Golden Urn
Encyclopedia
In Tibet
, on several occasions, children believed to be the reincarnations of the Dalai Lama
or the Panchen Lama
have been identified by a lottery method, in which names of competing candidates are written on folded slips of paper placed in a golden urn.
This method originated in a decree issued by the Chinese emperor Qianlong in 1792, and was used in the selection of the 10th, 11th, and 12th Dalai Lamas. After defeating the Gurkha invasion in 1792, Emperor Qianlong issued The 29-Article Royal Decree for Better Governing in Tibet, in which Article One ordered the new protocol for deciding the reincarnations of the Dalai Lama
and the Panchen Lama
.
The names and dates of birth of each candidate were to be written in the Manchu, Han, and Tibetan languages on metal slips and placed in the golden urn. After prayers before the statue of the Buddha in the Jokhang temple in Lhasa, a slip was drawn, the Buddha ensuring that the correct slip was selected.
There are two Golden Urns issued by Qianlong. One is enshrined in Jokhang Temple in Lhasa for choosing Dalai and Panchen Lama reincarnations, the other is in Yonghe Temple
, or Lama Temple, in Beijing for choosing Mongolian Khutughtu reincarnations. The 7th Panchen Lama, Palden Tenpai Nyima
, used the Golden Urn for the first time in 1822 to choose the 10th Dalai Lama, Tsultrim Gyatso.
Most recently, in November 1995 the Golden Urn was controversially used to name Qoigyijabu
(Gyancain Norbu) as the 11th Panchen Lama
. This action was approved by the PRC
government, but opposed by the Government of Tibet in Exile. In May of the same year, the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso had named Gedhun Choekyi Nyima
as the 11th Panchen Lama.
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
, on several occasions, children believed to be the reincarnations of the Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word далай meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word bla-ma meaning "teacher"...
or the Panchen Lama
Panchen Lama
The Panchen Lama , or Bainqên Erdê'ni , is the highest ranking Lama after the Dalai Lama in the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism...
have been identified by a lottery method, in which names of competing candidates are written on folded slips of paper placed in a golden urn.
This method originated in a decree issued by the Chinese emperor Qianlong in 1792, and was used in the selection of the 10th, 11th, and 12th Dalai Lamas. After defeating the Gurkha invasion in 1792, Emperor Qianlong issued The 29-Article Royal Decree for Better Governing in Tibet, in which Article One ordered the new protocol for deciding the reincarnations of the Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word далай meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word bla-ma meaning "teacher"...
and the Panchen Lama
Panchen Lama
The Panchen Lama , or Bainqên Erdê'ni , is the highest ranking Lama after the Dalai Lama in the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism...
.
The names and dates of birth of each candidate were to be written in the Manchu, Han, and Tibetan languages on metal slips and placed in the golden urn. After prayers before the statue of the Buddha in the Jokhang temple in Lhasa, a slip was drawn, the Buddha ensuring that the correct slip was selected.
There are two Golden Urns issued by Qianlong. One is enshrined in Jokhang Temple in Lhasa for choosing Dalai and Panchen Lama reincarnations, the other is in Yonghe Temple
Yonghe Temple
The Yonghe Temple , also known as the "Palace of Peace and Harmony Lama Temple", the "Yonghe Lamasery", or - popularly - the "Lama Temple" is a temple and monastery of the Geluk School of Tibetan Buddhism located in the northeastern part of Beijing, China. It is one of the largest and most...
, or Lama Temple, in Beijing for choosing Mongolian Khutughtu reincarnations. The 7th Panchen Lama, Palden Tenpai Nyima
Palden Tenpai Nyima
Palden Tenpai Nyima was the Seventh Panchen Lama of Tibet.Lobsang Palden Yeshe, the previous Panchen Lama, died from smallpox in Beijing in 1780...
, used the Golden Urn for the first time in 1822 to choose the 10th Dalai Lama, Tsultrim Gyatso.
Most recently, in November 1995 the Golden Urn was controversially used to name Qoigyijabu
Qoigyijabu
Gyaincain Norbu is, according to the government of the People's Republic of China, the eleventh Panchen Lama of Tibetan Buddhism. He is also the vice president of the Buddhist Association of China and a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative...
(Gyancain Norbu) as the 11th Panchen Lama
11th Panchen Lama
The 11th Panchen Lama controversy is a dispute about the current legitimate holder of the Panchen Lama title, a political and religious leadership position in Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism. After the death of the 10th Panchen Lama, a dispute between the Chinese leadership and the exiled 14th Dalai...
. This action was approved by the PRC
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
government, but opposed by the Government of Tibet in Exile. In May of the same year, the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso had named Gedhun Choekyi Nyima
Gedhun Choekyi Nyima
Gedhun Choekyi Nyima is, according to the 14th Dalai Lama, the eleventh Panchen Lama of Tibetan Buddhism. He was born in Lhari County, Tibet. On May 14, 1995, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was named the 11th Panchen Lama by the 14th Dalai Lama...
as the 11th Panchen Lama.