List of Tibetan writers
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
This is a chronological list of important Tibetan writers.
7th-10th century
Name | Dates | Wylie transliteration | Other names | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Thonmi Sambhota | 7th century | thon mi sam bho ta | - | Inventor of the Tibetan script |
Yeshe Tsogyal | 757-817 | ye shes mtsho rgyal | Princess of Kharchen Great Bliss Queen |
A friend of Padmasambhava |
Nampar Nangdze Lotsawa | 8th century | rnam par snang mdzad lo tsa ba | Vairotsana | Translator of Buddhist scriptures from Sanskrit into Tibetan during the first phase of translation |
Padmasambhava | 8th to 9th century | pad ma 'byung gnas | Guru Rinpoche | Brought Buddhism to Tibet |
Yuthok Yonten Gonpo (the Elder) | 708–833 | g.yu thog yon tan mgon po | - | Author of foundational works on Tibetan medicine (rgyud bzhi, Gyüschi) |
Lochen Rinchen Sangpo | 957–1055 | lo chen rin chen bzang po | - | First translator of Sarma texts |
Drogmi Lotsawa | 993–1050 | brog mi lo tsa ba | - | Important translator of Sarma texts, especially those in the Sakya tradition |
11th century
Name | Dates | Wylie transliteration | Other names | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Machig Labdrön | 1055–1149 | ma gcig lab sgron | Dorje Dudul Chenmo | Famous yogini, promoter of Chöd in Tibet |
Tertön Sangye Lama | 1000–1080 | gter ston sangs rgyas bla ma | - | The first Tertön |
Marpa Lotsawa | 1012–1097 | mar pa | - | Important translator of Sarma texts |
Milarepa | 11th to 12th century | mi la ras pa | Jetsün | Famous yogi, known for his Vajra songs |
Bari Lotsawa Rinchen Drag | 1040–1111 | ba ri lo tsa ba rin chen grags | 2nd Sakya Trizin | Wrote One Hundred Sadhanas of Bari |
Langri Tangpa | 1054–1123 | glang ri thang pa | Geshe | Kadam tradition |
Patsab Lotsawa Nyima Drakpa | born 1055 | pa tshab lo tsa ba nyi ma grags pa | - | Translated many Madhyamaka texts |
Gampopa | 1079–1153 | sgam po pa | Sönam Rinchen, Dagpo Lhaje, Nyamed Dakpo Rinpoche, Da'od Zhonnu | Founder of Kagyu |
Sachen Kunga Nyingpo | 1092–1158 | sa chen kun dga’ snying po | 3rd Sakya Trizin | Systematised teachings of the Sakya tradition |
12th century
Name | Dates | Wylie transliteration | Other names | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ngoje Repa | 12th century | ngo rje ras pa | - | Important philosopher of the Drikung Kagyu |
Chekawa Yeshe Dorje | 1102–1176 | 'chad ka ba ye shes rdo rje | Geshe Chekhawa | Wrote the Seven Points of Spiritual Training |
Phagmo Drupa | 1110–1170 | phag mo gru pa | Dorje Gyalpo | - |
Nyang Ral Nyima Özer | 1124–1192 | nyang ral nyi ma 'od zer | Tertön | - |
Yuthog Yonten Gonpo (the Younger) | 1126–1202 | g.yu thog yon tan mgon po | - | Contributions to Tibetan medicine |
Sonam Tsemo | 1142–1182 | bsod nams rtse mo | 4th Sakya Trizin | - |
Jigten Sumgön | 1143–1217 | 'jig rten gsum mgon | Drikungpa | Founder of Drigung Kagyu [1] |
Drakpa Gyaltsen | 1147–1216 | grags pa rgyal mtshan | 5th Sakya Trizin | Commentator on Asvaghosa's Fifty Verses of Guru Devotion |
Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen | 1182–1251 | sa skya pandi ta kun dga’ rgyal mtshan | 6th Sakya Trizin | - |
13th century
Name | Dates | Wylie transliteration | Other names | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Karma Pakshi | 1204–1283 | karma pak shi | 2nd Karmapa | Wrote over 100 texts on Buddhism, preserved at Tsurphu Monastery |
Guru Chöwang | 1212–1270 | gu ru chos dbang | Tertön | - |
Drogön Chögyal Phagpa Lodrö Gyaltsen | 1235–1279/80 | chos rgyal 'phags pa blo gros rgyal mtshan | 7th Sakya Trizin | Devised the 'Phags-pa script |
Rangjung Dorje | 1284–1339 | rang byung rdo rje | 3rd Karmapa | - |
Buton Rinchen Drub | 1290–1364 | bu ston rin chen grub | 11th Abbot of Shalu Monastery | Catalogued thousands of religious and philosophical works |
Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen | 1292–1361 | [[dol po pa shes rab rgyal mtshan | - | See also Jonang, Kalacakra |
