The Begu family lived on the Gyer estate in the Yarlung valley, where they were hereditary chiefs in the area, along with the Negu clan. The Begu family is of the Khangsar, or 'new house', family. In this lineage, the elder brother would become a monk and the head of the Trandruk temple 'nephews,' while the younger brother would become a householder and inherit the non-religious post of his father, a general.