Deshin Shekpa, 5th Karmapa Lama
Illustration — The 5th Karmapa, Deshin Shekpa The 5th Karmapa, Deshin Shekpa (1384–1415), (also Deshin Shegpa, Dezhin Shekpa, Dezhin Shegpa), was the 5th Gyalwa Karmapa, head of the Karma Kagyu, a subschool of the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism. Deshin Shekpa was born in Nyang Dam in the south of Tibet. Om mani padme hum shri." Deshin Shekpa was then taken to Tsawa Phu who recognized him as the reincarnation of the 4th Karmapa.
Also recorded as Deshin Shekpa
Deshin Shekpa, 5th Karmapa Lama

Patricia Berger photograph · JSTOR · Public domain
- Born
- 1384 · Kongpo.
- Died
- 1415 · Lhasa.
- Occupation
- buddhist nun · writer
- Teachers
- Nyakpuwa Sonam Zangpo · Kacho Wangpo · Ka Shyipa Rinchen Pal
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Illustration — The 5th Karmapa, Deshin Shekpa The 5th Karmapa, Deshin Shekpa (1384–1415), (also Deshin Shegpa, Dezhin Shekpa, Dezhin Shegpa), was the 5th Gyalwa Karmapa, head of the Karma Kagyu, a subschool of the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism. Deshin Shekpa was born in Nyang Dam in the south of Tibet. Om mani padme hum shri." Deshin Shekpa was then taken to Tsawa Phu who recognized him as the reincarnation of the 4th Karmapa.
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Biography
Biography
The 5th Karmapa, Deshin Shekpa traveled extensively through Tibet and Mongolia and taught people about non-violence. After having finished his education, he was invited to China in 1403 because its Yongle Emperor, Zhu Di (1402–1424) had a vision of Avalokitesvara, and also required religious ceremonies to be held for his deceased parents. After a long journey beginning in 1403, the 5th Karmapa arrived in Nanjing, the capital of Ming China, on April 10, 1407, while riding an elephant. Arriving at the imperial palace, tens of thousands of monks greeted him. He convinced the emperor that there were different Buddhist branches for different people and that does not mean that one branch is better than the other. The 5th Karmapa was very well received during his visit to the capital and a number of miraculous occurrences are reported. He also performed ceremonies for the emperor's family. The emperor presented him with 700 measures of silver objects and bestowed the title of 'Precious Religious King, Great Loving One of the West, Mighty Buddha of Peace'. He also gave him a material representation of the famous and ethereal 'Vajra Crown' which was said to be invisible to all except those of most pure spirit. It was woven in black brocade and studded with jewels. Aside from religious matters, Emperor Cheng Zu wished to establish an alliance with the 5th Karmapa similar to the one the Yuan (1277–1367 CE) emperors had established with the Sakya school. The Ming emperor apparently offered to send regular armies to unify Tibet under the 5th Karmapa, but Deshin Shekpa declined. The 5th Karmapa left Nanjing on 17 May 1408 CE. In 1410 he returned to Tsurphu Monastery where he rebuilt the monastery which had been severely damaged by an earthquake.
Training under Nyakpuwa Sonam Zangpo, Kacho Wangpo and Ka Shyipa Rinchen Pal is recorded. Go Shri Döndrub Özer, Go Shri Shakya Zangpo and Go Shri Lodrö Gyaltsen are recorded as having studied under Deshin Shekpa, 5th Karmapa Lama. Positions recorded include Karmapa.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1384
Deshin Shekpa, 5th Karmapa Lama was born in 1384 at Kongpo.
1415
Deshin Shekpa, 5th Karmapa Lama died in 1415 at Lhasa.
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Kongpo.
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Lhasa.
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Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.en Nik Douglas, Meryl White, Karmapa: The Black Hat Lama of Tibet, 1976, p. 61 : Citation étrangère en Debzhin Shegpa was born on the eighteenth day of the sixth month of the male wood rat year (1384), at sunrise, in the region of Nyang Dam in Southern Tibet.
- 2.Enthronement, par Koṅ-sprul Blo-gros-mthaʼ-yas, Jamgon Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé, Ngawang Zangpo Snow Lion Publications, 1997
- 3.Marsha Smith Weidner, Cultural Intersections in Later Chinese Buddhism, p. 145
- 4.Michele Martin, Une Musique venue du ciel. Vie et œuvre du Karmapa (2003), trad. Christiane Buchet et Cheuky Sèngué, Claire Lumière, série « Tsadra », 2005, 414 p., ,
- 5.Elliot Sperling. "The 5th Karma-pa and some aspects of the relationship between Tibet and the early Ming." In: Tibetan Studies in Honour of Hugh Richardson. Edited by Michael Aris and Aung San Suu Kyi, p. 284. (1979). Vikas Publishing house, New Delhi.
- 6.Mick Brown, 2004, The Dance of 17 Lives: The Incredible True Story of Tibet's 17th Karmapa, p. 34. Bloomsbury Publishing, New York and London. .
- 7.Nik Douglas, Meryl White, , p. 65 :
- 8.Lama Kunsang & Marie Aubèle, L'Odyssée des Karmapas, La grande histoire des lamas à la coiffe noire, Ed. Albin Michel (2011).
- 9.Francesca-Yvonne Caroutch, La fulgurante épopée des Karmapas : les enfants de l'éveil, Dervy, 2000, p. 217
- 10.Lama Kunsang & Marie Aubèle, L'Odyssée des Karmapas, La grande histoire des lamas à la coiffe noire, Ed. Albin Michel (2011). , p. 131
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He trained under Nyakpuwa Sonam Zangpo, Kacho Wangpo and Ka Shyipa Rinchen Pal. Each of those relationships is stated by the authority record rather than inferred from style.
The authorities additionally record the heading Deshin Shekpa. His recorded confession was Tibetan Buddhism. He was the child of Guru Rinchen and Lhamo Kyi.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
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