The Fifth Karmapa Dezhin Shegpa took birth in Nyang Dam, southern Tibet, to devoted Buddhist parents.  Herecited mantras and the Sanskrit alphabet in His mother’s womb. Also, upon being born, Dezhin Shegpa declared that he was the Karmapa and chanted Om Mani Padme Hum.  Rinchen Pal soon heard about this. 

With the identifications in the prediction letter, the 2nd Shamarpa enthroned the child as the Gyalwa Karmapa and gave him the previous Karmapa’s belongings.  From Shamarpa, Dezhin Shegpa received the entire transmission.

At twenty years old, Dezhin Shegpa visited the Imperial Court of the Emperor Tai Ming Chen (Cheng Zu or Yongle).  The Emperor Yungle was an emanation of the Bodhisattva Manjushri. Upon the Karmapa's arrival, over ten thousand monks greeted him in Beijing. A hundred days of miracles were displayed by the Karmapa and recorded by the Emperor through paintings at the Imperial Court.  The Emperor Yungle was the founder of the famed imperial complex in Beijing, China, which still remains today.

Gyalwa Karmapa also visited the Wu Tai Shan mountains that are sacred to Manjushri and gave teachings at numerous monasteries across Tibet and China.

Emperor Yungle thought it would be beneficial to make all his subjects in China follow the Karma Kagyu lineage under the Karmapa.  However, the 5th Karmapa refused such a plan. He pointed out to the Emperor that everyone should be allowed to follow whatever religion is suited for their mental capacities. 

The Emperor became a realized Bodhisattva and glimpsed the Black Vajra Crown, woven of dakini hair, above the Karmapa’s head.  The Emperor made a replica of it and the Karmapa blessed it to be equal to the actual Black Crown.  To this day the Gyalwa Karmapa performs the Black Vajra Crown ceremony with this replica.

The Emperor Yungle also bestowed upon the 1st Tai Situ Rinpoche, Chokyi Gyaltsen, the gloriouis title Kuangting Yentang Myau Tsigi Shir (abbreviated to Kuangting Tai Situ) which means  The Loving Spiritual Master and World Leader Who Bestows Empowerment.  The 5th Gyalwa Karmapa appointed the 1st Tai Situ Rinpoche as the head instructor of Karma Gon Monastery, the second most important Kagyu monastery at the time.

The 5th Karmapa soon returned to Tibet. Tsurphu was reconstructed due to being damaged by an earthquake.  The Karmapa passed away at thirty-one years old.  After his cremation, it was noticed that his bones formed images of Buddhas.  He indicated that he would return to the area of Karma Gon Monastery shortly.

Ratnabhadra was born into the well-known family of Soksam in the 14th Century CE. He was considered to be an emanation of the Tai Situ Rinpoche.

At a young age, Ratnabhadra was ordained as a monk. He received higher training in Buddhist philosophy, logic, and other fields of knowledge at Palden Sangphu college.

Situ Ratnabhadra then visited the great monastic institutions in Tibet, engaging in debate and discussion on the four main topics of Madhyamika, Prajnaparamita, Vinaya, and Abhidharma. He became one of the greatest scholars of sutra and tantra and thus was called Rigpe Raltri (sword of philosophy and logic).

He received the full transmission of the Kagyu lineage from the 5th Karmapa Dezhin Shegpa, through which he attained complete realization. He became one of the supreme meditation masters of the time.

Ratnabhadra was also the lineage holder and a teacher to the 6th Gyalwa Karmapa.