List of Tibetan writers
Introduction 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 KharchenGreat 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  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  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 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 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 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  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  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  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  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  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  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)=== 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  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 * Derge Parkhang* Sa'gya library
References