Ngawang Namgyal (fl. 16th century) was a prince 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 that dominated 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...

 in West Central Tibet between 1435 and 1565.

The succession

Ngawang Namgyal was the son of Tsokye Dorje

Tsokye Dorje

Tsokye Dorje was a regent of Tibet who ruled in 1491-1499. He belonged to the Rinpungpa family and headed the central government in Nêdong during the minority of the heir of the Phagmodrupa dynasty.-Rinpungpa ascendency:...

 and the grandson of the founder of the dynasty's fortune, Norzang

Norzang

Norzang , in full Norbu Zangpo , was the founder of the power of the Rinpungpa Dynasty in Central Tibet.-Religious activities:...

. He is first mentioned in 1510, when his father died. At this time the Rinpungpa had a dominating role in the politics of Central Tibet and also held suzerainty over Guge

Guge

Guge was an ancient kingdom in Western Tibet. The kingdom was centered in present-day Zanda County, within Ngari Prefecture of Tibet Autonomous Region, China. At various points in history after 10th century AD, the kingdom held sway over a vast area including south-eastern Zanskar, Upper Kinnaur,...

 in western 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...

. The leader of the family was Ngawang Namgyal's cousin Donyo Dorje

Donyo Dorje

Donyo Dorje was the third and most powerful prince of the Rinpungpa Dynasty that held power in much of Central Tibet from 1435 to 1565.-Succession and religious patronate:...

. The Phagmodrupa dynasty

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...

, the actual monarchs (gongmas) of Tibet, had been reduced to relative insignificance. However, since 1509 a conflict had arisen between the Rinpungpa and the young and able Phagmodrupa gongma Ngawang Tashi Drakpa

Ngawang Tashi Drakpa

Ngawang Tashi Drakpa was a king of Tibet who ruled intermittently in 1499-1564. He belonged to the Phagmodrupa dynasty which was the dominating regime in Tibet from 1354 to 1435 and maintained a degree of authority until the early 17th century...

. When the funeral for Tsokye Dorje were still going on in 1510, Donyo Dorje ordered Ngawang Namgyal to lead a military incursion to Gyeladring, which was opposed by the Phagmodrupa. A reconciliation between the two princely families followed, but in 1512 the powerful Donyo Dorje died without leaving a son who could succeed him. In his will he pointed out Zilnonpa of Nakartse, of another family, as his successor. Zilnonpa is occasionally mentioned in the sources up to 1538. However, in the decades after 1512 Ngawang Namgyal appears as a military leader of the Rinpungpa, sometimes referred as dsongpon (vassal lord) and foremost minister under the gongma.

Decline of military power

Ngawang Namgyal and Zilnonpa were far less successful than their predecessor Donyo Dorje. In 1515 the simmering hostility between the Rinpungpa and Phagmodrupa erupted, and the former were worsted in a series of clashes. The fief Gyakhartse, which had hitherto sided with the Rinpungpa, switched sides and took some territories from the latter. The forces of Ngawang Namgyal were expelled from the Lhasa area in 1517, meaning that the Gelugpa sect of Buddhism

Buddhism

Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...

 could celebrate the Monlam (prayer) festival for the first time in 20 years. A settlement was made in 1518. The gongma conferred formal investiture on Zilnonpa as dsongpon (vassal lord) of Rinpung

Rinbung County

Rinbung County is a county at the northeastern boundary of the Xigazê Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region.-Settlements:*Ramba...

, the original home of the family. In that way the Phagmodrupa regained some of their former authority 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), while the Rinpungpa remained dominant in Tsang. Fresh troubles between Ü and Tsang broke out in 1538, although the rough balance of power remained. Ngawang Namgyal to an extent made good his losses through acquisitions in other directions. Thus, Sengetse in Tsang, Latod and Lho came under his authority.

Cultural efforts

In spite of his varying political fortunes, Ngawang Namgyal was reputed to be a prominent albeit haughty warrior and scholar. He engaged in the so-called five lesser sciences and sixty-four arts (literary skills, astronomy, performing arts, etc.). He introduced the custom of wearing cloths and ornaments of the ancient Tibetan kings (the rinchen gyencha custom) during larger ceremonies at Rinpung. The renowned large silk painting of Ngak Drupma was made during his time. The rule of Ngawang Namgyal supposed lasted until c. 1550. He had three sons of whom 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....

 and Ngawang Jigme Drakpa

Ngawang Jigme Drakpa

Ngawang Jigme Drakpa was the last ruling prince of Tsang of the Rinpungpa Dynasty. He was also a renowned author.-Literary activity:...

succeeded him in turn. After them the power of the Rinpungpa came to an end.