Karma Tensung
Encyclopedia
Karma Tensung in full Karma Tensung Wangpo (Kar ma bstang srung dbang po), was a king of Tsang
(West Central Tibet) in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century. He belonged to the Tsangpa
Dynasty that ruled parts of Tibet
from 1565 to 1642.
, the ruler of Upper Tsang who founded the dynasty in 1565. He was a supposed reincarnation of the ancient epic hero Gesar. His elder brothers were Karma Thutob Namgyal
and Khunpang Lhawang Dorje
, who are also mentioned as rulers in some sources. A few texts speak of a son of Karma Tseten called Padma Karpo who would have assisted his father in establishing the power basis of the dynasty. It has been suggested that this Padma Karpo is the same person as Karma Tensung. When he grew up he was taught by his father to use his hands in manual labour, and he also learnt to read and write and received religious instruction. Like the previous rulers of Tsang he was a supporter of the Karmapa
sect. At length he and his family emerged as opponents of the reformist Gelugpa sect that was based in Ü
(East Central Tibet).
that his father had initiated. According to one version he was married to Sonam Palgyi Butri, a daughter of the Kyishod lord in the Lhasa
area. She gave birth to a daughter but the couple subsequently separated. Sonam Palgyi Butri then married Tenpai Nyima, of the abbot family of Ralung, and gave birth to Ngawang Namgyal
(1594-1651?), the founder of Bhutan
. All this may explain part of the hostility between the Tsangpa and Ngawang Namgyal later on. Karma Tensung's reign saw considerable territorial expansion of Tsangpa power. Four large regions of southern Tibet were subdued, as well as territories in western and northern Tibet. At this time there was no central authority in Ü, since the Gelugpa were still not a governing power. The Gelugpa head at the time was the Fourth Dalai Lama
Yonten Gyatso (1589-1616), a Mongol prince. He arrived to Tibet in 1602, but conflicts soon flared up with the Red Hat
sub-sect of the Karmapa. As the protector of the Red Hats, Karma Tensung invaded Ü in 1604 and seized Phanyul. In 1605 his Tsangpa troops turned against the Gelugpa and defeated his former in-laws of Kyishod. Some 5,000 monks and laymen are said to have been massacred on the hills behind the monasteries Drepung and Sera
. The demise of Karma Tseten is dated in 1611 in some texts. However, other sources mention his nephew Karma Phuntsok Namgyal
as Tsangpa leader by 1603.
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) in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century. He belonged to the 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 that ruled parts of 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...
from 1565 to 1642.
Background
Karma Tensung was one of the nine sons of Karma TsetenKarma 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:...
, the ruler of Upper Tsang who founded the dynasty in 1565. He was a supposed reincarnation of the ancient epic hero Gesar. His elder brothers were Karma Thutob Namgyal
Karma Thutob Namgyal
Karma Thutob Namgyal was a prince of the Tsangpa Dynasty that ruled parts of Central Tibet from 1565 to 1642....
and Khunpang Lhawang Dorje
Khunpang Lhawang Dorje
Khunpang Lhawang Dorje was a prince of the Tsangpa Dynasty that held power in parts of Central Tibet, especially Tsang , between 1565 and 1642....
, who are also mentioned as rulers in some sources. A few texts speak of a son of Karma Tseten called Padma Karpo who would have assisted his father in establishing the power basis of the dynasty. It has been suggested that this Padma Karpo is the same person as Karma Tensung. When he grew up he was taught by his father to use his hands in manual labour, and he also learnt to read and write and received religious instruction. Like the previous rulers of Tsang he was a supporter 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....
sect. At length he and his family emerged as opponents of the reformist Gelugpa sect that was based in Ü
Ü (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).
Reign
Karma Tensung took over the kingship of Upper Tsang in an unknown year in the late sixteenth century. The king resided in Panam Norbu Kyungtse. He strengthened the ties to the MongolsMongols
Mongols ) are a Central-East Asian ethnic group that lives mainly in the countries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. In China, ethnic Mongols can be found mainly in the central north region of China such as Inner Mongolia...
that his father had initiated. According to one version he was married to Sonam Palgyi Butri, a daughter of the Kyishod lord in the Lhasa
Lhasa
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...
area. She gave birth to a daughter but the couple subsequently separated. Sonam Palgyi Butri then married Tenpai Nyima, of the abbot family of Ralung, and gave birth to Ngawang Namgyal
Ngawang Namgyal
Ngawang Namgyal was a Tibetan Buddhist lama and the unifier of Bhutan as a nation state...
(1594-1651?), the founder of Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
. All this may explain part of the hostility between the Tsangpa and Ngawang Namgyal later on. Karma Tensung's reign saw considerable territorial expansion of Tsangpa power. Four large regions of southern Tibet were subdued, as well as territories in western and northern Tibet. At this time there was no central authority in Ü, since the Gelugpa were still not a governing power. The Gelugpa head at the time was the Fourth 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"...
Yonten Gyatso (1589-1616), a Mongol prince. He arrived to Tibet in 1602, but conflicts soon flared up with the Red Hat
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...
sub-sect of the Karmapa. As the protector of the Red Hats, Karma Tensung invaded Ü in 1604 and seized Phanyul. In 1605 his Tsangpa troops turned against the Gelugpa and defeated his former in-laws of Kyishod. Some 5,000 monks and laymen are said to have been massacred on the hills behind the monasteries Drepung and Sera
Sera
Sera may refer to:- Music :* Sera, a Symphonic rock/electronica singer/composer/producer* Sera, the well known bass player in Greece- Places :* Sera, Hiroshima, a town in Japan* Sera District, Hiroshima, a district located in Hiroshima, Japan...
. The demise of Karma Tseten is dated in 1611 in some texts. However, other sources mention his nephew Karma Phuntsok Namgyal
Karma Phuntsok Namgyal
Karma Phuntsok Namgyal was a king of Tibet who ruled from 1618 to 1620. He belonged to the Tsangpa Dynasty that held power in Tsang since 1565 and was the foremost secular power in Tibet until 1642.-Family:...
as Tsangpa leader by 1603.