Gongma Drakpa Gyaltsen

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Gongma Drakpa Gyaltsen (1374–1432) was a Tibetan king from the Phagmodrupa dynasty who ruled from 1385 to 1432. He was the eldest son of Shakya Rinchen and Zina Rinchen Som. His father briefly held power in Central Tibet in 1373 but soon lost his mind after a house fire. Drakpa Gyaltsen was believed to be an incarnation of Jamyang (Manjushri) and grew up as a monk, becoming lama of Tsethang in 1380. Five years later he was made regent by opponents of Sonam Drakpa, and soon began to rule on his own. His reign was peaceful and prosperous, with Ü and Tsang sharing in the stability, and Gyantse’s ruler paying homage while Rabten Kunzang Phag became treasurer.

Unusually, he used royal titles gongma (high ruler) and chogyal (saintly king while remaining a lama). The Ming and Chinese emperors honored him: the Hongwu Emperor named him Guanding Guoshi in 1388; in 1406 the Ming sent a jade seal, silver, silk, and tea. He also received the title wang from the Ming, while the lords of Drigung, Tsedong and Ling were known as the four wang of Tibet. An attempt to make the Karmapa a Ming overlord failed after the Karmapa Dezhin Shegpa visited Nanjing in 1407.

Drakpa Gyaltsen supported Tsongkhapa, founder of the Gelug school, and helped establish Ganden (1409), Drepung (1416) and Sera (1419) monasteries. He invited Tsongkhapa to teach in 1414, and one of his followers, Gedun Drub, would become the First Dalai Lama. In 1409 he and his minister helped start the Monlam prayer festival in Lhasa.

He died in 1432 after 47 years on the throne; the Ming court noted his death in 1440. He was succeeded by his nephew Drakpa Jungne, but dynastic power soon weakened as regional lords challenged the central authority.