List of Tibetan writers

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 -
Yuthok Yontan 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
Bodong Panchen Chogley Namgyal 1376–1451 pan chen phyogs las rnam rgyal - Famous scholar of the Bodongpa 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

Name Dates Wylie transliteration Other names Notes
Jigme Chökyi Wangpo 1808–1887 'jigs med chos kyi dbang po Patrul Rinpoche -
Nuden Dorje 1809–1872 nus ldan rdo rje Drophan Lingpa Tertön of the Northern Treasures
Jamgon Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye 1813–1899 'jam mgon kong sprul blo gros mtha' yas Padma Tennyi Yungdrung Lingpa Treasury of Rediscovered Teachings
Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo 1820–1892 'jam dbyangs mkhyen brtse’i dbang po - -
Chokgyur Lingpa 1829–1870 mchog gyur gling pa Tertön -
Dudjom Lingpa 1835–1904 bdud 'joms gling pa Tertön -
Jamgon Ju Mipham Gyatso 1846–1912 mi pham 'jam dbyangs rnam rgyal Mipham Rinpoche -
Jamyang Loter Wangpo 1847–1914 'jam dbyangs blo gter dbang po - -
Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen 1859–1935 shar rdza bkra shis rgyal mtshan - See also Bön
Jikme Tenpe Nyima 1865–1926 'jigs med bstan pa'i nyi ma 3rd Dodrubchen Rinpoche -
Thubten Gyatso 1876–1933 thub bstan rgya mtsho 13th Dalai Lama -
Pabongkhapa Déchen Nyingpo 1878–1941 pha bong kha pa bde chen snying po - -
Ngawang Palsang 1879–1941 ngag dbang dpal bzang - -
Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö 1893–1959 'jam dbyangs mkhyen brtse chos kyi blo gros - Rime movement

