CHINA-TIBET: CHINESE RESEARCHER SEEKS TO LEGITIMISE THE 'GOLDEN URN' AND CLAIMS THAT TWO RESIDENT MINISTERS IN TIBET WERE SENIOR TO THE DALAI AND PANCHEN LAMAS AND ALL 'LIVING BUDDHAS'

A lengthy article by Zhang Yun, a research fellow at the China Tibetology Research Center, was published by the Global Times (February 7) claiming that "the 29-Article Ordinance for the More Efficient Governance of Tibet promulgated in 1793 was an important law related to the governance of Tibet in the Qing Dynasty. It established the system of lot-drawing from a golden urn to determine the reincarnation of the living Buddhas and made it clear that the Resident Ministers in Tibet would be in charge of affairs within Tibet and the status of the Resident Ministers in Tibet would be equal to that of the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Erdeni and all the officials below the position of Kalon (title of official) and living Buddhas should be governed under the principle of subordination". It asserted about those who question the authenticity of the 29-Article document that "Rather than caring about Tibet, these people's real intention is to find a historical breakthrough for "Tibet independence."" It emphasised that the 29-Articles had been decided by Emperor Qianlong himself. The article also referred to the Resident Minister at Tibet and said he was senior to the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama. It said also that "to promote the system of lot-drawing from a golden urn, Emperor Qianlong personally wrote an article called "On Lama," expounding the reasons in detail, and personally designed the shape and pattern of the golden urn. The ordinance received heartfelt support from the Dalai Lama and Panchen Erdeni. In a memorial to Emperor Qianlong, Fu Kang'an wrote that the Dalai Lama said "our Great Emperor protects Tibet" and "the ordinance will benefit both monks and layman." It stated further that "the Resident Ministers in Tibet are as equal as the Dalai and Panchen lamas, and they shall negotiate and handle the government affairs. All the heads and officials under Kalon, including the living Buddhas, should obey the Resident Ministers in Tibet."





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