Phagmodrupa

The Phagmodrupa refers to a Tibetan dynasty that ruled central Tibet after the decline of Mongol influence, taking its name from the Phagmodru monastery north of Lhasa. The dynasty was founded by Changchub Gyaltsen in 1354, who unified much of the region and established a centralized state centered on Lhasa. This era is often regarded as a period of relative political stability and cultural patronage in central Tibet.

Under Phagmodrupa rule, the state structure emphasized aristocratic leadership and monastic support, with the Phagmodru monastery serving as a key religious and political center. The rulers fostered Buddhist learning and monastic institutions, contributing to the growth of Tibetan scholastic and devotional life. The dynasty also navigated competition with rival regional powers in Ü and Tsang, as well as shifting external influences.

From the late 14th century onward, the Phagmodrupa’s grip on power weakened due to internal factionalism and the rise of powerful regional families, most notably the Rinpungpa in Tsang. The centralized authority of the Phagmodrupa declined through the early 15th century, and by approximately the 1430s–1440s their direct rule had effectively ended. Subsequent political arrangements in central Tibet saw power dispersed among regional actors, though the Phagmodrupa name continued to appear in Tibetan aristocratic and clerical lineages.

Legacy of the Phagmodrupa period lies in its role as a transitional phase between earlier Mongol-era governance and the later theocratic polities that would characterize central Tibet, including the rise of strong Gelug institutions that culminated in later decades.