Tsokye Dorje
Encyclopedia
Tsokye Dorje (d. 1510) 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
.
, who founded the fortunes of the Rinpungpa in 1435. From this time the family dominated political life in the Tsang
region (West Central Tibet) at the expense of the Phagmodrupa kings who resided in Nêdong
in Ü
(East Central Tibet). When Norzang died in 1466, his second son Kunzang
took over the leadership of the family, while Tsokye Dorje received the fief Khartog in the Yarlung
area. The direct influence of the Phagmodrupa was on the wane, and in 1481 one of their line was deposed by his ministers after a Rinpungpa attack. The next ruler Ngagi Wangpo
had a short and turbulent reign, and when he died in 1491 his son Ngawang Tashi Drakpa
was only a boy of three. It was then decided to appoint Tsokye Dorje of the Rinpungpa as regent during his minority. At this time the chief of the Rinpungpa faction was Tsokye Dorje's nephew Donyo Dorje
(1463-1512).
where his forces maintained Rinpungpa power until 1517. The Rinpungpa were intimately allied to the Karmapa
sect. The Gelugpa monks of Drepung and Sera
were therefore impeded from celebrating the annual Monlam festival during the occuption of Lhasa. Finally, in 1499, several officers under Donyo Dorje convened in Nêdong and decided to enthrone the Phagmodrupa heir Ngawang Tashi Drakpa. Tsokye Dorje appears to have handed over power without making trouble, and eventually died in 1510. He may have had an appeasing influence on political affairs, since his demise immediately triggered a violent conflict between Donyo Dorje and Ngawang Tashi Drakpa. A son of Tsokye Dorje, Ngawang Namgyal
, later became the leader of the Rinpungpa faction.
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...
who ruled in 1491-1499. He belonged to the Rinpungpa
Rinpungpa
Rinpungpa was a Tibetan regime that dominated much of Western Tibet and some of Central Tibet between 1440 and 1565...
family and headed the central government in Nêdong
Nedong
Nedong may refer to:*Nêdong County, county in Tibet*Nêdong , village in Tibet...
during the minority of the heir of 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...
.
Rinpungpa ascendency
Tsokye Dorje was the fourth son of NorzangNorzang
Norzang , in full Norbu Zangpo , was the founder of the power of the Rinpungpa Dynasty in Central Tibet.-Religious activities:...
, who founded the fortunes of the Rinpungpa in 1435. From this time the family dominated political life in 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 (West Central Tibet) at the expense of the Phagmodrupa kings who resided in Nêdong
Nedong
Nedong may refer to:*Nêdong County, county in Tibet*Nêdong , village in Tibet...
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). When Norzang died in 1466, his second son Kunzang
Kunzang
Kunzang , in full Kuntu Zangpo , was a prince of the Rinpungpa Dynasty that wielded power in Tsang ....
took over the leadership of the family, while Tsokye Dorje received the fief Khartog in the Yarlung
Yarlung
Yarlung can refer to:*Yarlung Kingdom, see also: Tibetan empire*Yarlung Dynasty, see also: List of emperors of Tibet*Yarlung Valley, formed by the Yarlung River and refers especially to the district where it joins with the Chongye River, and broadens out into a large plain about 2 km wide, before...
area. The direct influence of the Phagmodrupa was on the wane, and in 1481 one of their line was deposed by his ministers after a Rinpungpa attack. The next ruler Ngagi Wangpo
Ngagi Wangpo
Ngagi Wangpo , also known as Chen-nga Tsenyepa , was a King of Tibet who reigned in 1481-1491...
had a short and turbulent reign, and when he died in 1491 his son 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...
was only a boy of three. It was then decided to appoint Tsokye Dorje of the Rinpungpa as regent during his minority. At this time the chief of the Rinpungpa faction was Tsokye Dorje's nephew 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:...
(1463-1512).
Internal feuding
In spite of the position of Rinpungpa kinsmen in both Tsang and Ü, the political turmoil in Central Tibet continued. In 1492 Donyo Dorje invaded Ü and captured three districts. In 1498 he captured LhasaLhasa
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...
where his forces maintained Rinpungpa power until 1517. The Rinpungpa were intimately allied to 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. The Gelugpa monks of 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...
were therefore impeded from celebrating the annual Monlam festival during the occuption of Lhasa. Finally, in 1499, several officers under Donyo Dorje convened in Nêdong and decided to enthrone the Phagmodrupa heir Ngawang Tashi Drakpa. Tsokye Dorje appears to have handed over power without making trouble, and eventually died in 1510. He may have had an appeasing influence on political affairs, since his demise immediately triggered a violent conflict between Donyo Dorje and Ngawang Tashi Drakpa. A son of Tsokye Dorje, Ngawang Namgyal
Ngawang Namgyal (Rinpungpa)
Ngawang Namgyal was a prince of the Rinpungpa Dynasty that dominated Tsang in West Central Tibet between 1435 and 1565.-The succession:...
, later became the leader of the Rinpungpa faction.