Tsokye Dorje | Guru | Handmade | Copper Oxidized | Silver Plated

Description:

Tsokye Dorje (1450–1510) was a regent of Tibet who ruled in 1491–1499. He belonged to the Rinpungpa family and headed the central government in East Central Tibet during the minority of the heir of the Phagmodrupa Dynasty.

Tsokye Dorje was the fourth son of Norzang, who founded the fortunes of the Rinpungpa in 1435. From this time the family dominated political life in the Tsang region (West Central Tibet) at the expense of the Phagmodrupa kings who resided in East Central Tibet. When Norzang died in 1466, his second son Kunzang took over the leadership of the family, while Tsokye Dorje received the fief Khartog in the Yarlung Valley area. The direct influence of the Phagmodrupa was on the wane, and in 1481 one of their line was deposed by his ministers after a Rinpungpa attack. The next ruler Ngagi Wangpo had a short and turbulent reign, and when he died in 1491 his son Ngawang Tashi Drakpa was only a boy of three. It was then decided to appoint Tsokye Dorje of the Rinpungpa as regent during his minority. At this time the chief of the Rinpungpa faction was Tsokye Dorje's nephew Donyo Dorje.

Feature: CopperBody, Handmade, Handcarved, Copper Oxidized, Partially Silver Plated, gold face painting