The Treasury of Lives

The Tongkhor line of incarnations began in the sixteenth century when, following the death of Dawa Gyeltsen in 1556, Yonten Gyatso was recognized as his reincarnation, named the Second Tongkhor, and installed at Tongkhor Tashilhunpo in Kham. After the death of the Third Tongkhor, Gyelwa Gyatso, the line had two seats, Tashilhunpo in Kham and the other at Ganden Chokhor Ling in Tongkhor county near Lake Kokonor .Following the death of the Fifth Tongkhor, Ngawang Sonam Gyatso, both communities put forward their own reincarnations. There were thus two Sixth Tongkhor lamas: Ngawang Jamyang Tendzin Gyatso and Jampel Gendun Gyatso. The lines conitnued separately thereafter.