Tai Situ Changchub Gyaltsen

Who was Tai Situ Changchub Gyaltsen?

Tai Situ Changchub Gyaltsen was a key figure in Tibetan History. He was founder of the Phagmodrupa dynasty and ruler of Tibet from 1354 to 1364 or 1371.

Changchub Gyaltsen was the Phagmodru Tripon or Nedong Ghongma who in 1354 overthrew the Mongol appointed Sakya rulers and became ruler of all of Central Tibet - before the Ming Dynasty was established in China in 1368. He and his successors independently ruled Tibet for over eighty years until they were replaced by the Rinpungpa.

As ruler Changchub Gyaltsen was keen to revive the glories of the Tibetan Empire of Songtsen Gampo and assert Tibetan independence from the Mongol Yuan Dynasty and from Ming Dynasty China. He took the Tibetan title “Desi”, re-organized the thirteen myriarchies of the previous Yuan-Sakya rulers into numerous districts, abolished Mongol law in favour of the old Tibetan legal code, and Mongol court dress in favour of traditional Tibetan dress. But he avoided resisting the Yuan court until its fall in 1368, and was recognized by the latter during this period.

Tai Situ Changchub Gyaltsen died in 1364 and was succeeded by his nephew Jamyang Shakya Gyaltsen, also a monk. The subsequent rule of the Phagmodrupa lineage lasted until 1435. From 1435 to 1481 the power of the Phagmodrupa declined as they were eclipsed by the Rinpungpa, who patronized the rival Karma Kagyu school. They were followed by the three Tsangpa kings who ruled from 1566-1641 until Lobsang Gyatso the 5th Dalai Lama, with the support of Güshi Khan, a Mongol ruler of Kokonor, took control of Tibet.