Within the Tibetan landscape of esoteric traditions that emphasize buddha-nature, the Jonang lineage is remembered as having been formally founded by Kunpang Thukje Tsöndru (also rendered Kunpang Tukje Tsondru). His activity marks the point at which Jonang emerges as a distinct tradition, rather than simply a loose current within broader Tibetan Buddhism. This founding is associated with the period of his life, which is given as 1243–1313, and thus places the crystallization of Jonang in that historical window. In this sense, Jonang does not appear suddenly out of nowhere, but coalesces around the figure of Kunpang Thukje Tsöndru as a recognizable school.

At the same time, the tradition’s later development shows how a school can deepen and refine its own self-understanding over generations. Jonang was subsequently systematized and firmly established as a distinct school by Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen (1292–1361), whose work gave the lineage a more defined philosophical profile. His efforts did not erase the founding role of Kunpang Thukje Tsöndru, but rather built upon it, shaping Jonang’s teachings on buddha-nature into a more coherent and influential framework. In this way, the founding by Kunpang Thukje Tsöndru and the later systematization by Dolpopa together mark two pivotal moments in the unfolding of the Jonang tradition.