Dalai Lama Incarnation Lineage | Dalai Lama Outline Page | AMNH set | Gold Silk Set | Prajnaparamita Set | 7th Dalai Lama Set | Previous Incarnations | Potala Palace | Desi Sanggye Gyatso | Dalai Lama Incarnation Set
Also see: Ganden Throne Holders | Panchen Lama
Sonam Gyatso (1543-1588) was the first to bear the title Dalai Lama, a line of successively re-incarnating teachers in Tibetan Buddhism. Gedun Drub and Gedun Gyatso, referred to as the first and second Dalai Lamas, were posthumously recognized as his predecessors. It was the 5th Dalai Lama, also known as the Great 5th, Ngagwang Lobzang Gyatso (1617-1682) that unified Tibet once again into a powerful empire and established the Ganden Podrang Government. The successive Dalai Lamas have been the Heads of State since the time of the Great 5th. Depictions of the Dalai Lamas can be recognized by the iconographic characteristics of a white lotus flower held in the right hand and a yellow Pandita hat. The yellow hat is an attribute also shared with Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelugpa school. 1st Dalai Lama, Gendun Druba (1391-1474)
Biographical details2nd Dalai Lama, Gendun Gyatso (1476-1542)
Biographical details3rd Dalai Lama, Sonam Gyatso (1543-1588)
Biographical details4th Dalai Lama, Yontan Gyatso (1589-1617)
Biographical details5th Dalai Lama, Lobzang Gyatso (1617-1682)
Biographical details6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso (1683-1706/1746)
Biographical details7th Dalai Lama, Kalzang Gyatso (1708-1757)
Biographical details8th Dalai Lama, Jampal Gyatso (1758-1804)
Biographical details9th Dalai Lama, Lungtog Gyatso (1805-1815)
Biographical details10th Dalai Lama, Tsultrim Gyatso (1816-1837)
Biographical details11th Dalai Lama, Kedrub Gyatso (1838-1855)
Biographical details12th Dalai Lama, Trinle Gyatso (1856-1875)
Biographical details13th Dalai Lama, Tubten Gyatso (1876-1933)
Biographical details14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso (b.1935)
Biographical detailsPrior to the first Dalai Lama there were six principal pre-incarnations commonly represented in art.
