Drakpa Jungne
Encyclopedia
Drakpa Jungne (1414–1445) 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. His reign saw the collapse of the political power of the dynasty, and the beginning of two centuries of internal strife.
, who had enjoyed a long and prosperous reign over the central parts of Tibet. Sangye Gyaltsen married two ladies who belonged to the regional vassal family Rinpungpa
. By each wife he begot a son, of whom Drakpa Jungne was the eldest. After the death of Drakpa Gyaltsen, the ministers could not reach an agreement about the succession. The Rinpungpa lord, Norzang, suggested that the abbot of the Thel monastery should decide, and he pointed out the 18-years old Drakpa Jungne, who had formerly been a lama of the Tsethang monastery. Although Sangye Gyaltsen had his own designs on the throne, he accepted the advice of the abbot, and his son was enthroned.
came out as the winner in the affair. His son Dondup Dorje conquered the important stronghold Samdrubtse (present Shigatse
) in 1435. In that way the family came to dominate the Tsang
region, which they would hold until 1565.
(East Central Tibet). Due to the hard times, Drakpa Jungne was unable to tour the fiefs in Tsang
. The king took some interest in the moral discipline of his people, and promulgated restrictions about prostitution
and the drinking of chhaang
. He was "a man of deep spirituality and well-versed in mantrayana but with a parochial outlook and not cut out for worldly affairs". A tapestry tangka made in the name of Drakpa Jungne has been preserved, and might have been used at his formal enthronement. Unlike the previous practice which prescribed celibacy
for the Phagmodru leaders, Drakpa Jungne married and sired a son Ngagi Wangpo
who would become ruler much later. At his death in 1445, Drakpa Jungne was succeeded by his half-brother Kunga Lekpa
.
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 leading regime in Tibet from 1354 to 1435, and exerted some influence until the early 17th century. His reign saw the collapse of the political power of the dynasty, and the beginning of two centuries of internal strife.
Succession
Drakpa Jungne was a son of Sangye Gyaltsen, a brother of the former king Drakpa GyaltsenGongma Drakpa Gyaltsen
Gongma Drakpa Gyaltsen was a King of Tibet who ruled in 1385–1432. He belonged to the Phagmodrupa dynasty, which was the leading regime in Tibet between 1354 and 1435...
, who had enjoyed a long and prosperous reign over the central parts of Tibet. Sangye Gyaltsen married two ladies who belonged to the regional vassal family Rinpungpa
Rinpungpa
Rinpungpa was a Tibetan regime that dominated much of Western Tibet and some of Central Tibet between 1440 and 1565...
. By each wife he begot a son, of whom Drakpa Jungne was the eldest. After the death of Drakpa Gyaltsen, the ministers could not reach an agreement about the succession. The Rinpungpa lord, Norzang, suggested that the abbot of the Thel monastery should decide, and he pointed out the 18-years old Drakpa Jungne, who had formerly been a lama of the Tsethang monastery. Although Sangye Gyaltsen had his own designs on the throne, he accepted the advice of the abbot, and his son was enthroned.
Internal war and dynastic collapse
After two years, in 1434, the abbot of Thel died, and his moral influence vanished. The father of the young ruler, Sangye Gyaltsen, now claimed the throne. The result was a civil war lasting about one year. 1434 became known as "the year of internal collapse of the Phagmodrupa". Sangye Gyaltsen was pushed back and had to flee to Yargyab. The Rinpungpa lord NorzangNorzang
Norzang , in full Norbu Zangpo , was the founder of the power of the Rinpungpa Dynasty in Central Tibet.-Religious activities:...
came out as the winner in the affair. His son Dondup Dorje conquered the important stronghold Samdrubtse (present 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...
) in 1435. In that way the family came to dominate 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...
region, which they would hold until 1565.
Later reign
Nevertheless, the Rinpungpa let their young kinsman remain on the throne, though his immediate influence was now restricted to ÜÜ (region)
Ü is a geographic division and a historical region in Tibet. Together with Tsang , it forms Central Tibet Ü-Tsang , which is one of the three Tibetan regions or cholka . The other two cholka are Kham and Amdo...
(East Central Tibet). Due to the hard times, Drakpa Jungne was unable to tour the fiefs 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...
. The king took some interest in the moral discipline of his people, and promulgated restrictions about prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
and the drinking of chhaang
Chhaang
Chhaang or chang is a Tibetan/Sherpa/Limbu/Newari alcoholic beverage also popular in parts of eastern Himalayas.-Geographical prevalence:...
. He was "a man of deep spirituality and well-versed in mantrayana but with a parochial outlook and not cut out for worldly affairs". A tapestry tangka made in the name of Drakpa Jungne has been preserved, and might have been used at his formal enthronement. Unlike the previous practice which prescribed celibacy
Celibacy
Celibacy is a personal commitment to avoiding sexual relations, in particular a vow from marriage. Typically celibacy involves avoiding all romantic relationships of any kind. An individual may choose celibacy for religious reasons, such as is the case for priests in some religions, for reasons of...
for the Phagmodru leaders, Drakpa Jungne married and sired a son Ngagi Wangpo
Ngagi Wangpo
Ngagi Wangpo , also known as Chen-nga Tsenyepa , was a King of Tibet who reigned in 1481-1491...
who would become ruler much later. At his death in 1445, Drakpa Jungne was succeeded by his half-brother 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...
.