# 3rd Dalai Lama

_3rd Dalai Lama (1543-1588)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/3rd-dalai-lama
Last updated: 2026-11-09

> The 3rd Dalai Lama, Sonam Gyatso (1543–1588), was the first in the tulku lineage to be entitled formally as the Dalai Lama. In 1578 Altan Khan presented the spiritual title of Dalai Lama, in honor of Sonam Gyatso's profound teachings conferred in Mongolia, which soon became a Tibetan Buddhist country. He founded Kumbum Monastery, Lithang Monastery, and Namgyal Monastery. The spiritual title was retrospectively given to his two tulku lineage predecessors, the 1st Dalai Lama and the 2nd Dalai Lama.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 28 February 1543 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q25256#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Lhasa ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q25256#P19))
- **Died:** 20 April 1588 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q25256#P570))
- **Place of death:** Mongolia ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q25256#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Chinese Empire ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q25256#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; writer ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q25256#P106))
- **Positions held:** Dalai Lama ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q25256#P39))

## Questions

**When was 3rd Dalai Lama born?**  
3rd Dalai Lama was born on 28 February 1543 in Lhasa.

**What positions has 3rd Dalai Lama held?**  
Positions held by 3rd Dalai Lama include: Dalai Lama.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): 3rd Dalai Lama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3rd_Dalai_Lama) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q25256](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q25256) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Sonam Gyatso.jpg by Unknown tibetan artist. (CC BY-SA 4.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sonam_Gyatso.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article 3rd Dalai Lama, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Sonam Gyatso.jpg — Unknown tibetan artist., CC BY-SA 4.0.

## Cite this page

"3rd Dalai Lama". DigiNepal. Last updated 9 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/3rd-dalai-lama. Retrieved 14 November 2026.