8th Dalai Lama facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jamphel
Religion	Tibetan Buddhism
Personal
Born	1758 Thobgyal, Ü-Tsang, Tibet,  Qing Dynasty
Died	1804 (aged 45–46) Tibet,  Qing Dynasty
Senior posting
Title	8th Dalai Lama
Period in office	1762–1804
Predecessor	Kelzang Gyatso
Successor	Lungtok Gyatso
Chinese name
Chinese	強白嘉措
Transcriptions
Tibetan name
Tibetan	བྱམས་སྤེལ་རྒྱ་མཚོ་
Transcriptions Wylie 'jam dpal rgya mtsho Tibetan Pinyin Qambê Gyaco

Jamphel Gyatso (1758–1804) was the 8th Dalai Lama of Tibet. He was an important spiritual leader. He was born in 1758 in a place called Lhari Gang in southwestern Tibet. His parents, Sonam Dhargye and Phuntsok Wangmo, came from Kham. They were related to Dhrala Tsegyal, a famous hero from the old Gesar stories.

Becoming the Dalai Lama

Jamphel Gyatso was taken to Lhasa, the capital city. He became the leader of the Tibetan people in 1762. He was only five years old at the time. The special ceremony happened in the grand Potala Palace. Demo Tulku Jamphel Yeshi led the ceremony. He was the first of many Regents who would help the Dalai Lamas when they were young.

Jamphel Gyatso learned from a wise teacher named Yongtsin Yeshe Gyaltsen.

Ruling Tibet

Regents continued to govern Tibet until 1784. A Regent is like a temporary leader who rules until the main leader is old enough. In 1784, the Regent went to China. Jamphel Gyatso then ruled Tibet by himself until 1790. After that, the Regent came back to help him again.

In 1788, there was a disagreement with wool traders from Nepal. This led to a small fight with the Gurkhas. In 1790, the Gurkhas invaded southern Tibet. They took over some areas like Nya-nang and Kyi-drong. They also captured and took things from the city of Shigatse and the Tashilhunpo Monastery.

However, the Gurkhas were pushed back to Nepal in 1791. This happened after the Qing dynasty sent soldiers to Tibet. A peace agreement was made between the Qing dynasty and the Gurkhas in 1796.

Building and Art Projects

In 1783, Jamphel Gyatso built the Norbulingka Park and Summer Palace. This beautiful place is just outside Lhasa. He also asked for a special copper statue of the Buddha to be made. This statue was for the people of Southern Tibet. It was later moved to India in the 1960s. Now, you can see it at the Library of Tibetan Works & Archives in Dharamsala, India.

Later Years

Jamphel Gyatso was known as a calm and thoughtful person. He was not very interested in everyday government tasks. Even though he lived to be 45 years old, he often let a Regent manage the country's affairs.

He passed away in 1804 when he was 47 years old.

See also

In Spanish: Jamphel Gyatso para niños