Phagmodrupa with His Previous Incarnations and Episodes from His Life - Google Art Project

Phagmo Drupa Dorje Gyalpo () 110-1170 was one of the three main disciples of Gampopa Sonam Rinchen who established the

Dagpo Kagyu Dagpo Kagyu encompasses the branches of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism that trace their lineage back through Gampopa (1079-1153), who was also known as Dagpo Lhaje () "the Physician from Dagpo" and Nyamed Dakpo Rinpoche "Incomparable Pre ...

school of

Tibetan Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism (also referred to as Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Lamaism, Lamaistic Buddhism, Himalayan Buddhism, and Northern Buddhism) is the form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet and Bhutan, where it is the dominant religion. It is also in majo ...

; and a disciple of Sachen Kunga Nyingpo 092-1158one of the founders of the

Sakya The ''Sakya'' (, 'pale earth') school is one of four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, the others being the Nyingma, Kagyu, and Gelug. It is one of the Red Hat Orders along with the Nyingma and Kagyu. Origins Virūpa, 16th century. It depic ...

school of Tibetan Buddhism. He was the elder brother of Kathog Dampa Deshek 122-1192 who founded Kathog monastery and the Kathog branch of the

Nyingma Nyingma (literally 'old school') is the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. It is also often referred to as ''Ngangyur'' (, ), "order of the ancient translations". The Nyingma school is founded on the first lineages and transl ...

school.

Biographical details

In 1158 Dorje Gyalpo built a hermitage at Phagmo Drupa ("Sow's Ferry Crossing") in a juniper forest in Nêdong () above the Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) river valley. Later, as his fame spread and disciples gathered, this site developed into the major monastic seat of Dentsa Thel () which was the center of the Phagmo Drupa or Phagdru Kagyu () school of Tibetan Buddhism, one of the "four great" Dagpo Kagyu schools.

The Phagmodrupas

After the death of Phagmo Drupa Dorje Gyalpo, his main disciple Jigten Sumgon appointed Chenga Drakpa Jungne as abbot Dentsa Thel. In 1253, when Kublai Khan gave the Sakyapas temporal power in Tibet, Dorje Pel () the brother of Chenga Drakpa Jungne was appointed as the hereditary Tripon (myriarch) of the surrounding area of Nêdong. From that time on the Tripon who as a monk, assumed the seat of the local government of Nêdong and also ruled as abbot at Dentsa Thel. Brothers of the Tripon married in order to perpetuate the family line, succession going from uncle to nephew. As the Tripons of Nêdong were abbots of the monastery founded by Phagmo Drupa, and hierarchs of the Phagdru Kagyu tradition they became known as Phagdru (short of Phagmo Drupa) Tripon. In 1322 Changchub Gyaltsen (1302–1364) became the Phagdru Myriarch of Nêdong. After he fought with a neighboring myriarchy, the then Sakya ruler of Tibet Ponchen Gyalwa Zangpo dismissed him as myriarch. He later managed to regain his position and eventually overthrew the Sakya rulers - becoming ruler of all of Central Tibet by 1354 (before the

Ming Dynasty The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last orthodox dynasty of China ruled by the Han peo ...

was established in China in 1368). Power remained in the hands of the Phagmodru family until 1434.

Notes

Sources

*Dargye, Yonten (2001) ''History of the Drukpa Kagyud School in Bhutan (12th to 17th Century)''. Bhutan, 2001 *Dorje, Gyurme (1999) ''Tibet Handbook: The Travel Guide.'' Footprint 1999. *Petech, L. (1990) ''Central Tibet and The Mongols''. (Serie Orientale Roma 65). Rome: Instituto Italiano per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente 1990 85-143 *Roerich, George N. (Translator) (1949) The Blue Annals. Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi 1988. *Shakapa, Tsepon W.D. (1981)'“The rise of Changchub Gyaltsen and the Phagmo Drupa Period″ '' in ''Bulletin of Tibetology'', 1981 Gangtok: Namgyal Institute of Tibetolog

*Smith, E. Gene. "Golden Rosaries of the Bka' brgyud Schools." in Among Tibetan Texts: History and Literature of the Himalayan Plateau, ed. Kurtis R. Schaeffer, Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2001. {{DEFAULTSORT:Gyalpo, Phagmo Drupa Dorje Phagmodrupa dynasty Phagmodrupa Kagyu lamas 1110 births 1170 deaths 12th-century Tibetan people