The Treasury of Lives

Konchok Damcho Gyatso (dkon mchog dam chos rgya mtsho) was the born in 1824, the wood-bird year of fourteenth sexagenary cycle, in the royal family of Chone (co ne), as semi-independent kingdom in Amdo (a mdo). As his brother Rinchen Tendzin Trinle Dorje (rin chen bstan 'dzin 'phrin las rgya mtsho, b.1828) inherited the Sakyong (sa skyong) position, he became monk.

It was the general practice of the family that eldest sons would be heirs to the throne while younger sons would become monks and serve as abbots at Chone Gonchen Ganden Shedrub Ling (co ne dgon chen dga' ldan bshad sgrub gling). Konchok Damcho Gyatso was sent to Labrang Tashikhyil (bla brang bkra shis 'khyil) for initial training, after which he returned to Chone.

In 1844, after Konchok Damcho Gyatso's father, the Fifteenth Chone Sakyong Jigme Tobgye (co ne sa skyong 15 'jigs med stobs rgyas, 19th century), passed away, he and his brother invited Third Jamyang Zhepa, Lobzang Tubten Jigme Gyatso ('jam dbyangs bzhad pa 03 blo bzang thub bstan 'jigs med rgya mtsho, 1792-1855), to Khyage Monastery (khya dge). At this time, he received full monastic ordination.

During his abbacy, he and his brother supported the founding of a number of monastic institutions, including a Tantric College at Luchung Monastery (klu chung), a Logic College at Khyage Monastery, and Ongsum Ganden Chopel Ling ('ong gsum dga' ldan chos 'phel gling). He was known for training disciples in the drawing of the vajra garland mandala (mi tra rdro phreng gyi khyil 'khor) of the eight stupas (mchod rten brgyad kyi thig rtsa). He also instructed students in Tibetan and Sanskrit grammar, as well as in poetics.

The date of his death is not known.