During the 19th century, the opposition between Central Tibet (1863-1865)

1863 – 1865 During the 19th century, the opposition between Central Tibet (where the Gelugpas were politically predominant) and the Eastern Tibet province Kham became stronger. The Karma Kagyü Lineage had a difficult standing in Central Tibet during the 18th and 19th century - especially after both the 12th Karmapa and the 8th Sharmarpa had died in China. In Kham there were monasteries of the Kagyüs, Nyingmas and at some places also from the Sakyas. The Gelugpa Lineage was hardly represented there.

The great 8th Situpa Chökyi Nyungne (1700 - 1774) had founded the Palpung monastery in the 1720s. Along with Tsurphu, it became the most important center of the Karma Kagyü transmission, well known amongst others of the Karma Gadri school of painting and both its significant printing works and library. In Palpung, more exactly at a hermitage above the monastery, the famous Rimay-master Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye (1813 - 1899) settled down there.

During that time Gönpo Namgyal from the remote region Nyarong set himself up as a rebel-leader and brought some regions of Eastern-Tibet under his control. Also, the small kingdom of Derge belonged to it, where the famous monastery Palpung was located. The queen of Derge and two of her sons were kidnapped by the guerillas. Also, the young 10th Situpa was kidnapped. When the rebel-leader finally brought the trading-route between Tibet and China under his control, the central government followed an appeal for help from Derge in 1863, intervened and defeated Gönpo Namgyal in 1865. Thus, Lhasa was mainly under control of Eastern Tibet again. The renowned Jamgön Kongtrul was engaged, and he actually supported the intervention from Central Tibet. In turn, he succeeded that the status of the monasteries were not touched in this region and none of them was converted into Gelugpa-places. Not only spiritually but also diplomatically they contributed in a high degree so that the variety within the Tibetan Buddhism was maintained. 1874 Jamgön Kongtrul had to leave Palpung due to several factors related to political and religious tensions in the region. He used the time for traveling, collecting and passing on empowerments. He returned in 1866.

No term of the 12th Dalai Lama (1856– 1875).