The
Panchen Lama or
Bainqên Erdê'ni ' onMouseout='HidePop("24479")' href="http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Mongolian">Mongolian
Mongolian may refer to:* Something of, from, or related to Mongolia, a landlocked country in East and Central Asia that borders Russia to the north and People's Republic of China to the south, east and west.* Mongolians, Mongols.* Mongolian language...
: ; ), is the highest ranking
LamaLama is a title for a Tibetan teacher of the Dharma. The name is similar to the Sanskrit term guru .Historically, the term was used for venerated spiritual masters or heads of monasteries...
after the
Dalai LamaThe 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"...
in the Gelugpa (Dge-lugs-pa) lineage of
Tibetan BuddhismTibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India . It is the state religion of Bhutan...
(this lineage controlled western
TibetTibet 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...
from the 16th century until the 1959 Tibetan Rebellion). The present (11th) incarnation of the Panchen Lama is a matter of controversy: the People's Republic of China asserts it is Gyancain Norbu, while the
14th Dalai LamaThe 14th Dalai Lama is the 14th and current Dalai Lama. Dalai Lamas are the most influential figures in the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, although the 14th has consolidated control over the other lineages in recent years...
asserted it was
Gedhun Choekyi NyimaGedhun 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...
on May 14, 1995. The latter vanished from public eye shortly after being named, aged six. Chinese authorities stated that Gedhun had been taken into protective custody from those that would spirit him into exile and is now safe. Tibetans and human rights groups continue to campaign for his release.
History of the Panchen Lama
The successive Panchen Lamas form a
tulkuIn Tibetan Buddhism, a tulku is a particular high-ranking lama, of whom the Dalai Lama is one, who can choose the manner of his rebirth. Normally the lama would be reincarnated as a human, and of the same sex as his predecessor. In contrast to a tulku, all other sentient beings including other...
reincarnation lineage which are said to be the incarnations of
Amitabha BuddhaAmitābha is a celestial buddha described in the scriptures of the Mahāyāna school of Buddhism...
. The title, meaning "Great Scholar", is a Tibetan contraction of the
SanskritSanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
paṇḍita (scholar) and the Tibetan
chenpo (great). The Panchen Lama traditionally lived in Tashilhunpo Monastery (Teshu-lumbo) in
ShigatseShigatse is a county-level city and the second largest city in Tibet Autonomous Region , People's Republic of China, with a population of 92000, about southwest of Lhasa and northwest of Gyantse...
. From the name of this monastery, the Europeans referred to the Panchen Lama as the
Tashi-Lama (or spelled
Tesho-Lama or
Teshu-Lama).
The recognition of Panchen Lamas has always been a matter involving the Dalai Lama. The
10th Panchen LamaLobsang Trinley Lhündrub Chökyi Gyaltsen was the 10th Panchen Lama of Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism. He was often referred to simply as Choekyi Gyaltsen , although this is also the name of several other notable figures in Tibetan history.-Early life and selection:The 10th Panchen Lama was born...
himself declared, as cited by an official Chinese review that "according to Tibetan tradition, the confirmation of either the Dalai or Panchen must be mutually recognized." The involvement of China in this affair is seen by some as a political ploy to try to gain control over the recognition of the next Dalai Lama (see below), and to strengthen their hold over the future of Tibet and its governance. China claims however, that their involvement does not break with tradition in that the final decision about the recognition of both the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama traditionally rested in the hands of the Chinese emperor. For instance, after 1792, the
Golden UrnIn 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....
was thought to have been used in selecting the 10th, 11th and 12th Dalai Lamas; but 14th Dalai Lama,
Tenzin GyatsoThe 14th Dalai Lama is the 14th and current Dalai Lama. Dalai Lamas are the most influential figures in the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, although the 14th has consolidated control over the other lineages in recent years...
has more recently explained that this was only really used in selection of the 11th. A controversy existed between the Tibetan government and supporters of Chökyi Gyaltsen during the recognition of the 10th Panchen Lama.
Ma Bufang patronized the
10th Panchen LamaLobsang Trinley Lhündrub Chökyi Gyaltsen was the 10th Panchen Lama of Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism. He was often referred to simply as Choekyi Gyaltsen , although this is also the name of several other notable figures in Tibetan history.-Early life and selection:The 10th Panchen Lama was born...
