The Je Khenpo (; "The Chief Abbot of the Central Monastic Body of Bhutan"), formerly called the Dharma Raja by orientalists, is the title given to the senior religious hierarch of Bhutan. His primary duty is to lead the Dratshang Lhentshog (Commission for the Monastic Affairs) of Bhutan, which oversees the Central Monastic Body, and to arbitrate on matters of doctrine, assisted by five Lopen Rinpoches (learned masters). The Je Khenpo is also responsible for many important liturgical and religious duties nationwide. The sitting Je Khenpo is also formally the leader of the southern branch of the Drukpa Kagyu sect, which is part of the Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Aside from the King of Bhutan, only the Je Khenpo may don a saffron kabney.
History According to the dual system of government established by Ngawang Namgyal in the 17th century, the powers of the government of Bhutan were ideally split between the religious branch, headed by the Je Khenpo, and the administrative branch, headed by the Druk Desi. The position of Je Khenpo was granted on merit by-election, and typically was given to the most respected monk in the Dratshang Lhentshog (Commission for the Monastic Affairs). Thus, unlike reincarnation lineages such as the Dalai Lama, Zhabdrung Rinpoche, or Panchen Lama, the position of Je Khenpo was never held by a child but always by a seasoned monk.
Historically, the role of the Je Khenpo was quite powerful. The Je Khenpo and Druk Desi collaborated to disempower the office of the Zhabdrung by finding multiple incarnations of various aspects of the Zhabdrung; both the Je Khenpo and the Druk Desi wanted to retain the power they had accrued through the dual system of government. However, since the establishment of the monarchy in 1907, the relative influence of the Je Khenpo has diminished. Nonetheless, the position remains powerful, and Je Khenpo is typically viewed as the closest and most powerful advisor to the King of Bhutan.
The 67th Je Khenpo, Ngawang Thinley Lhundup, died at age 84 on 10 June 2005. He was noted as a strict disciplinarian who would not compromise any rules in managing the Central Monastic Body. In addition to his position as Je Khenpo, he was recognized as the tulku of Nyizergang, the seat of the tertön Woogpa Lingpa in Wangdue Phodrang Province.
The 70th and present Je Khenpo is Tulku Jigme Chhoeda.His Facebook He is believed to be the reincarnation of Maitreya and the mahasiddha Saraha, Hungchen Kara, Kheuchung Lotsawa, and Pema Tsering.
In 2008, the office of the Je Khenpo was codified as part of the Constitution of Bhutan. Under Article 3 Section 4, the King appoints the Je Khenpo as the spiritual leader of Bhutan on the recommendation of the Five Lopons. In turn, the Je Khenpo appoints, on the recommendation of the Dratshang Lhentshog (Commission for the Monastic Affairs), monks with the nine qualities of a spiritual master and accomplished in ked-dzog (stages of development and completion in Vajrayana practice) as the Five Lopons.
The residences of the Je Khenpo and the Central Monastic Body are:Central Monastic Body returns to their summer residence
Winter residence: Punakha Dzong. Summer residence: Tashichho Dzong.
List of Je Khenpos
17th century Number Name Tenure1 Pekar Jungney 1651–16722 Sonam Ozer 1672–16893 Pekar Lhundrup 1689–16974 Damcho PekarTibetan Buddhist Resource Center W8683-3638-3-238 1697–1707
18th century Number Name Tenure5 Zodpa Thinley 1707–17246 Ngawang Lhundrup 1724–17307 Ngawang Thinley 1730–17388 Tenzin Norbu 1738–17449 Shakya Rinchen 1744–175510 Tenzin Chogyal 1755–176211 Ngawang Thinley 1762–176912 Kunga Jamtsho 1769–177113 Yonten Thaye 1771–177514 Tenzin Namgyal 1775–178115 Kunzang Gyaltsen 1781–178416 Sherab Singye 1784–179117 Jamgön Yeshi Dorji 1791–179718 Jamyang Gyaltshen 1797–1803
19th century Number Name Tenure19 Ngawang Chögyal 1803–180720 Yeshey Gyaltshen 1807–181121 Jampyel Drakpa 1811–181622 Jigme Gyaltsen 1816–182623 Jampyel Drakpa 1826–183124 Shakya Gyaltsen 1831–183625 Sherab Gyaltsen 1836–183926 Yönten Jamtsho 1839–184027 Pema Zangpo 1840–184728 Rinchen Zangpo 1847–184829 Pema Zangpo 1848–185030 Jampyel Jamtsho 1850–185131 Yönten Gyaltsen 1851–185832 Tshultrim Gyaltsen 1858–186033 Künga Peljor 1860–186134 Shedrup Ozer 1861–186535 Shakya Gyaltsen 1865–186936 Yönten Pelzang 1869–187337 Künga Singye 1873–187538 Shākya Gyaltsen 1875–187539 Lodrö Gyaltsen 1875–187840 Pekar Ozer 1878–188141 Ngawang Dönden 1881–188642 Thinley Gyaltsen 1886–188843 Tenzin Lhündrup 1888–188944 Thinley Gyaltsen 1889–189145 Thinley Jamtsho 1891–189446 Damchö Gyaltsen 1894–189947 Sherab Lhündrup 1899–1901
20th century Number Name Tenure48 Jamyang Rinchen 1901–190349 Rigzin Nyingpo 1903–190750 Jampyel Shenyen 1907–190951 Jampai Tobzang 1909–191252 Pelden Singye 1912–191553 Yeshey Ngödrup 1915–191754 Yeshey Dawa 1917–191855 Pelden Singye 1918–191856 Mipham Wangpo 1919–192257 Ngawang Gyaltsen 1922–192758 Sidzhe Namgyal 1927–193159 Chökyi Wangchuk 1931–194060 Ngawang Thinley 1940–194661 Samten Jamtsho 1946–195562 Yönten Tsündu 1955–195663 Thinley Lhündrup 1956–196164 Samten Pelzang 1961–196565 Yeshey Singye 1965–196866 Yönten Tarchen 1968–197167 Nyizer Thinley Lhendrup 1971–1986 68 Je Thrizur Tenzin Doendrup 1986–199069 Geshey Gendün Rinchen 1990–199670 Trulku Jigme Chhoeda 1996 – present
21st century Number Name Tenure70 Trulku Jigme Chhoeda 1996 – present
See also Buddhism in Bhutan Constitution of Bhutan Dual system of government Khenpo
References