First Drukpa Choegon Rinpoche, Druk Shabdrung Choekyi Gonpo	First Drukpa Yongzin Rinpoche, Lhatsewa Ngawang Zangpo

Shabdrung Choegon and Drukpa Yongzin are traditionally called 'Shab-Yong'. The Shab-Yong Lineage is often referred to as the Sun and Moon in Drukpa Kagyu Lineage.

Together they founded the monastery of Dechen Choekhor, which for centuries became the source and inspiration of our lineage. Since then many of the Drukpa Kagyu's masters took Choegon and Yongzin as their spirtual root gurus and represented them as the main lineage holders. From there develop over three hundred monasteries as the direct or indirect branch of Dechen Choekhor: 

1. Taktsang Repa - founded his Hemis Monastery in upper part of Tibet as told by his guru Lhatsewa Ngawang Zangpo. Its branches spread across Ladakh region.
2. Drubwang Dorzong - founded his monasterery in lower part of Tibet as told by his guru Lhatsewa.
3. Khamtrul Rinpoche - started his Dharma activities in Eastern Tibet as told by his guru Lhatsewa and spreaded Dechen Choekhor Lineage through his nine enlightened disciples. Subsequently 4th Khamtrul - Maha Pandita Choekyi Nyima, who himself was disciple of Choegon Jamgon Gyepa and Yongzin Jampal Pawo, founded the Khampagar Monastery.

1st Khamtrul Ngawang Tenphel was a disciple of Lhatsewa Ngawang Zangpo; 2nd Khamtrul Kunga Tenphel was a disciple of Yonzin Kunga Lhundrup. 3rd Khamtrul Kunga Tenzin was a disciple of 3rd Choegon Choekyi Wangchuk and lived in Dechen Choekhor.

Khamtrul Rinpoche's nine disciples also called "The Gyatsos" founded their own monastic institutes: Dzigar Sonam Gyatso who formed Dzigar Monastery; Drugu Choegyal Gyatso formed Drugu Monastery; Nangchen Trulshik Thenley Gyatso formed Trulshik Monastery; Gonphu Shenphen Gyatso formed Gonphu monastery; Mani Jampa Gyatso formed his monastery - Diphu Monastery and Guphu Monastery; and subsequently spreaded to over three hundred monasteries under the banner of Shab-Yong Lineages.

It all started as direct branches or sub-branches, holding the Drukpa Shab-Yong Lineage through direct patronage from Shab-Yong or through Khamtrul Rinpoche, who himself represents Dharma heir of Shab-Yong in Eastern Tibet for over three centuries.

H.E. Kyabgon Adeu Rinpoche wrote: "In Drukpa Kagyu Lineage, Dechen Choekhor completely held to the lineage of the Drukpa Kagyu like its ancestral origin or the source of river. It was the cultural focal point for the entire Drukpa Kagyu Lineage. It was well known for its training of lineage holding Rinpoches and monks. Students came from far and wide across the Himalayan regions to study. H.H. 5th Drukchen Pagsam Wangpo, H.H. 8th Drukchen Kunzig Choenang, every single Khamtrul Rinpoches lineages primarily received transmission and teachings in this Monastery from Shabdrung Choegon or Yongzin".

Present H.H. 12th Gyalwang Drukpa writes: "Dechen Choekhor in Tibet has played a very important role in guiding numerous practitioners on the path to enlightenment. It was the source of many great teachings and many important monasteries of Drukpa Kagyu Lineage".

Acknowledgement: The above Choegon Rinpoche Incarnations statue image is provided courtesy of Nangchen Garh, Qinghai - Tsechu Monastery of Trulshik Adeu Rinpoche