Rinpungpa
Rinpungpa རིན་སྤུངས་པ་ 仁蚌巴 | |||||||||
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1435–1565 | |||||||||
Capital | Shigatse | ||||||||
Common languages | Tibetan | ||||||||
Religion | Tibetan Buddhism | ||||||||
Government | Buddhist theocracy | ||||||||
Monarch | |||||||||
• 1435-1466 | Norzang (first) | ||||||||
• 1479-1512 | Donyo Dorje | ||||||||
• 1547-1565 | Ngawang Jigme Drakpa (last) | ||||||||
History | |||||||||
• Established | 1435 | ||||||||
• Disestablished | 1565 | ||||||||
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Today part of | China |
History of Tibet |
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See also |
Asia portal • China portal |
Rinpungpa (
Rise to power
The Rinpungpa belonged to the Ger (
The Rinpungpa took advantage of a family feud within the Phagmodrupa Dynasty in 1434. With the united troops from Rong and Shang, Norzang seized the important place Samdrubtse, modern Shigatse, from the governor of the Chonggye family. This is traditionally said to have taken place in 1435, though the more likely date is 1446.[3] Samdrubtse was a very strategic spot and the key to power over Tsang. In the following years Norzang expanded his influence over Tsang, Rong and Shang. His kinsman, the Phagmodrupa king Kunga Lekpa (r. 1448–1481) was born from a Rinpung princess and in turn married a Rinpungpa daughter. He was not able to stop the advances of his powerful vassal. Norzang himself married Kunga Lekpa's sister, further emphasizing the elaborated net of kinship ties between the two families. While still acknowledging the Phagmodrupa, the Rinpungpa subsequently built up a strong position, bearing the title desi (regent).
Confrontation and invasion
The increasing importance of the
Height of political authority
The agreement did not put an end to the endemic political turbulence in Central Tibet. The Rinpungpa proceeded to defeat various regional lords and increase their power. In 1485 they attacked the important estate
Setbacks in the east
Due to pressure from the Rinpungpa, who favoured the Karma Kagyu, the Gelugpa school were forbidden to participate in the new year celebration and the great
External threats and fall from power
An agreement between the factions of Ü and Tsang was reached in 1518. The nominal head of the Rinpungpa, the boy Zilnonpa, asked the king for investiture as dzongpon, and such was given. In fact, however, the Rinpungpa continued to wield power over Tsang on their own accord. The following decades were marked by a confusing succession of clashes and temporary reconciliations between the factions of Central Tibet. In 1532 the Rinpungpa domains were briefly threatened by an invasion by the
The Rinpungpa survived in their heartland Rong and periodically tried to revive their fortune. They staged an abortive attack on Kyishö in Ü in 1575 and quarreled with the Tsangpa ruler in the next few years. After the Tsang-Rong war of 1589 their power was exhausted, and they were forced to capitulate in 1590.[10] Local Rinpungpa princes are known up to the early 17th century.[11]
Legacy
The significance of the Rinpungpa is difficult to assess due to the terseness of the written sources. They upheld political hegemony in Tsang for 120–130 years, but little is known in detail of administrative and economic issues. Their relationship with the Chinese
List of rulers
- Norzang 1435–1466
- Kunzang 1466–c. 1479 (son)
- Donyo Dorje c. 1479–1512 (son)
- Ngawang Namgyal 1512–1544 (son of Tsokye Dorje, a son of Norzang)
- Dondup Tseten Dorje 1544–? (son)
- Ngawang Jigme Drakpa 1547–1565 (brother)
See also
- History of Tibet
- List of rulers of Tibet
- Sino-Tibetan relations during the Ming dynasty
References
Citations
- ^ Olaf Czaja (2013), Medieval rule in Tibet. Wien: ÖAW, pp. 481-2.
- ^ Olaf Czaja (2013), pp. 483-4.
- ^ Olaf Czaja (2013), p. 233.
- ^ Olaf Czaja (2013), p. 487.
- ^ R. Vitali (1996), The kingdoms of Gu.ge Pu.hrang. Dharamsala: Tho.ling gtsug.lag, p. 536.
- ^ H. Hoffman (1986), Tibet. A Handbook. Bloomington, p. 56.
- ^ Olaf Czaja (2013), p. 255.
- ^ L. Deshayes (1997), Histoire du Tibet. Fayard, p. 137.
- ^ K.H. Everding (2000), Das Königreich Mangyul Gungthang, Vol. I. Bonn: GmbH, p. 577.
- ^ James Gentry (2013), Substance and sense: Objects of power in the life, writings, and legacy of the Tibetan ritual master Sog bzlog pa Blo gros rgyal mtshan, PhD Thesis, Harvard University, p. 181. [1]
- ^ Olaf Czaja (2013), pp. 492-3.
- ^ According to Wang Furen & Suo Wenqing (1984), Highlights of Tibetan history. Beijing: New World Press, p. 73, Namkha Gyaltsen was officially established as regional lord by the Ming Dynasty in 1416. Judging from Tibetan data this is incorrect, since Namkha Gyaltsen was long dead at the time; see Olaf Czaja (2013), p. 483.
- ^ Olaf Czaja (2013), p. 253.
- Ngag-dBang Blo-bZang rGya-mTSHo(1995), A history of Tibet. Bloomington: Indiana University, pp. 161-5.
Sources
- Hugh E. Richardson (1962), Tibet and its History, London: Oxford University Press.
- Tsepon W. D. Shakabpa (1967), Tibet: A Political History, New Haven & London: Yale University Press.
- ISBN 978-1-878529-39-8
- bSod nams grags pa; edited by Giuseppe Tucci (1971), Deb t'er dmar po gsar ma, Roma: IsMEO.
- 4 - The Pagmodru, Rinpung, and Tsangpa Hegemonies, A Survey of Tibetan History by Alexander Berzin, Study Buddhism.