Tatsag

The Tatsag or Tatsak (Wylie: rTa-tshag) lineage is a Tibetan Buddhist reincarnation lineage whose first member was Baso Chokyi Gyaltsen (1402–73). Since 1794 the Tatsag has been the owner of the Kundeling Monastery in Lhasa. There has been some controversy over the representative of the lineage in recent years.

Founder
Baso Chokyi Gyeltsen was the first member of the lineage, born to a noble family in Lato in 1402. His elder brother was Tsongkhapa Lobzang Drakpa's (1357–1419). He became a monk at an early age, and studied under Yongdzin Khedrub and Jampel Gyatso (1356–1428). He either founded or took over leadership of the monastery of Baso Lhundrub Dechen, and was given the title of Baso Choje, He was planning to move to Kashmir when he was appointed head of Ganden Monastery in 1463, where he stayed until his death in 1473.

Early lineage
A reincarnation of Baso Chokyi Gyeltsen was identified in Jedrung Lhawang Chokyi Gyeltsen (1537–1603). His reincarnation was in turn identified in Ngawang Chokyi Wangchuk (1606–52), called the 5th Tatsak Jedrung. At this time Wonpo Lhakyab (1474–1502), nephew of the First Pakpa Lha, was identified as having been the 2nd Tatsak. A fictional Liyul Chogyel (1509-1526) was invented as 3rd Tatsak. The early Tatsag lineage is:

Kundeling Monastery
The eighth incarnation, Yeshe Lobsang Tenpai Gonpo, was granted ownership of the Kundeling Monastery. A set of paintings in ground mineral pigment on cotton held by the Rubin Museum of Art depicts the first eight Talsags. It was probably created after the passing of the 8th Tatsag in 1810. The eighth and tenth members of the lineage served as regents of Tibet (1789–90, 1791–1811, 1875–86). Proprietors of the Kundeling monastery have been:

Thirteenth incarnation
The thirteenth member of the lineage as recognized by the Dalai Lama was Tenzin Chokyi Gyaltsen (bsTan-'dzin chos-kyi rgyal-mtshan), born about 1958. He fled to India in 1959. The 13th Tatsag Jedrung Hutuktu was found in Lhasa and was recognized after he moved to India. He became a well-known scholar. Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama personally performed his ordination, hair cutting and naming ceremonies in the main temple of Dharamshala on 13 April 1993.

A parallel incarnation is recognized in Lhasa, Lobzang Yeshe Jampal Gyatso (Blo-bzang ye-shes. Lobzang Yeshe, born in 1959, was recognized by the Kundeling Labrang.