Sumpa Khenpo Yeshe Peljor (1704–1788): Life and work of the Orate Buddhist scholar

Abstract

The article analyzes life and work of a famous Oirat Buddhist scholar Sumpa-kenpo Yeshe Peljor (1704–1788). He was born in 1704 in Amdo, south of Lake Kokonor, in a family of Oirat Mongols. At the age of 7, he was recognized as a reincarnation of the abbot of Gonglung Monastery. In 1723 he went to study in Central Tibet at the Gomang-datsan of the Drepung Monastery. While studying in the dastan, he urged monks of the Lhasa monasteries not to join the army during the civil war of 1727-1728 between the provinces of U and Tsang. In gratitude for the service, the ruler of Tibet, Polhane, appointed him the abbot (khenpo) of the Dreyu Kyitse monastery, after which he became known as Sumpa-kenpo. In 1731, at the age of 28, he returned in Amdo. In 1735, he went to Beijing, the capital of the Qing Empire, at the invitation of Emperor Qianlong. The collection of works of Sumpa-kenpo comprose eight volumes and 68 compositions. The most among then are the “Pagsam-Jonsang” (Wish-fullfilling tree) and the “History of Kokonor”. His work alsos include numerous texts on philosophy, the art of making statues and thangka, medicine, astrology, poetics, correspondence, etc. From 1771, Sumpa-kenpo began to visit Mongolia. Sumpa-kenpo Yeshe Peljor became a key figure in the cultural renaissance of Amdo in the 18th century and the spread of Buddhism in Inner Mongolia. In 1788, Sumpa-kenpo Yeshe-Peljor died at the age of 85, leaving behind a rich sholarly and spiritual legacy.