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List of Tibetan writers

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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	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{{Cite web
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](3rd-dalai-lama)	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](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](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](7th-dalai-lama)	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](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	1903–1951	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	1913–2015	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	1924–2019	-	Abt des Karma Triyana Dharmachakra	-
Lopön Tenzin Namdak	1926–2025	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	1931–2022	bskal bzang rgya mtsho	Geshe	Founder of the New Kadampa Tradition
Thinley Norbu	1931–2011	* 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	1933–2023	-	Khenchen	-
Palden Gyatso	1933–2018	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	1938–2018	nam mkha'i nor bu	Chögyal	Writings on Dzogchen
Lobsang Tenzin	born 1937	blo bzang bstan 'dzin	5th Samdhong Rinpoche, Kalon Tripa of the 13th Kashag of the Tibetan government-in-exile
Akong Rinpoche	1939–2013	-	-	-
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	1945–2023	-	Lama	Founder of the FPMT
Sogyal Rinpoche	1947–2019	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	1952–2014	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 1962	-	-	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
Hortsang Jigme	born 1967	Hor-gtsang-'jigs-med	-	-
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	-

References

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