The Situ Rinpoches
Tai Situ Rinpoche (si tu), an important lineage of Karma Kagyu masters very closely associated with the Karmapas. The masters of the Situ lineage, and others, are responsible for the continuation of the Karma Kagyu lineage in the absence and during the minority of the Karmapas. They are in the posession of a red crown, much like the black crown of the Karmapas. The seat of the early Situ incarnations was the monastery of Lho Karma Gon (lho kar ma dgon). Later they moved to the famous Palpung monastery (dpal spungs) in Derge (sde dge). There were four incarnations which immediately precede the Situ lineage. They are counted as masters of that lineage even though they were not called 'Situ' as such. The title 'Tai Situ' was given by the Chinese Emperor to the '1st' Situ Rinpoche, Chokyi Gyaltsen, in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments.
- A. 'gro mgon sangs rgyas ras chen (1088-1158)
- B. rnal 'byor ye shes dbang po (1220-1281)
- C. ri 'go ba ratna bhadra (1281-1343)
- D. si tu drung che sa ta'i zhing chen (1345-1376)
- 1st Tai Situpa, ta'i si tu chos kyi rgyal mtshan (1377-1448)
- 2nd Tai Situpa, bkra shis rnam rgyal (1450-1497)
- 3rd Tai Situpa, bkra shis dpal 'byor (1498-1541)
- 4th Tai Situpa, mi 'khrugs chos kyi go cha, also known as chos kyi go cha (1542-1585)
- 5th Tai Situpa, chos kyi rgyal mtshan phyi ma, also known as dge legs dpal bzang (1586-1657)
- 6th Tai Situpa, mi pham 'phrin las rab brtan (1658-1682)
- 7th Tai Situpa, legs bshad smra ba'i nyi ma (1683-1698)
- 8th Tai Situpa, chos kyi 'byung gnas (1700-1774)
- 9th Tai Situpa, pad ma nyin byed dbang po, (1775-1853)
- 10th Tai Situpa, pad ma kun bzang (1854-1885)
- 11th Tai Situpa, pad ma dbang mchog rgyal po (1886-1952)
- 12th Tai Situpa, pad ma don yod nyin byed dbang po, (b.1954)