List of Tibetan writers

This is a chronological list of important Tibetan writers.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

7th-10th century

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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		 Consort 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

11th century

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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
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
Langri Tangpa 1054–1123 glang ri thang pa Geshe Kadam tradition
Patsab 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

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Name Dates Wylie transliteration Other names Notes
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 -
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

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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
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

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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
Orgyen Lingpa 1323 – c. 1360 o rgyan gling pa Tertön -
Rolpe Dorje 1340–1383 rol pa'i rdo rje 4th Karmapa Wrote many dohas
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
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
Gö Lotsawa Zhönnu-pel 1392–1481 'gos lo tsa ba gzhon nu dpal - Author of the Blue Annals

15th century

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Name Dates Wylie transliteration Other names Notes
Gorampa Sönam Senge 1429–1489 go rams pa bsod nams seng ge - -
Pema Lingpa 1450–1521 padma gling pa Tertön -
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
Gendun Gyatso 1475–1542 dge 'dun rgya mtsho 2nd Dalai Lama Mystical verse and visions
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

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Name Dates Wylie transliteration Other names Notes
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

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Name Dates Wylie transliteration Other names Notes
Kelden Gyatso 1607–1677 skal ldan rgya mtsho Kelden Repa "Mgur Bum", poetry and songs in the style of Milarepa
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
Desi Sangye Gyatso 1653–1705 sangs rgyas rgya mtsho Desi Wrote Vaidurya-Karpo and Vaidurya sNgon-po
Tsangyang Gyatso 1682–1706 tshangs dbyangs rgya mtsho 6th Dalai Lama Many great poems with often worldly subjects are ascribed to him

18th century

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Name Dates Wylie transliteration Other names Notes
Chokyi Jungne, Situ Panchen 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

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Name Dates Wylie transliteration Other names Notes
Jigme Chökyi Wangpo 1808–1887 'jigs med chos kyi dbang po Patrul Rinpoche -
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 -
Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen 1859–1935 shar rdza bkra shis rgyal mtshan - See also Bön
Thubten Gyatso 1876–1933 thub bstan rgya mtsho 13th Dalai Lama -
Pabongkhapa Déchen Nyingpo 1878–1941 pha bong kha pa bde chen snying po - -
Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö 1893–1959 'jam dbyangs mkhyen brtse chos kyi blo gros - Rime movement

20th century

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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
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 -
Chatral Sangye Dorje born 1913 bya bral sangs rgyas rdo rje Chatral Rinpoche -
Geshe Rabten 1920–1986 dge bshes rab brtan - Author on Buddhism
Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche 1920–1996 sprul sku o rgyan - -
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
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
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
Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche 1932–1999 - Nyoshul Khenpo -
Ani Pachen 1933–2002 - - Autobiography
9th Thrangu Rinpoche born 1933 - Khenchen -
Palden Gyatso born 1933 dpal ldan rgya mtsho - Autobiography
Tarthang Tulku born 1934 - - -
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
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
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 -
Dhondup Gyal 1953–1985 don grub rgyal - A founder of modern Tibetan literature
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
Tenzin Tsundue born 1975 - - -
7th Yongey Mingyur born 1975 yongs dge mi 'gyur Dorje Rinpoche Youngest son of Tulku Urgyen

20th century (cont. alphabetically)

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Name Dates Wylie transliteration Other names Notes
Jamyang Norbu - 'jam dbyangs nor bu - -
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
Tsoltim Ngima Shakabpa - - - poet and writer

Foreign writers with Tibetan names

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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 - -
Thubten Chodron born 1950 thub bstan chos sgron Cherry Greene -
Tsultrim Allione born 1947 tshul khrims Allione Joan Rousmanière Ewing -

See also

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References

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