donyo Dorje was almost absolute, being supported by the Karmapa and 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...
hierarchs. There was also a political expansion to the west. In 1499 the important kingdom of Guge
Guge
Guge was an ancient kingdom in Western Tibet. The kingdom was centered in present-day Zanda County, within Ngari Prefecture of Tibet Autonomous Region, China. At various points in history after 10th century AD, the kingdom held sway over a vast area including south-eastern Zanskar, Upper Kinnaur,...
in Ngari (West Tibet) had to acknowledge the Rinpungpa.
Setbacks in the east
Due to pressure from the Karmapa and their Rinpungpa patrons, the Gelugpa school were forbidden to participate in the new year celebration and the great Monlam ceremony in LhasaLhasa
Lhasa is the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China and the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau, after Xining. At an altitude of , Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world...
between 1498 and 1517. After the deaths of the powerful princes Tsokye Dorje (1510) and Donyo Dorje (1512), however, the power of the Rinpungpa declined. In the early sixteenth century Ngawang Tashi Drakpa of the Phagmodrupa managed to regain a degree of influence. He was friendly disposed to the Gelugpa leader Gedun Gyatso (posthumously counted as the second Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word далай meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word bla-ma meaning "teacher"...
), and the Karmapa faction was expelled from Lhasa. The direct power of Rinpungpa in Ü was henceforth limited.
External threats and fall from power
The following decades were marked by a confusing succession of clashes and temporary reconciliations between the factions of Central Tibet. In 1532 the Rinpungpa domains were briefly threatened by an invasion by the MuslimMuslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
general Mirza Muhammad Haidar Dughlat
Mirza Muhammad Haidar Dughlat
Mirza Muhammad Haidar Dughlat was a Chagatai Turko-Mogol military general, ruler of Kashmir, and a historical writer. He was a Turkic speaking Dughlat prince who wrote in Persian and Chagatai languages. Prince Haider was a first cousin of Prince Zahir .-Life:He first campaigned in Kashmir in 1533,...
, operating on the orders of the ruler of Kashgar
Kashgar
Kashgar or Kashi is an oasis city with approximately 350,000 residents in the western part of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. Kashgar is the administrative centre of Kashgar Prefecture which has an area of 162,000 km² and a population of approximately...
. The waning of Rinpungpa power was marked by an abortive invasion of the Gungthang kingdom in West Tibet in 1555, which was badly defeated. In 1557 one of the retainers of the Rinpungpa, Karma Tseten
Karma Tseten
Karma Tseten was a king of Upper Tsang in West Central Tibet. He was the founder of the Tsangpa Dynasty that had an important role in the history of Tibet up to 1642.-Rebelling against the Rinpungpa:...
, who was governor of Shigatse since 1548, rebelled against his lord. In 1565, finally, the learned and cultivated Rinpungpa ruler Ngawang Jigme Drakpa
Ngawang Jigme Drakpa
Ngawang Jigme Drakpa was the last ruling prince of Tsang of the Rinpungpa Dynasty. He was also a renowned author.-Literary activity:...
was defeated by Karma Tseten, who founded the new Tsangpa
Tsangpa
Tsangpa was a dynasty that dominated large parts of Tibet from 1565 to 1642. It was the last Tibetan royal dynasty to rule in own name. The regime was founded by Karma Tseten, a retainer of the prince of the Rinpungpa Dynasty and governor of Shigatse in Tsang since 1548.-Superseding the...
Dynasty.
List of rulers
- NorzangNorzangNorzang , in full Norbu Zangpo , was the founder of the power of the Rinpungpa Dynasty in Central Tibet.-Religious activities:...
1440-1466 - KunzangKunzangKunzang , in full Kuntu Zangpo , was a prince of the Rinpungpa Dynasty that wielded power in Tsang ....
1466-c.1479 (son) - Donyo DorjeDonyo DorjeDonyo Dorje was the third and most powerful prince of the Rinpungpa Dynasty that held power in much of Central Tibet from 1435 to 1565.-Succession and religious patronate:...
c.1479-1512 (son) - Ngawang NamgyalNgawang Namgyal (Rinpungpa)Ngawang Namgyal was a prince of the Rinpungpa Dynasty that dominated Tsang in West Central Tibet between 1435 and 1565.-The succession:...
1512-c.1550 (son of Tsokye Dorje, a son of Norzang) - Dondup Tseten DorjeDondup Tseten DorjeDondup Tseten Dorje was the penultimate prince of the Rinpungpa Dynasty which held power in Tsang between 1435 and 1565....
c.1550-? (son) - Ngawang Jigme DrakpaNgawang Jigme DrakpaNgawang Jigme Drakpa was the last ruling prince of Tsang of the Rinpungpa Dynasty. He was also a renowned author.-Literary activity:...
?-1565 (brother)
Sources
- H. Richardson (1962), Tibet and its History, London: Oxford University Press.
- T.W. Shakabpa (1967), Tibet: A Political History, New Haven & London: Yale University Press.
- Giuseppe TucciGiuseppe TucciGiuseppe Tucci was an Italian scholar of oriental cultures, specialising in Tibet and history of Buddhism. During its zenith, Tucci was a supporter of Italian Fascism, and he used idealized portrayals of Asian traditions to support Italian ideological campaigns...
(1949), Tibetan Painted Scrolls, Roma: La Libreria dello Stato. ISBN: 9781878529398 - bSod nams grags pa ; edited by Giuseppe TucciGiuseppe TucciGiuseppe Tucci was an Italian scholar of oriental cultures, specialising in Tibet and history of Buddhism. During its zenith, Tucci was a supporter of Italian Fascism, and he used idealized portrayals of Asian traditions to support Italian ideological campaigns...
(1971), Deb t'er dmar po gsar ma, Roma: IsMEO. - 4 - The Pagmodru, Rinpung, and Tsangpa Hegemonies, A Survey of Tibetan History, The Berzin Archives, The Buddhist Archives of Dr. Alexander Berzin