17 Karmapas' History:

• The First Karmapa
  Dusum Khyenpa (1100-1193)
• The Second Karmapa
  Karma Pakshi (1204-1283)
• The Third Karmapa
  Rangjung Dorje (1284-1339)
• The Fourth Karmapa
  Rolpe Dorje (1340-1383)
• The Fifth Karmapa
  Dezhin Shekpa (1384-1415)
• The Sixth Karmapa
  Thongwa Donden (1416-1453)
• The Seventh Karmapa
  Chodrak Gyatso (1454-1506)
• The Eighth Karmapa
  Mikyo Dorje (1507-1554)
• The Ninth Karmapa
  Wangchuk Dorje (1556-1603)
• The Tenth Karmapa
  Choying Dorje (1604-1674)
• The Eleventh Karmapa
  Yeshe Dorje (1676-1702)
• The Twelfth Karmapa
  Changchub Dorje (1703-1732)
• The Thirteenth Karmapa
  Dudul Dorje (1733-1797)
• The Fourteenth Karmapa
  Thekchok Dorje (1798-1868)
• The Fifteenth Karmapa
  Khakhyab Dorje (1871-1922)
• The Sixteenth Karmapa
  Rangjung Rigpe Dorje (1924-1981)
• The Seventeenth Gyalwa Karmapa
  Ogyen Trinley Dorje (1985-Present)

The Fourteenth Karmapa Thekchok Dorje (1798-1868)

• Thekchok Dorje was born in the village of Danang in the Khan region of eastern Tibet during the midwinter while the flowers blossomed and many rainbows appeared.
• Was recognized by Drukchen Kunzig Chokyi Nangwa and was enthroned and later ordained by the ninth Tai Situpa.
• Received teaching and the lineage transmissions from Situpa Pema Nyinche Wangpo and Drukchen Kunzig Chokyi Nangwa.
• Lived very simple and exemplified the idea monk.
• Participated in the rime (nonsectarian) movement, whereby many noted scholars showed greater interest in each others' traditions and teachings particularly between Kagyu and Nyingma.
• Received some tantras from the Nyingma visionary treasure-revealer Chokyur Lingpa who had important visions of future Karmapas, up to twenty-first, which were recorded and them memorialized in a thangka.
• The fourteenth Karmapa's spiritual heir was the great nonsectarian master and prolific author Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye.
• Passed into parinirvana at the age of seventy-one, leaving detailed instructions of his next incarnation.