Four Great Kagyu Lineages

Four Greater Kagyu lineages. The kam tshang or karma bka' brgyud founded by the 1st Karmapa Düsum Khyenpa (1110-1193), the 'ba' rom bka' brgyud founded by Darma Wangchuk (1127-1199), the tshal pa bka' brgyud founded by Zhang Yudragpa Tsöndrü Drakpa (1123-1193), and the phag gru bka' brgyud founded by Phagmo Drupa Dorje Gyalpo (1110-1170).

from Kagyu:
The Dakpo Kagyu developed into the so-called four greater and eight smaller Kagyu schools. The "four greater" lineages were established by direct disciples of Je Gampopa and his nephew and dharma heir Dakpo Gomtsul Tsultrim Nyingpo (dwags po sgom tshul tshul khrims snying po) (1116-1169), while the "eight lesser" ones were founded by students of Phagmo Drupa Dorje Gyalpo (phag mo gru pa rdo rje rgyal po) (1110-1170), one of the four main students of Gampopa.

The Four Greater Kagyu lineages (bka' brgyud che bzhi):
The Kamtshang or Karma Kagyu (karma bka' brgyud) founded by the 1st Karmapa Dusum Khyenpa (dus gsum mkhyen pa) (1110-1193), the Barom Kagyu ('ba' rom bka' brgyud) founded by Darma Wangchuk (sdar ma dbang phyug) (1127-1199), the Tsalpa Kagyu (tshal pa bka' brgyud) founded by Zhang Yudragpa Tsöndrü Drakpa (zhang g.yu brag brtson 'grus grags pa) (1123-1193), and the Phagdru Kagyu (phag gru bka' brgyud) founded by Phagmo Drupa Dorje Gyalpo (phag mo grub pa rdo rje rgyal po) (1110-1170).

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• From Gampopa, numerous lineage arose. These are commonly referred to as the Dakpo Kagyu, which includes the Four Great Kagyu Lineages:
  • Karma Kagyu
  • Tsalpa Kagyu
  • Barom Kagyu
  • Pagtru Kagyu

• and the Eight Lesser Kagyu Lineages, which were created by the students of Phagmo Drupa:
  • Taglung Kagyu
  • Trophu Kagyu
  • Drukpa Kagyu
  • Martsang Kagyu
  • Yelpa Kagyu
  • Yazang Kagyu
  • Shugseb Kagyu
  • Drikung Kagyu

see also the Eight Lesser Kagyu Lineages.