The Changkya incarnation line is based at Gonlung Jampa Ling, one of the four most important Geluk monasteries in Amdo. Many of the Changkya lamas had a close relationship with the Qing court. The Second Changkya Ngawang Lobzang Choden was a close teacher of the Kangxi Emperor and responsible for the initial spread of the Geluk tradition of Tibetan Buddhism in the high circles of the Qing dynasty. The Third Changkya Rolpai Dorje served as the Qianlong emperor's main Buddhist translator, tutor, and National Preceptor.
Biographies
The First Changkya, Drakpa Wozer
b.late 16th cent. - d.1641
Drakpa Wozer, who was posthumously given the title of First Changkya, was prominent Geluk master of Amdo. He trained at Gonlung and Gomang College of Drepung Monastery. He served as the sixth abbot of Gonlung from 1630 to 1633.
The Second Changkya, Ngawang Lobzang Choden
b.1642 - d.1714
The Second Changkya, Ngawang Lobzang Choden, trained at Gomang college at Drepung. He was a close teacher of the Kangxi Emperor and was thus responsible for the initial spread of Tibetan Buddhism in the elite circles of the Qing Dynasty.
The Third Changkya, Rolpai Dorje
b.1717 - d.1786
Changkya Rolpai Dorje, the Third Changkya incarnation, was a principle Buddhist teacher in the Qing court during the eighteenth century, a close personal associate of the Qianlong Emperor, and an important intermediary between the imperial court and Inner Asia. Rolpai Dorje was of Monguor descent, born in Northeastern Tibet, and raised and educated primarily within the Qing imperial court. His main monastic seat in Tibet was Gonlung Jampa Ling, one of the four most important Geluk monasteries in Amdo. A close colleague of the Sixth Paṇchen Lama, over the course of his career Rolpai Dorje acted as Qianlong's main Buddhist translator, tutor, and National Preceptor.
The Fourth Changkya, Yeshe Tenpai Gyeltsen
b.1787 - d.1846
The Fifth Changkya, Yeshe Tenpai Nyima
b.1849 - d.1874
The Seventh Changkya, Lobzang Pelden Tenpai Dronme
b.1892 - d.1958