The Treasury of Lives

Tsewang Sonam Tobgyel (tshe dbang bsod nams stobs rgyal) was born into the royal family of Chone (co ne sa skyong), a semi-independent principality in Amdo (a mdo). He inherited the Sakyong (sa skyong) position in 1880, the iron-dragon year of fifteenth sexagenary cycle, from his father, Rinchen Tendzin Trinle Dorje (rin chen bstan 'dzin 'phrin las rdo rje, b.1828).

During his reign, the area was in a persistent state of turmoil as Tibetans and Muslims revolted against the Qing Dynasty. In 1881, a group of Tibetans from Drukchu ('brug chu) under the Chone royal administration rebelled, and in response military forces numbering four thousand men were sent in. They were led by Kelzang Tenpa (bskal bzang bstan pa, d.u.) and Tsering Samdrub (tshe dbang bsam grub,d.u.). Later in 1896, Tibetans in Tewo (the bo), and at the border of Sichuan Province (四川), including Potsa (包座, bod rtsa), Shaotse (双寨, Hra'o tse) and Gyelgong (甲供, rgyal gong), revolted against the Qing, and were defeated by Yangchangjun (杨昌俊, 1826-1897), and Xiayuxiu (夏毓秀, d. 1910).

During these revolts, Tsewang Sonam Tobgyel did not assist the Qing Court, as the Chone royal family had in previous generations. Thus, the Qing Court accused him of poor political administration and attempted to apply the policy of Gaitu Guiliu (改土归流), known as the Bureaucratization of Native Officers, which can be translated as "replacing native chieftains with regular officials." The effort failed and Tsewang Sonam Tobgyel retained his position.

In 1880, Tsewang Sonam Tobgyel married a Mongol who was the daughter of leader from the Alashan Kingdom in Inner Mongolia.

He died around 1902, the year his grandson, Lobzang Tendzin Namgyel Trinle Dorje (cone sa skyong 18 blo bzang bstan 'dzin rnam rgyal 'phrin las rdo rje), was enthroned as the Eighteenth Chone Sakyong. Little else is known of his life.