17 Karmapas' History:

• The First Karmapa
  Dusum Khyenpa (1100-1193)
• The Second Karmapa
  Karma Pakshi (1204-1283)
• The Third Karmapa
  Rangjung Dorje (1284-1339)
• The Fourth Karmapa
  Rolpe Dorje (1340-1383)
• The Fifth Karmapa
  Dezhin Shekpa (1384-1415)
• The Sixth Karmapa
  Thongwa Donden (1416-1453)
• The Seventh Karmapa
  Chodrak Gyatso (1454-1506)
• The Eighth Karmapa
  Mikyo Dorje (1507-1554)
• The Ninth Karmapa
  Wangchuk Dorje (1556-1603)
• The Tenth Karmapa
  Choying Dorje (1604-1674)
• The Eleventh Karmapa
  Yeshe Dorje (1676-1702)
• The Twelfth Karmapa
  Changchub Dorje (1703-1732)
• The Thirteenth Karmapa
  Dudul Dorje (1733-1797)
• The Fourteenth Karmapa
  Thekchok Dorje (1798-1868)
• The Fifteenth Karmapa
  Khakhyab Dorje (1871-1922)
• The Sixteenth Karmapa
  Rangjung Rigpe Dorje (1924-1981)
• The Seventeenth Gyalwa Karmapa
  Ogyen Trinley Dorje (1985-Present)

The Sixth Karmapa Thongwa Donden (1416-1453)

• The sixth Karmapa was born in Ngomto Shakyam in eastern Tibet to a family of devoted yohins.
• Thongwa Donden received teachings and transmission of the Kagyu lineagefrom Shamar Chopal Yeshe, Jamyang Drakpa, and Khenchen Nyephuwa. In particular, he received the full lineage transmission from Ratnabhadra who was his principal teacher.
• At a young age, he began to compose many tantric rituals, eventually establishing a body of liturgies for the Kamstang lineage and he also jointed the Shangpa Kagyu and Shije lineages into Kagyu lineage transmissions.
• He dedicated his activity to composition, teaching restoring many monasteries within Tibet, printing books, strengthen the sangha, and developing the shedra ( the monastic university) system in Karma Kagyu lineage.
• Realizing that he would die at an early age, he entered retreat and conferred a regency on the first Gyaltsap, indicating where he would take birth next. Thongwa Donden passed into parinirvana at the age of thirty-eight.