Thangtong Gyalpo, whose religious name was Tsondru Zangpo, came from Ngamring in western Tibet; tradition dates his life to 1385-1464. Ordained as a boy, he trained first in the Nyingma school and later in the Kagyu, and was also known for medicine and ironworking. Travelling across Tibet, he built iron-chain bridges over the Yarlung Tsangpo and other rivers, by tradition more than a dozen of them, as well as monasteries, and Tibetans called him the Iron Bridge Builder. Tibetan tradition holds that to raise money for the bridges he gathered seven sisters from Chonggye who sang and danced, and sent them on tour, and that Tibetan opera grew from these performances; Ache Lhamo performers still honour him as their patron founder.
Entered the monkhood young, first Nyingma and later Kagyu
Ming period (traditionally c. 1385–1464)
Tangtong Gyalpo (also rendered Tangdong Jiebu), whose monastic name was Tsondru Zangpo, was born at Ngamring in Tsang and was a monk of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. He became a monk in childhood, studying first the Nyingma school and then turning to the Kagyu, and held that monks should take an active part in the world and relieve the suffering of all beings. He was honored as the Iron Bridge Tulku.
Traveled the Tibetan lands and directed the building of iron-chain bridges
Ming period (traditionally c. 1385–1464)
Because rivers cut off travel across the Tibetan lands, Tangtong Gyalpo resolved to build bridges for the good of all beings. He traveled the Tibetan lands throughout his life and directed or funded the building of several dozen iron-chain bridges, from Ngari in the west to the Monyul and Lhoyul regions in the south, Kangding in the east and the upper Lhasa River in the north. He began with the Auspicious Chuwori iron-chain bridge at Chuwori, and Tibetans called him Chakzampa, the "iron bridge man". He was also an architect, engineer, blacksmith and physician.
Ming