14th century
Name | Dates | Wylie transliteration | Other names | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Karma Lingpa | 14th century | karma gling pa | Tertön | - |
Longchen Rabjam | 1308–1364 | klong chen rab 'byams | Longchenpa, Tertön | Wrote several texts on Dzogchen and Buddhist philosophy |
Tshalpa Kunga Dorje | 1309–1364 | tshal pa kun dga' rdo rje | - | Author of the Red Annals |
Orgyen Lingpa | 1323 – c. 1360 | o rgyan gling pa | Tertön | - |
Rigzin Gödem | 1337–1409 | rig 'dzin rgod ldem | - | discovered the terma texts called the Northern Treasures |
Rolpe Dorje | 1340–1383 | rol pa'i rdo rje | 4th Karmapa | Wrote many dohas |
Sangye Lingpa | 1340–1396 | sangs rgyas gling pa | Tertön | First of the Eight Lingpas |
Dorje Lingpa | 1346–1405 | rdo rje gling pa | Bönzhig Yungdrung Lingpa (Bön), Tertön | - |
Rendawa Shonnu Lodrö | 1349–1412 | red mda' ba gzhon nu blo gros | - | - |
Tsongkhapa | 1357–1419 | tsong kha pa | 1st Ganden Tripa | Reformer of Tibetan Buddhism, founder of the New Kadampa, Gelug |
Gyaltsab Je | 1364–1432 | rgyal tshab rje | Gyaltsab Dharma Rinchen, 2nd Ganden Tripa | Wrote a well-known commentary on Shantideva's Bodhicaryavatara |
Panchen Chogley Namgyal | 1376–1451 | pan chen phyogs las rnam rgyal | - | Famous scholar of the Bodong tradition |
Khedrup Je | 1385–1438 | mkhas grub rje | 3rd Ganden Tripa, 1st Panchen Lama | - |
Gendun Drub | 1391–1474 | dge 'dun grub pa | 1st Dalai Lama | Among other works, Training the Mind in the Great Way |
Go Lotsawa Shonnu Pal | 1392–1481 | 'gos lo tsa ba gzhon nu dpal | - | Author of the Blue Annals |
15th century
Name | Dates | Wylie transliteration | Other names | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pengar Jampal Sangpo | 15th century | ban sgar ba 'jam dpal bzang po | - | Author of a famous Mahamudra invocation |
Ratna Lingpa | 1403–1478 | rat na gling pa | Tertön | - |
Khedrup Norsang Gyatso | 1423–1513 | mkhas grub nor bzang rgya mtsho | - | - |
Gorampa Sönam Senge | 1429–1489 | go rams pa bsod nams seng ge | - | - |
Pema Lingpa | 1450–1521 | padma gling pa | Tertön | - |
Tsang Nyon Heruka | 1452–1507 | gtsang smyon he ru ka | - | Wrote a biography of Marpa and Milarepa |
Chödrak Gyatso | 1454–1506 | chos grags rgya mtsho | 7th Karmapa | Commentary on Abhisamayalamkara (Mahayana sutras), and The Ocean of Reasoning, a commentary on Pramana literature |
Sera Jetsun Chökyi Gyaltsen | 1469–1544 | se ra rje btsun chos kyi rgyal mtshan | - | Wrote textbooks used in Ganden |
Gendun Gyatso | 1475–1542 | dge 'dun rgya mtsho | 2nd Dalai Lama | Mystical verse and visions |
Panchen Sönam Drakpa | 1478–1554 | pan chen bsod nams grags pa | 15th Ganden Tripa | Author of the New Red Annals (deb ther dmar po gsar ma) |
Ngari Panchen | 1487–1542 | mnga' ris pan chen | - | - |
Gotsang Repa | 1494–1570 | rgod tshang ras pa | - | - |
Ngorchen Konchog Lhundrup | 1497–1557 | ngor chen dkon mchog lhun grub | 10th Abbot of Ngor Monastery | Author of Three Visions (foundational work of Sakya) |
16th century
Name | Dates | Wylie transliteration | Other names | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tsuglag Trengwa | 1504–1566 | gtsug lag 'phreng ba | 2nd Nenang Pawo | Historian |
Mikyö Dorje | 1507–1554 | mi bskyod rdo rje | 8th Karmapa | Many works on Sutrayana, instructions on tantra |
Pema Karpo | 1527–1592 | padma dkar po | - | Master of the Drukpa Kagyü |
Sonam Gyatso | 1543–1588 | bsod nams rgya mtsho | 3rd Dalai Lama | Stages of the Path: Refined Gold, Lamrim |
Wangchuk Dorje | 1556–1603 | dbang phyug rdo rje | 9th Karmapa | Wrote three Mahamudra texts |
Lobsang Chökyi Gyaltsen | 1570–1662 | blo bzang chos kyi rgyal mtshan | 4th Panchen Lama | Wrote a famous lamrim |
Taranatha | 1575–1634 | tA ra nA tha | Jonang | Historian of Indian Buddhism and author of Five Teachings of Maitreya |
17th century
Name | Dates | Wylie transliteration | Other names | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tsele Natsok Rangdröl | 1608–? | rtse le sna tshogs rang grol | Tsele Gotsangpa | - |
Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso | 1617–1682 | ngag dbang blo bzang rgya mtsho | 5th Dalai Lama | Twenty-five Sealed Teachings |
Terdak Lingpa | 1646–1714 | gter bdag gling pa | Gyurme Dorje | - |
Sangye Phuntsog | 1649–1705 | sangs rgyas phun tshogs | 25th Abbot of Ngor Monastery | - |
Sangye Gyatso | 1653–1705 | sangs rgyas rgya mtsho | Desi | Wrote Vaidurya-Karpo and Vaidurya sNgon-po |
Lochen Dharmashri | 1654–1717 | lo chen dharma shrI | Minling | - |
Samten Lingpa | born 1655 | bsam gtan gling pa | Taksham Nüden Dorje | - |
Tsangyang Gyatso | 1682–1706 | tshangs dbyangs rgya mtsho | 6th Dalai Lama | Many great poems with often worldly subjects are ascribed to him |
Dokhar Tsering Wangyal | 1697–1763 | mdo mkhar ba tshe ring dbang rgyal | - | Author of the story gzhon nu zla med kyi gtam rgyud |
Rigzin Tsewang Norbu | 1698–1755 | rig 'dzin tshe dbang nor bu | Kathok | - |
18th century
Name | Dates | Wylie transliteration | Other names | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chokyi Jungne | 1700–1774 | chos kyi 'byung gnas | 8th Tai Situpa | Grammarian |
Kelsang Gyatso | 1708–1757 | skal bzang rgya mtsho | 7th Dalai Lama | Explication of the Mandala rituals of Vajra Akshobhya Guhyasamaja |
Jigme Lingpa | 1729–1798 | 'jigs med gling pa | Rigzin, Tertön | - |
Jamphel Gyatso | 1758–1804 | 'jam dpal rgya mtsho | 8th Dalai Lama | - |
Getse Mahapandita | 1761–1829 | dge rtse pan chen | Tsewang Chokdrub | - |
Palden Tenpai Nyima | 1782–1853 | bstan pa'i nyi ma | 7th Panchen Lama | Author of Rinjung Lhantab |
19th century
20th century
20th century (cont. alphabetically)
Name | Dates | Wylie transliteration | Other names | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bhuchung D. Sonam | - | Bhuchung Dumra Sonam | - | - |
Gyurme Dorje | - | gyur med rdo rje | - | Director of Trans Himalaya guided tours |
Jamyang Norbu | - | 'jam dbyangs nor bu | - | - |
Langdün Paljor Tsering | - | - | - | - |
Lhakpa Phuntsogs | - | - | - | China Tibetology Publishing House |
Namgyal Nyima Dagkar | - | - | - | - |
Rinjing Dorje | - | - | - | Tales of Uncle Tompa in English |
Samten G. Karmay | - | - | Samten Gyaltsen Karmay | International Association of Tibetan Studies |
Tsering Döndrub | - | tshe ring don grub | Ancestor, ra lo | Novelist |
Tsering Namgyal | - | tshe ring rnam rgyal | - | Writer of Little Lhasa and other different articles in various newspaper |
Tsering Shakya | - | tshe ring sha kya | Tsering Wangdu Shakya | Historian |
Yangdon Dhondup | - | - | - | Gendün Chöpel |
Foreign writers with Tibetan names
Name | Dates | Wylie transliteration | Original name | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Erik Pema Kunsang | - | Erik pad ma kun bzang]] | Erik Hein Schmidt | Translator and author, founder of Rangjung Yeshe Translations and Publications |
Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo | born 1939 | - | Alyce Zeoli | Enthroned 1988, Palyul |
Lama Chökyi Nyima | - | bla ma chos kyi nyi ma | Richard Barron | - |
Pema Chödrön | born 1936 | pad ma chos sgron | Deirdre Blomfield-Brown | - |
Geshe Ngawang Wangyal | 1901–1983 | ngag dbang dbang rgyal | - | - |
Rigdzin Dorje Gonpo, Vajranatha | - | rig 'dzin rdo rje mgon po | John Myrdhin Reynolds | - |
Thubten Chodron | born 1950 | thub bstan chos sgron | Cherry Greene | - |
Tsultrim Allione | born 1947 | tshul khrims Allione | - | - |
See also
- Derge Parkhang
- Sa'gya library
- Dunhuang caves
Footnotes
- ↑ "Lord Jigten Sumgön - Founder of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage". Drikung Kagyu Official Website. http://drikung.org/drikung-kagyu-lineage/lord-jigten-sumgon. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
External links
Translation
Organisations
Libraries
- The Canon of the Tibetan Buddhist Resource Centre
- THDL (Tibetan and Himalayan Digital Library) on Tibetan Literature: Studies in Genre
- Berzin Archives Bibliography