Ngawang Jigme Drakpa
Encyclopedia
Ngawang Jigme Drakpa (fl.
16th century) was the last ruling prince of Tsang
(West Central Tibet) of the Rinpungpa
Dynasty. He was also a renowned author.
. When his brother Dondup Tseten Dorje
died in an unknown year in the 1550s or 1560s, he took over as the ruler of Tsang. He was a well-respected and accomplished scholar who translated several Sanskrit
texts and wrote on various subjects. Among his works were a history of the Tartar
kings, a romance of Shambhala
, a biography of Sakya Pandita, and a treatise on poetry, An Ornament of a Monk's Thought. He was popularly known as Pandita Gyalpo, the scholar king.
in 1554, conducted by either him or his predecessor, failed badly. In 1563 there was warfare in Tsang itself; Ngawang Jigme Drakpa interfered in a conflict between Sakya
and Changdakpa, and personally led his troops in the field. Meanwhile various omens were seen. A cloud appeared in the form of the wrathful deity Rahula
, causing a hailstorm that destroyed the crops. Religious sites were damaged and meteorites fell. Dried torma
offerings fell on the roof of the ruler's castle.
, was the governor of the Samdrubtse castle at Shigatse
since 1548. In 1557 he rose in rebellion against the Rinpungpa. By this time there was widespread discontent with the rule of the family, and Karma Tseten supported various rebellious estates. In 1565 he seized Panam Lhundrup Kyungtse and the Pakmori Gold Castle. The renowned Drukpa lama
Kunkhyen Pema Karpo arranged a peaceful settlement between the parties. However, just after the Tibetan new year
in 1566 a new war broke out in lower Nyangtod. After another intervention by Kunkhyen, Ngawang Jigme Drakpa agreed to cede the entire Panam region to Tseten Dorje. These events marked the definitive end of Rinpungpa prominence in Central Tibet. According to one anecdote the wife of Ngawang Jigme Drakpa told her husband about the defeat sustained by his troops against Karma Tseten. He then replied that it did not matter since he had finished his poem. The impoverished Ngawang Jigme Drakpa died some time after, leaving two sons called Dawa Zangpo and Gewa Pal. The usurper Karma Tseten, also known as Zhingshagpa, became the ancestor of the Tsangpa
Dynasty that ruled parts of Tibet until 1642.
Floruit
Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
16th century) was the last ruling prince of 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...
(West Central Tibet) of the Rinpungpa
Rinpungpa
Rinpungpa was a Tibetan regime that dominated much of Western Tibet and some of Central Tibet between 1440 and 1565...
Dynasty. He was also a renowned author.
Literary activity
Ngawang Jigme Drakpa was the third son of the Rinpungpa prince Ngawang NamgyalNgawang Namgyal (Rinpungpa)
Ngawang Namgyal was a prince of the Rinpungpa Dynasty that dominated Tsang in West Central Tibet between 1435 and 1565.-The succession:...
. When his brother Dondup Tseten Dorje
Dondup Tseten Dorje
Dondup Tseten Dorje was the penultimate prince of the Rinpungpa Dynasty which held power in Tsang between 1435 and 1565....
died in an unknown year in the 1550s or 1560s, he took over as the ruler of Tsang. He was a well-respected and accomplished scholar who translated several Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
texts and wrote on various subjects. Among his works were a history of the Tartar
Tartar
Tartar may refer to: *An alternative spelling of the name Tatars, an ethnic group in present-day Russia.* Tartars, the name of the athletic teams from 1927–1999 at Wayne State University in Detroit.*Tartar sauce*Tartar on teeth, hardened dental plaque...
kings, a romance of Shambhala
Shambhala
In Tibetan Buddhist tradition, Shambhala or Shangri-la is a mythical kingdom hidden somewhere in Inner Asia...
, a biography of Sakya Pandita, and a treatise on poetry, An Ornament of a Monk's Thought. He was popularly known as Pandita Gyalpo, the scholar king.
Ill omens
Although Ngawang Jigme Drakpa is characterized as able in temporal affairs, the rule of the Rinpungpa drew towards its end. An invasion in western TibetTibet
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...
in 1554, conducted by either him or his predecessor, failed badly. In 1563 there was warfare in Tsang itself; Ngawang Jigme Drakpa interfered in a conflict between Sakya
Sakya
The Sakya school is one of four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, the others being the Nyingma, Kagyu, and Gelug...
and Changdakpa, and personally led his troops in the field. Meanwhile various omens were seen. A cloud appeared in the form of the wrathful deity Rahula
Rahula
Rāhula was the only son of Siddhartha Gautama , later known as the Buddha, and his wife Princess Yasodharā.Accounts of his life differ in certain points. The following is that given in the Pāli Canon.- Life :...
, causing a hailstorm that destroyed the crops. Religious sites were damaged and meteorites fell. Dried torma
Torma
Torma are figures made mostly of flour and butter used in tantric rituals or as offerings in Tibetan Buddhism. They may be dyed in different colors, often with white or red for the main body of the torma. They are made in specific shapes based on their purpose, usually conical in form...
offerings fell on the roof of the ruler's castle.
The end of the Rinpungpa
A relative of the Rinpungpa, 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:...
, was the governor of the Samdrubtse castle at 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...
since 1548. In 1557 he rose in rebellion against the Rinpungpa. By this time there was widespread discontent with the rule of the family, and Karma Tseten supported various rebellious estates. In 1565 he seized Panam Lhundrup Kyungtse and the Pakmori Gold Castle. The renowned Drukpa 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...
Kunkhyen Pema Karpo arranged a peaceful settlement between the parties. However, just after the Tibetan new year
Losar
Losar is the Tibetan word for "new year." lo holds the semantic field "year, age"; sar holds the semantic field "new, fresh". Losar is the most important holiday in Tibet....
in 1566 a new war broke out in lower Nyangtod. After another intervention by Kunkhyen, Ngawang Jigme Drakpa agreed to cede the entire Panam region to Tseten Dorje. These events marked the definitive end of Rinpungpa prominence in Central Tibet. According to one anecdote the wife of Ngawang Jigme Drakpa told her husband about the defeat sustained by his troops against Karma Tseten. He then replied that it did not matter since he had finished his poem. The impoverished Ngawang Jigme Drakpa died some time after, leaving two sons called Dawa Zangpo and Gewa Pal. The usurper Karma Tseten, also known as Zhingshagpa, became the ancestor of 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 until 1642.