The Treasury of Lives

Sonam Rabten (bsod nams rab brtan) was born to the prominent Lhagyari family (lha rgya ri) based in Lhokha (lho kha). He lived in the fifteenth century.

Sonam Rabten's ancestors settled in Chutsen Khazab (chu tsan kha zhabs)in Upper E (e stod), present day Chusum (chu gsum) county, in the Lhokha (lho kha) region, where they became local rulers and established the family seats at Gyari Castle (rgya ri) and Rigo Tashi Chodzong Castle (ri sgo bkra shis chos rdzong).

Sonam Rabten had two brothers, but it is not clear if their father was Yulkhor Wangchuk (yul 'khor dbang phyug, 16th century), the sixth head of Lhagyari, or his brother Jampa Rabten (byams pa rab brtan, 16th century). After Yulkhor Wangchuk, Sonam Rabten became invested as the head of the Lhagyari family in the seventh generation.

In 1577, Sonam Rabten assisted the Third Dalai Lama Sonam Gyatso in building the monastery of Chakar Chode in Chakar Dzong ('chad dkar rdzong).