The principle Dagpo Kagyu lineages that exist today as organized schools are the
Karma Kagyu,
Drikung Kagyu and the
Drukpa Lineage. For the most part, the teachings and main esoteric transmissions of the other Dagpo Kagyu lineages have been absorbed into one of these three independent schools. Historically, there were twelve main sub schools of the Dagpo Kagyu derived from
Gampopa and his disciples. Four primary branches stemmed from direct disciples of Gampopa and his nephew; and eight secondary branches derived from Gampopa's disciple Phagmo Drupa. Several of these Kagyu traditions in turn developed their own branches or sub-schools. The terminology "primary and secondary" (early/later) for the Kagyu schools can only be traced back as far as Kongtrul's and other's writings (19th century). The Tibetan terminology "che chung", literally "large (and) small," does not reflect the size or influence of the schools, as for instance the Drikung school was in the 13th century probably the largest and most influential of them, although it is, according to Kongtrul, "secondary".Or it can be taken as early and later schools.
Four primary branches of the Dagpo Kagyu Karma Kamtsang (Karma Kagyu) The Drubgyu Karma Kamtsang, often known simply as Karma Kagyu, was founded by one of Gampopa's main disciples
Düsum Khyenpa, 1st Karmapa Lama (1110–1193). The figure of
Karma Pakshi (1204/6–1283), a student of one of
Düsum Khyenpa's main disciples, was actually the first person recognized as a "
Karmapa", i.e. a reincarnation of
Düsum Khyenpa.
Rangjung Dorje, 3rd Karmapa Lama, was an important figure because he received and preserved
Dzogchen teachings from
Rigdzin Kumaradza and taught this along with Kagyu Mahamudra. He also influenced
Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen, the founder of the
Jonang school who systematized the
shentong teachings. The Karmapas continue to be the heads of the Karma Kagyu order today and remain very influential figures. According to Reginald Ray:Although in the diaspora the
sixteenth Karmapa was considered the “head” of the Kagyu lineage, in Tibet the situation was more decentralized. In spite of the titular role of the Karmapa, even in exile the various surviving Kagyu subschools maintain a high degree of independence and autonomy.Following the death of
Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, 16th Karmapa in 1981, followers came to disagree over the identity of his successor. The disagreement of who holds the current title of Karmapa is an ongoing controversy termed the "
Karmapa controversy".
Sub-schools of Karma Kagyu The Karma Kagyu school itself has three sub-schools in addition to the main branch: :*Surmang, founded by Trungmase, 1st
Zurmang Gharwang Rinpoche, a student of
Deshin Shekpa, 5th Karmapa Lama, this sub-sect was centered on
Surmang Monastery, in what is now
Qinghai :*Nédo Kagyu (), founded by
Karma Chagme (, 1613–1678), a disciple of the 6th
Shamarpa (, 1584–1630) :*Gyaltön Kagyu
Barom Kagyu The Barom Kagyu was founded by Gampopa's disciple (, 1127–1199/1200), who established the Nak River Barom Riwoche Monastery () in 1160. This school was popular in the Principality of Nangchen in
Kham (modern
Nangqên County,
Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southern Qinghai) where it has survived in one or two pockets to the present day. An important early master of this school was Tishri Repa Sherab Senge (, 1164–1236).
Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche (1920–1996) was a holder of the Barom Kagyu Lineage.
Tshalpa Kagyu The Tshalpa Kagyu was established by
Zhang Yudrakpa Tsöndru Drakpa (, 1123–1193), who founded Tsel Gungtang Monastery (). Lama Zhang was a disciple of Gampopa's nephew (, 1116–1169). The Tshalpa Kagyu tradition continued to function independently until the 15th century when it was absorbed by the Gelug, who still maintain many of its transmissions. All of the former Tshelpa properties became Gelug possessions under the administration of Sera monastery.
Phagdru Kagyu The
Phagmo Drupa Kagyu () or
Phagdru Kagyu (ཕག་གྲུ་བཀའ་བརྒྱུད) was founded by
Phagmo Drupa Dorje Gyalpo (, 1110–1170) who was the elder brother of the famous Nyingma lama (1122–1192) founder of
Katok Monastery. Before meeting
Gampopa, Dorje Gyalpo studied with
Sachen Kunga Nyingpo ''(sa chen kun dga' snying po)'' (1092–1158) from whom he received
lamdre transmission. From 1435 to 1481 the power of the Phagmodrupa declined and they were eclipsed by the Rinpungpa () of Tsang, who patronized the Karma Kagyu. The Phagmo Drupa monastery of Dentsa Thel "was completely destroyed during the Cultural Revolution in 1966–1978"
Eight Secondary branches of the Dagpo Kagyu The eight secondary lineages (
zung bzhi ya brgyad or
chung brgyad) of the Dagpo Kagyu all trace themselves to disciples of Phagmo Drupa. Some of these secondary schools, notably the Drikung Kagyu and Drukpa Kagyu, became more important and influential than others.
