The Treasury of Lives

Tensung Tsering (bstan srung tshe ring) was born in 1743, the water-pig year of twelfth sexagenary cycle, into the Chone (co ne) royal family who ruled Chone, a semi-independent kingdom in Amdo (a mdo). His father Sonam Chopel (bsod nams chos 'phel, d.1747) passed away before assuming the Sakyong (sa skyong) position. As Tensung Tsering was too young to rule, the royal estate was governed by his grandmother, Rinchen Peldzom (rin chen dpal 'dzoms).

When Tensung Tsering turned seventeen, in 1760, he began to govern Chone as King. During his administration, the production of wood blocks for the printing of the Tengyur (bstan 'gyur) continued. This monumental project had been managed by his grandmother Rinchen Peldzom, beginning in either 1742 or 1743. Completed in 1772, in total the project cost 13937.7 silver sang (srang). This edition of the Tengyur, along with the Kangyur (bka' 'gyur) printed in Chone during the reign of the Eleventh Chone King Makzor Gonpo (dmag zor mgon po, 1686-c.1728), later became one of the main editions of the Tibetan Buddhist canon.  

Over a century later, books were printed from these woodblocks on the order of the Eighteenth Chone Sakyong Lobzang Tendzin Namgyel Trinle Dorje (co ne sa skyong 18 blo bzang bstan 'dzin rnam rgyal 'phrin las rdo rje, 1889-1937) for the Austrian-American botanist Joseph F. Rock (1884-1962) who travelled to Chone in the 1920's and spent several years in the region. Rock sent these, among the best-preserved and highest quality editions of the Tibetan Buddhist Canon, to the Library of Congress, where they are still preserved.

In 1766, Tensung Tsering and Rinchen Peldzom invited the Second Jamyang Zhepa, Konchok Jikme Wangpo ('jam dbyangs bzhad pa 02 dkon mchog 'jigs med dbang po, 1728-1791) to Chone, and received a number of initiations, including Guhyasamāja and eleven-faced Avalokiteśvara. The Second Jamyang Zhepa and also composed the catalogue of Chone Tengyur which is included the history of Chone Sakyong lineage.

When the Sixth Paṇchen Lama, Lobzang Pelden Yeshe (paN chen 06 blo bzang dpal ldan ye shes, 1738-1780) made a pilgrimage to China in 1780, Rinchen Peldzom and Tensung Tsering visited him at Kumbum Jampa Ling (sku 'bum byams pa gling), making substantial heavy offerings. Tensung Tsering married Sonam Yangdzom (bsod nams dbyangs 'dzoms, d.u.), who gave birth to two sons, Tendzin Rinchen (bstan 'dzin rin chen), and Lobzang Rinchen (blo bzang rin chen), and a daughter whose name is not recorded.

Tensung Tsering was succeeded by his son, Tendzin Rinchen, in 1780. The exact date of his death is not recorded.