, and the Lamaist Red Sect against the Dalai Lama. Qinghai served as a "sanctuary" for Red Sect members, Ma Bufang allowed
Kumbum MonasteryKumbum Monastery is a Buddhist monastery in Qinghai province, China. Kumbum was founded in 1583 in a narrow valley close to the village of Lusar in the Tibetan cultural region of Amdo. Its superior monastery is Drepung, immediately to the west of Lhasa...
to be totally self governed by the Panchen Lama. The 10th Panchen Lama, who was exiled from Tibet by the Dalai Lama's government, wanted to seek revenge by leading an army against Tibet in September 1949. He asked for help from Ma Bufang. Ma cooperated with the Panchen Lama against the
Dalai LamaThe 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"...
's regime in Tibet. The Panchen Lama stayed in Qinghai. Ma tried to persuade the Panchen Lama to come with the
KuomintangThe Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
government to Taiwan when the Communist victory approached, but the Panchen Lama decided to defect to the Communists instead. The Panchen Lama, unlike the Dalai Lama, sought to exert control in decision making.
Relation to the Dalai Lama Lineage
The Panchen Lama bears part of the responsibility or the monk-regent for finding the incarnation of the
Dalai LamaThe 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 vice versa. Furthermore, the search for the late Panchen Lama's reincarnation, or any reincarnation, is a philosophical matter. In the case of the Panchen Lama, the procedures traditionally involve a final selection process by the Dalai Lama. This has been the tradition since the Fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang, recognized his teacher
Lobsang Choekyi Gyaltsen as the Panchen (Great Scholar) Lama of Tashilhunpo Monastery (Bkra-shis Lhung-po) in
ShigatseShigatse is a county-level city and the second largest city in Tibet Autonomous Region , People's Republic of China, with a population of 92000, about southwest of Lhasa and northwest of Gyantse...
(Gzhis-ka rtse). With this appointment, Lobsang Choekyi Gyaltsen's three previous incarnations were posthumously recognised as Panchen Lamas. The Fifth Dalai Lama also recognized Panchen
Lobsang YesheLobsang Yeshe was the 5th Panchen Lama of Tibet.He was born of a well-known and noble family in the province of Tsang. His father's name was De-chhen-gyalpo and his mother's Serab-Drolma...
(Blo-bzang Ye-shes) as the Fifth Panchen Lama. The Seventh Dalai Lama recognized the Sixth Panchen Lama, who in turn recognized the
Eighth Dalai LamaJamphel Gyatso was the 8th Dalai Lama of Tibet.Born in 1758 at Lhari Gang in the Upper Ü-Tsang region of southwestern Tibet his father, Sonam Dhargye, and mother, Phuntsok Wangmo, were originally from Kham....
. Similarly, the Eighth Dalai Lama recognised the Seventh Panchen Lama.
Choekyi GyaltsenLobsang Trinley Lhündrub Chökyi Gyaltsen was the 10th Panchen Lama of Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism. He was often referred to simply as Choekyi Gyaltsen , although this is also the name of several other notable figures in Tibetan history.-Early life and selection:The 10th Panchen Lama was born...
, the 10th Panchen Lama, became the most important political and religious figure in Tibet following the 14th Dalai Lama's escape to India in 1959. In April, 1959 the 10th Panchen Lama sent a telegram to Beijing expressing his support for suppressing the 1959 rebellion. “He also called on Tibetans to support the Chinese government.” However, in 1964, he was imprisoned. His situation worsened when the
Cultural RevolutionThe Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
began. The Chinese dissident
Wei JingshengWei Jingsheng is a Chinese activist known for his involvement in the Chinese democracy movement, most prominent for authoring the document Fifth Modernization on the "Democracy Wall" in Beijing in 1978. He is generally known for getting arrested and spending 15 years in prison due to the document...
wrote in March 1979 a letter denouncing the inhumane conditions of the Chinese
Qincheng PrisonQincheng Prison is a maximum-security prison located in the Changping District, Beijing in the People's Republic of China, near Xiaotangshan...
where the late Panchen Lama was imprisoned. In October 1977, he was released but held under house arrest in Beijing until 1982. In 1979, he married a
Han ChineseHan Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
woman and in 1983 they had a daughter, which is not unusual as several
GelugThe Gelug or Gelug-pa , also known as the Yellow Hat sect, is a school of Buddhism founded by Je Tsongkhapa , a philosopher and Tibetan religious leader...
high lamas (Gelek Rinpoche in the US and Dagyab Rinpoche in Germany, among others) have chosen a layman's lifestyle, both inside China and in exile; also, the 6th Dalai Lama, also a Gelugpa, renounced his monk vows and led not only a layman's but a playboy's lifestyle, but still is highly revered by Tibetans. In 1989, the 10th Panchen Lama died suddenly in
ShigatseShigatse is a county-level city and the second largest city in Tibet Autonomous Region , People's Republic of China, with a population of 92000, about southwest of Lhasa and northwest of Gyantse...
