The Treasury of Lives

Rinchen Tendzin Trinle Dorje (rin chen bstan 'dzin 'phrin las rdo rje) was born in 1828, the earth-mouse year of fourteenth sexagenary cycle, into the royal family of Chone (co ne), a semi-independent kingdom in Amdo (a mdo). As youth, he studied both Chinese and Tibetan. In 1844, he succeeded his father, Jigme Topgye ('jigs med stobs rgyas, d. circa 1844), as Sakyong (sa skyong). His elder brother, Konchok Damcho Gyatso (dkon mchog dam chos rgya mtsho, b. 1824) became a monk, and devoted himself to his monastic studies.

In 1846, at the command of Qing Emperor, Rinchen Tendzin Trinle Dorje and a Chinese minister from Tsonngon (mtsho sngon), pacified a revolt led by a Tibetan named Sonam Topa (bsod nams thod pa, d.u.) in the region of Tso (gtsos). Later as the Salars from Yadzi (ya rdzi), revolted against the rule of Qing dynasty, Rinchen Tendzin Trinle Dorje participated in suppressing the uprising. In return he received a number of rewards along with official titles. During his administration, Taozhou (洮州) was also placed under his control.

In 1850, as the Second Tsemonling, Ngawang Jampel Tsultrim Gyatso (tshe smon gling 02 ngag dbang 'jam dpal tshul khrims rgya mtsho, 1792-1862/1864) went on a pilgrimage to China, Rinchen Tendzin Trinle Gyatso visited him in Lanzhou.

Ethnic minorities in border regions continued to revolt against the Qing dynasty, and he regularly acted in the repression of minority rebellions, even in those involving local Tibetans. In 1862, as the Muslims in Shingkun (shing kun, 狄道, present day Lintao) revolted and invaded the Tibetan monastery Darge (dar dge), Rinchen Tendzin Trinle Dorje again suppressed the revolt.

Rinchen Tendzin Trinle Dorje had four sons. His first son, Tsewang Sonam Topgyel (tshe dbang bsod nams stobs rgyal, d.1892), succeeded his father as Sakyong. His second son lived in Pelyul (dpal yul), the third son lived in Lalung (la lung), and the fourth son lived in Shozang (sho bzang).