Drakpa Changchub
Encyclopedia
Drakpa Changchub (1356–1386) was a ruler of Central Tibet in 1374–1381. He belonged to the Phagmodrupa dynasty
which was the dominating regime in Tibet
between 1354 and 1435.
Drakpa Changchub was the second son of Rinchen Dorje, a brother of the preceding regent Jamyang Shakya Gyaltsen
. His mother was Zina Tashi Kyi. Like the other Phagmodrupa rulers he had a monastic upbringing, and was made abbot of Dansa Thel when fifteen years of age. In 1374 he was appointed regent (desi) of Tibet shortly after the demise of his uncle. For the next seven years he was jointly lama
and regent. In 1381 he abdicated his political powers and retired to Dansa Thel in order to teach tantras
. Since his reign was quite brief he was never formally acknowledged by the Emperor
of the Ming Dynasty
. He was succeeded as regent by his younger half-brother Sonam Drakpa
.
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...
which was the dominating regime in 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...
between 1354 and 1435.
Drakpa Changchub was the second son of Rinchen Dorje, a brother of the preceding regent Jamyang Shakya Gyaltsen
Jamyang Shakya Gyaltsen
Jamyang Shakya Gyaltsen was a ruler of Central Tibet in 1364–1373. He was a member of the Phagmodrupa dynasty which was the major Tibetan power from 1354 to 1435...
. His mother was Zina Tashi Kyi. Like the other Phagmodrupa rulers he had a monastic upbringing, and was made abbot of Dansa Thel when fifteen years of age. In 1374 he was appointed regent (desi) of Tibet shortly after the demise of his uncle. For the next seven years he was jointly lama
Lama
Lama is a title for a Tibetan teacher of the Dharma. The name is similar to the Sanskrit term guru .Historically, the term was used for venerated spiritual masters or heads of monasteries...
and regent. In 1381 he abdicated his political powers and retired to Dansa Thel in order to teach tantras
Tantra
Tantra , anglicised tantricism or tantrism or tantram, is the name scholars give to an inter-religious spiritual movement that arose in medieval India, expressed in scriptures ....
. Since his reign was quite brief he was never formally acknowledged by the Emperor
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
of the Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
. He was succeeded as regent by his younger half-brother Sonam Drakpa
Sonam Drakpa
Sonam Drakpa was a regent of Central Tibet who ruled in 1381-1385. He belonged to the Phagmodrupa dynasty, the leading regime in Tibet from 1354 to 1435.-Tenure as abbot and regent:...
.
Further reading
- Tsepon W.D. ShakabpaTsepon W.D. ShakabpaTsepon Wangchuk Deden Shakabpa was a Tibetan nobleman, scholar and former minister. Tsepon was his title as Finance Minister- Biography :...
, Tibet. A Political History. Yale 1967. - Ya Hanzhang, Biographies of the Tibetan Spiritual Leaders Panchen Erdenis. Beijing 1994.