Situ Rinpoche appeared as the Chinese feng-shui master Gyim Shang (Jampal Sangwa) in the 8th Century CE. In this lifetime, the Tai Situpa was an important figure in the founding of the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet, Samye Ling.

Gyim Shang was a master of mantras and astrology. He was requested to provide an analysis of the proposed site for Samye Ling, the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet. Samye Ling was then built under the command of the King Trisong Deutsen and Guru Padmasambhava.