The Jamyang Zhepas () are a lineage of

tulku A ''tulku'' (, also ''tülku'', ''trulku'') is an individual recognized as the reincarnation of a previous spiritual master (lama), and expected to be reincarnated, in turn, after death. The tulku is a distinctive and significant aspect of Tibet ...

s of the

Gelug file:DalaiLama0054 tiny.jpg, 240px, 14th Dalai Lama, The 14th Dalai Lama (center), the most influential figure of the contemporary Gelug tradition, at the 2003 Kalachakra ceremony, Bodh Gaya, Bodhgaya (India) The Gelug (, also Geluk; 'virtuous' ...

school of

Tibetan Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism is a form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet, Bhutan and Mongolia. It also has a sizable number of adherents in the areas surrounding the Himalayas, including the Indian regions of Ladakh, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, D ...

. They have traditionally been the most prestigious teachers at

Labrang Monastery Labrang Monastery (; Chinese: Lābǔléng Sì, 拉卜楞寺) is one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism founded by Je Lama Tsongkhapa. Its formal name is ''Genden Shédrup Dargyé Trashi Gyésu khyilwé Ling'' ...

Amdo Amdo ( �am˥˥.to˥˥ zh , c = 安多 , p = Ānduō ), also known as Domey (), is one of the three traditional Tibetan regions. It encompasses a large area from the Machu (Yellow River) to the Drichu (Yangtze). Amdo is mostly coterminous wi ...

Tibet Tibet (; ''Böd''; ), or Greater Tibet, is a region in the western part of East Asia, covering much of the Tibetan Plateau and spanning about . It is the homeland of the Tibetan people. Also resident on the plateau are other ethnic groups s ...

(modern

Gansu Gansu is a provinces of China, province in Northwestern China. Its capital and largest city is Lanzhou, in the southeastern part of the province. The seventh-largest administrative district by area at , Gansu lies between the Tibetan Plateau, Ti ...

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

).Grooming a ‘patriotic’ religious leader – Seventh Gungthang Rinpoche to be enthroned
from Tibet Info Net

1st Jamyang Zhepa

The first Jamyang Zhepa, Ngawang Tsöndrü (1648–1721), was a native of Amdo and, after studying at

Drepung Monastery Drepung Monastery (, "Rice Heap Monastery"), located at the foot of Mount Gephel, is one of the "great three" Gelug monasteries of Tibet founded by Je Tsongkhapa. The other two are Ganden Monastery and Sera Monastery. Drepung is the largest of ...

near

Lhasa Lhasa, officially the Chengguan District of Lhasa City, is the inner urban district of Lhasa (city), Lhasa City, Tibet Autonomous Region, Southwestern China. Lhasa is the second most populous urban area on the Tibetan Plateau after Xining ...

, was invited by the local Mongol king to return and teach Buddhism there. There, Ngawang Tsöndrü later founded Labrang, one of the two great monasteries of Amdo. As the first Jamyang Zhepa was educated at Drepung, the lineage has subsequently belonged the Gelug. Ngawang Tsöndrü was a great scholar. He wrote ''Roar of the Five-Faced

ion An ion () is an atom or molecule with a net electrical charge. The charge of an electron is considered to be negative by convention and this charge is equal and opposite to the charge of a proton, which is considered to be positive by convent ...

'' a series of verses on tenets'','' along with a massive commentary to the root text (around 530 folios), called ''Great Exposition on Tenets''. According to Daniel Cozort, Jamyang's works "are the most comprehensive of the tenets texts" (in Tibetan Buddhism).Blo-bzaṅ-dkon-mchog, Daniel Cozort, Craig Preston (2003). ''Buddhist Philosophy: Losang Gönchok's Short Commentary to Jamyang Shayba's Root Text on Tenets,'' pp. xi-xii. Snow Lion Publications. He also wrote various textbooks which are used today in numerous Gelug colleges. According to Tibetan legends, Jamyang Zhepa harbored strong animosity towards the Nyingma tradition and its scholars, such as Lochen Dharmashri of Minling Monastery, because of their influence on the

5th Dalai Lama The 5th Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso (; ; 1617–1682) was recognized as the 5th Dalai Lama, and he became the first Dalai Lama to hold both Tibet's political and spiritual leadership roles. He is often referred to simply as the Great Fif ...

, the

6th Dalai Lama The 6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso (; 1 March 1683 – after 1706), was recognized as the 6th Dalai Lama after a delay of many years, permitting the Potala Palace to be completed. He was an unconventional Dalai Lama that preferred a Nyingma s ...

, and the 5th Dalai Lama's

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. The 5th Dalai Lama showed more respect to Minling Lochen than Jamyang Zhepa, which fueled his resentment and desire for revenge. During one instance, while in his homeland of Amdo, Jamyang Zhepa conspired with the Mongol Dzungar, leading Dzungar troops to attack Mindroling and Dorje Drak monasteries. Upon reaching

Nagqu Nagqu (also Naqu, Nakchu, or Nagchu; ; ) is a prefecture-level city in the north of the Chinese autonomous region of Tibet. On May 7, 2018, the former Nagqu Prefecture was officially declared the sixth prefecture-level city in Tibet after Lhas ...

(Nagchu), he pretended no involvement in the atrocities and continued to Tashi Lhunpo in Tsang. Meanwhile, Dzungar troops proceeded to Lhokkha, destroying two more monasteries and executing Minling Lochen
Dodrak Rinzin Pema Trinly
and eight hundred monks. This legend of the massacre is believed to be true and linked to Jamyang Zhepa. His close followe
Ngawang Tashi
documented his intense hatred and resentment towards Minling Lochen in his biography titled "n''amthar tsenpoma''" or "''rje btsun dam pa mtshan brjod par dka' ba 'jam dbyang bzhed pa'i rdo rje'i rnam par thar pa yongs su brjod pa'i gtam du bya ba dad pa'i sgo 'byed kai ta ka''" (The Biography of the Lordly and Precious Guru, Jamyang Zhepa: A Record of His Life and Accomplishments with a Compendium of Instructions on the Conduct of the Spiritually Accomplished Ones).

2nd Jamyang Zhepa

Gönchok Jikmé Ongpo (1728–1791), is also known for his shorter tenets text called ''Precious Garland of Tenets'' as well as other works on the bodhisattva path, the ''Presentation of the Grounds and Paths, Beautiful Ornament of the Three Vehicles.''Powers, John (2007), ''Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism'', p. 476.

6th Jamyang Zhepa

The current Jamyang Zhepa is the 6th, Lobsang Jigme Thubten Chökyi Nyima (born 1948). During the

Cultural Revolution The Cultural Revolution, formally known as the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, was a Social movement, sociopolitical movement in the China, People's Republic of China (PRC). It was launched by Mao Zedong in 1966 and lasted until his de ...

, he became a layman and married with Muslim woman. Tibetan Buddhist teachers may be either laypersons or monks, but the Jamyang Zhepas used to be traditionally

monks A monk (; from , ''monachos'', "single, solitary" via Latin ) is a man who is a member of a religious order and lives in a monastery. A monk usually lives his life in prayer and contemplation. The concept is ancient and can be seen in many reli ...

. He lives in

Lanzhou Lanzhou is the capital and largest city of Gansu province in northwestern China. Located on the banks of the Yellow River, it is a key regional transportation hub, connecting areas further west by rail to the eastern half of the country. His ...

, the capital of Gansu.

References

Tulkus {{Tibetan-Buddhism-stub