the sixteenth gyalwa karmapa, rangjung rigpe dorje (august 14, 1924 – november 5, 1981) (wylie rang 'byung rig pa'i rdo rje) was spiritual leader of the karma kagyu lineage of tibetan buddhism. he was born in denkhok in the dergé district of kham (eastern tibet), near the dri chu or yangtze river.