The Treasury of Lives

Lobzang Nyendrak (blo bzang snyan grags, d. 1824) was born into the Drongto Norbutsang (grong stod nor bu tshang) family in Litang. When his son, Tsultrim Gyatso was recognized and enthroned as the Tenth Dalai Lama (ta la'i bla ma 10 tshul khrims rgya mtsho, 1816-1837) in 1822, his father was granted the rank and button of a first-class taiji, a princely title bestowed to Mongolian and Tibetans, by the Daoguang Emperor (道光帝, r.1820-1850).

Lobzang Nyendrak was unable to stay in Lhasa due to health concerns. He received permission to leave Lhasa, and returned home. He died in 1824.

Lobzang Nyendrak's younger son, Kelzang Puntsok (bskal bzang phun tshogs), succeeded him as head of the family and inherited his titles. In 1825, he was granted the Yutok estate in Lhasa, which formerly belonged to the Bumtang (bum thang) family. The family, thus ennobled, became known as Yabzhi Yutok (yab gzhis g.yu thog). Yabzhi (yab gzhis) status was granted to families of the Dalai Lamas, a tradition beginning with the family of the Seventh Dalai Lama, Kelzang Gyatso (tA la'i bla ma 07 bskal bzang rgya mtsho, 1708-1757).

Members of the Yabzhi Yutok family continued to play active roles in politics into the twentieth century. Yutok Puntsok Pelden (g.yu thog phun tshogs dpal ldan, b. 1860) was an important figure in negotiations between Tibet and the English Younghusband expedition in 1904. Yutok Tashi Dondrub (g.yu thog bkra shis don grub, 1906-1983), Puntsok Pelden’s grandson, was sent for military training in Quetta, present-day Pakistan. Thereafter he served in a variety of government positions. He left Tibet permanently in 1956, first settling in Kalimpong, then later in Taiwan.

Yabzhi Yutok members are not related to the Yutok family claiming descent from Yutok Yonten Gonpo (g.yu thog yon tan mgon po, 790-833).