Sumpa Khenpo Yeshe Peljor

CHINA, Qinghai, Haidong

Sumpa Khenpo Yeshe Peljor was an important Gelug school master of the 18th century, and considered to be one of five living Buddhas as well as the 32nd head of Gonlung Monastery. When he was three years old, he was recognized as the reincarnation of Sumpa Khenpo Lobsang Tenpa Gyaltsen. He renounced in 1710 at the age of six and was brought to Gonlung Monastery at the recommendation of the Fourth Dalai Lama, Yonten Gyatso. By age 21, Yeshe Peljor was granted full ordination vows from the Fifth Panchen Lama, Lobzang Yeshe. Thereafter, he studied under the tutelage of master teachers such as Jamyang Gyatso, Geshe Ngawang Chodrup, and Nyima Gyaltsen. He quickly became a highly accomplished scholar and was honored with the title “Sumpa Pandita,” pandita being a title awarded to those who have mastered the five sciences: language, logic, medicine, arts and crafts, and spirituality.
Yeshe Peljor received an invitation from Emperor Qianlong (reigned 1736–1795) of the Qing dynasty in 1736 to visit Beijing with the Third Chankya, Rolpai Dorje. The following year in Beijing, he was involved in the editorial work of the Tibetan Canon. He wrote a total of 68 books, among them, Auspicious Forest of Wish-Fulfilling Trees, which recorded the history of Buddhism in India, Tibet, and Mongolia, as well as History of Amdo and General Description of the World System. Art books written by him include Commentary on the Sutra of Measurements for the Construction of Statues. In addition, Yeshe Peljor painted a collection of thangkas that are regarded as sacred items and are now preserved in Lhatse Monastery.