20th century

Name Dates Wylie transliteration Other names Notes
Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso 1901–1981 blo bzang ye shes bstan 'dzin rgya mtsho 3rd Trijang Rinpoche Wrote on Gyallu
Thubten Lungtog Tenzin Trinle 1903–1983 thub bstan lung rtogs bstan 'dzin 'phrin las 97th Ganden Tripa, 6th Ling Rinpoche Writer on Vajrabhairava
Gendün Chöpel 1903 or 1905–1951 dge 'dun chos 'phel - Author of the White Annals and The Tibetan Art of Love
Jigdrel Yeshe Dorje 1904–1987 'jigs bral ye shes rdo rje 2nd Dudjom Rinpoche, 1st leader of the Nyingma See also Terma
Karma Rangjung Kunchap 1905–1989 kar ma ran byung kun khyab Kalu Rinpoche Shangpa Kagyu
Tsepon W.D. Shakabpa 1908–1989 - Tsepon Wangchuk Deden Shakabpa Historian
Dilgo Khyentse 1910–1991 dil mgo mkhyen brtse From 1987 to 1991, led the Nyingma School -
Dorje Yudon Yuthok 1912-1998 rdo rje g.yu sgron gyu thog Dorje Yuthok Autobiography
Chatral Sangye Dorje born 1913 bya bral sangs rgyas rdo rje Chatral Rinpoche -
Gendün Rinpoche 1917–1997 dge 'dun rin po che - -
Geshe Rabten 1920–1986 dge bshes rab brtan - Author on Buddhism
Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche 1920–1996 sprul sku o rgyan - -
Khetsun Sangpo born 1920 mkhas btsun bzang po - -
Thubten Jigme Norbu 1922–2008 thub bstan 'jigs med nor bu Taktser Rinpoche -
Tenzin Choedrak 1922–2001 bstan 'dzin chos grags - Former doctor of the 14th Dalai Lama
Gyatrul Rinpoche born 1924 rgya sprul rin po che - Contributions on Bardo
Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche born 1924 - Abt des Karma Triyana Dharmachakra -
Lopön Tenzin Namdak born 1926 bstan 'dzin rnam-dag Lopön See also Bön
Lobsang Gyatso (monk) 1928–1997 blo bzang rgya mtsho Geshe Founder of the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics Dharmshala, murdered in 1997
Khensur Jampa Tegchok born 1930 mkhan zur byams pa theg mchog - -
Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche 1930–2002 - Rinpoche -
Kelsang Gyatso born 1931 bskal bzang rgya mtsho Geshe Founder of the New Kadampa Tradition
Thinley Norbu born c. 1931 phrin las nor bu Dungsé Thinley Norbu Rinpoche son of Jigdrel Yeshe Dorje, 2nd Dudjom Rinpoche
Jampa Gyatso 1932–2007 byams pa rgya mtsho Geshe -
Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche 1932–1999 - Nyoshul Khenpo -
Thubten Ngawang 1932–2003 thub bstan ngag dbang Geshe -
Ani Pachen 1933–2002 - - Autobiography
9th Thrangu Rinpoche born 1933 - Khenchen -
Palden Gyatso born 1933 dpal ldan rgya mtsho - Autobiography
Tarthang Tulku born 1934 - - -
11th Tarab Tulku 1934–2004 - - -
Tenzin Gyatso born 1935 bstan 'dzin rgya mtsho 14th Dalai Lama, Geshe Wide range of works on Buddhism
Thubten Yeshe 1935–1984 thub bstan ye shes - Founder of the FPMT
Tashi Tsering born 1937 bkra shis tshe ring Geshe -
Namkhai Norbu born 1938 nam mkha'i nor bu Chögyal Writings on Dzogchen
Lobsang Tenzin born 1939 blo bzang bstan 'dzin 5th Samdhong Rinpoche, Kalon Tripa of the 13th Kashag of the Tibetan government-in-exile
Tulku Thondup born 1939 sprul sku don grub - -
Akong Rinpoche born 1939 - - -
Loden Sherab Dagyab born 1940 - - -
Bokar Rinpoche 1940–2004 - - Contributions on Bardo
Chögyam Trungpa 1940–1987 chos rgya drung pa 11th Trungpa Tulku from Surmang -
Khenchen Palden Sherab 1941–2010 mkhan chen dpal ldan shes rab - Several Nyingma translations in English
Konchog Gyaltsen born 1946 dkon mchog rgyal mtshan Khenpo -
Thubten Zopa Rinpoche born 1946 - Lama Founder of the FPMT
Sogyal Rinpoche born 1948 bsod rgyal rin po che - Author of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche born 1951 chos kyi nyi ma - Son of Tulku Urgyen, contributions on Bardo
Mipham Chökyi Lodrö born 1952 mi pham chos kyi blo gros 14th Shamarpa -
Ringu Tulku born 1952 - - Contributions to the Rime movement
Khenpo Namdrol born 1953 mkhan po rnam grol Rinpoche Commentator on Vajrakilaya
Dhondup Gyal 1953–1985 don grub rgyal - A founder of modern Tibetan literature
Ngawang Sangpo born 1954 ngag dbang bzang po - -
Gangteng Tulku born 1955 - - Dzogchen
Pasang Yonten born 1955 pa sangs yon tan - Tibetan medicine
Tashi Tsering (London) born 1958 bkra shis tshe ring Geshe -
Alai (author) born 1959 - - Chinese writer
Tashi Dawa born 1959 bkra shis zla ba - Author of A Soul Knotted on a Leather Thong
Khyentse Norbu born 1961 mkhyen brtse nor bu Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse -
Tenzin Wangyal born 1961 bstan 'dzin dbang rgyal - See also Bön
Sakyong Mipham born 1963 - - Son of Chögyam Trungpa
Sungrap Ngedon Tenpa Gyaltsen born 1965 - 7th Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, Abbot of Dzogchen Monastery -
Ngawang Tsoknyi Gyatso born 1966 ngag dbang tshogs gnyis rgya mtsho 3rd Tsoknyi Rinpoche Son of Tulku Urgyen
Tsering Woeser born 1966 - - -
Khandro Rinpoche born 1967 mkha' 'gro rin po che - Daughter of Trichen Jurme Kunzang Wangyal
Tsering Wangmo Dhompa born 1969 tshe ring dbang mo sdom pa - Female poet
Anyen Rinpoche born 1969 - - Dzogchen
Tenzin Tsundue born 1975 - - -
Tulku Lama Lobsang born 1975 sprul sku bla ma blo bzang - -
7th Yongey Mingyur born 1975 yongs dge mi 'gyur Dorje Rinpoche Youngest son of Tulku Urgyen

20th century (cont. alphabetically)

-

Name Dates Wylie transliteration Other names Notes
Bhuchung D. Sonam - Bhuchung Dumra Sonam - -
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
Rasa Phonya - rasa Pho nya Rasa Phonya Tenphunpal poet and philosopher
Yangdon Dhondup - - - Gendün Chöpel
Tsoltim Ngima Shakabpa - - - poet and writer

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 -
Gyurme Dorje - 'gyur med rdo rje - -
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

References

  1. "Lord Jigten Sumgön - Founder of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage". Drikung Kagyu Official Website. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
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