Drikung Kagyu One of the most important of the Kagyu sects still remaining today, the
Drikung Kagyu (འབྲི་གུང་བཀའ་པརྒྱུད་པ) takes its name from
Drigung Monastery founded by Jigten Sumgön, also known as Drikung Kyopa. The special Kagyu teachings of the Drikung tradition include the "Single Intention" (), "The Essence of Mahāyāna Teachings" (), and the "Fivefold Profound Path of Mahāmudrā" (). Since the 15th century the Drikung Kagyupa received influence from the "northern
terma" () teachings of the Nyingma tradition.
Lingre Kagyu Lingre Kagyu refers to the lineages founded by () [1128-1188] also known as Nephupa after Nephu monastery
(sna phu dgon) he founded near Dorje Drak
(rdo rje brag) in Central Tibet
(dbus). Lingrepa's teachers were
Gampopa's disciple
Phagmo Drupa Dorje Gyalpo;
Rechungpa's disciple Sumpa Repa; and Ra Yeshe Senge, a lineage holder of .
Drukpa Lineage The Drukpa Lineage was established by Ling Repa's main disciple,
Tsangpa Gyare (1161–1211), who established monasteries at Longbol () and
Ralung Monastery (). Later, Tsangpa Gyare went to a place called Nam Phu where, legend has it, nine roaring dragons rose from the ground and soared into the sky. The Tibetan word for dragon is
Druk (), so Tsangpa Gyare's lineage and the monastery he established at the place became known as the
Drukpa and he became known as the
Gyalwang Drukpa. This school became widespread in Tibet and in surrounding regions. Today the Southern Drukpa Lineage is the
state religion of Bhutan, and in the western Himalayas, Drukpa Lineage monasteries are found in
Ladakh,
Zanskar,
Lahaul and
Kinnaur. Along with the
Mahamudra teachings inherited from Gampopa and
Phagmo Drupa Dorje Gyalpo, particular teachings of the Drukpa Lineage include the "Six Cycles of Equal Taste" (), a cycle of instructions said to have been hidden by
Rechung Dorje Drakpa and discovered by Tsangpa Gyare, and the "Seven Auspicious Teachings" () revealed to Tsangpa Gyare by seven Buddhas who appeared to him in a vision at Tsari.
Shuksep Kagyu The Shuksep Kagyu () was established by Gyergom Chenpo Zhönnu Drakpa (, 1090–1171), who founded the Shuksep Monastery in Nyiphu. The Shuksep Kagyu emphasized the Mahamudra teachings of the
dohas, spiritual songs of realization by Indian masters such as
Saraha, Shavaripa, Tilopa, Naropa and Maitripa. A notable member of this lineage was the nun
Shukseb Jetsun Chönyi Zangmo.
Taklung Kagyu The
Taklung Kagyu (), named after Taklung Monastery established in 1180 by
Taklung Thangpa Tashi Pal (1142–1210).
Trophu Kagyu The Trophu Kagyu () was established by Gyeltsa Rinchen Gön (, 1118–1195) and Künden Repa (, 1148–1217). The tradition was developed by their nephew, Thropu Lotsawa, who invited Pandit Shakyasri of Kashmir, Buddhasri and Mitrayogin to Tibet. The most renowned adherent of this lineage was
Buton Rinchen Drub (1290–1364) of
Zhalu, who was a student of Trophupa Sonam Sengge () and Trophu Khenchen Rinchen Senge (). Other notable teachers of this tradition include Chegompa Sherab Dorje (1130?-1200)
Yazang Kagyu The Yazang Kagyu () founded by Sharawa Kalden Yeshe Sengge (d. 1207). His foremost disciple was Yazang Chöje Chö Mönlam (1169–1233) who in 1206 established the monastery of Yabzang, also known as Nedong Dzong, in Yarlung. The Yazang Kagyu survived as an independent school at least until the 16th century.
Yelpa Kagyu The Yelpa Kagyu () was established by Druptop Yéshé Tsekpa (, b. 1134). He established two monasteries, Shar Yelphuk () and
Jang Tana (). ==Shangpa Kagyu==