, Tibet, at the age of 51, shortly after giving a speech critical of the Chinese neglect for the religion and culture of the Tibetans. His daughter, now a young woman, is
Yabshi Pan RinzinwangmoYabshi Pan Rinzinwangmo is the only child of the 10th Panchen Lama of Tibet and Li Jie, a Han Chinese who was a doctor in the People's Liberation Army...
, better known as "Renji".
Lineage of the Panchen Lamas
In the lineage of the
TibetTibet 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...
an Panchen Lamas there were considered to be four Indian and three Tibetan incarnations of
AmitabhaAmitābha is a celestial buddha described in the scriptures of the Mahāyāna school of Buddhism...
Buddha before
Khedrup Gelek PelzangKhedrup Gelek Pelzang , better known as Khedrup Je, the 1st Panchen Lama, was one of the main disciples of Lama Tsongkhapa ....
, who is recognised as the 1st Panchen Lama. The lineage starts with
SubhutiSubhūti was one of the Ten Great Śrāvakas of Śākyamuni Buddha, and foremost in the understanding of emptiness. In Sanskrit, his name literally means "Good Existence" . He is also sometimes referred to as or "Elder Subhūti"...
, one of the original disciples of
Gautama BuddhaSiddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian...
.
Gö LotsawagZhon-nu-dpal , also known as Gos Lo-tsa-ba , famous Tibetan historian and scholar.-Life and achievements:He was born in 1392 at lho kha 'phyongs rgyas...
is considered to be the first Tibetan incarnation of Amitabha Buddha in this line.
The Panchen Lama's political significance
Monastic figures had historically held important roles in the social and political makeup of
TibetTibet 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...
, and though these roles have diminished since 1959, many Tibetans continue to regard the Panchen Lama as a significant political, as well as spiritual figure due to the role he traditionally plays in selecting the next Dalai Lama. The political significance of the role is also utilised by the Chinese state. Tibet support groups have argued that the Chinese government seeks to install its own choice of Dalai Lama when Tenzin Gyatso, the current Dalai Lama, dies and that for this reason the Dalai Lama's choice of
Gedhun Choekyi NyimaGedhun 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...
went missing at the age of six, to be replaced by the Chinese state's choice, Gyancain Norbu. If this tactic is accurate, the announcement made by the Dalai Lama on 10th March 2011 that he will step down from his political role may result in a change of policy regarding the two disputed candidates.
List of Panchen Lamas
| | Name | Life span | TibetanThe Tibetan languages are a cluster of mutually-unintelligible Tibeto-Burman languages spoken primarily by Tibetan peoples who live across a wide area of eastern Central Asia bordering the Indian subcontinent, including the Tibetan Plateau and the northern Indian subcontinent in Baltistan, Ladakh,...
/WylieThe Wylie transliteration scheme is a method for transliterating Tibetan script using only the letters available on a typical English language typewriter. It bears the name of Turrell V. Wylie, who described the scheme in an article, A Standard System of Tibetan Transcription, published in 1959...
| PRC transcription The SASM/GNC/SRC romanization of Tibetan, commonly known as Tibetan pinyin, is the official transcription system for the Tibetan language in the People's Republic of China for personal name and place names. It is based on the Lhasa dialect of Standard Tibetan and reflects the pronunciation very...
| Other transliterations |
| 1. |
Khedrup Je |
1385–1438 |
Mkhas-grub Rje,་
Mkhas-grub Dge-legs Dpal-bzang-po |
Kaichub Gêlêg Baisangbo |
Khädrup Je, Khedrup Gelek Pelsang, Kedrup Geleg Pelzang, Khedup Gelek Palsang, Khedrup Gelek Pal Sangpo |
| 2. |
Sönam ChoklangSönam Choklang was a Tibetan Buddhist religious leader. He was posthumously recognised as the second Panchen Lama....
|
1438–1505 |
Bsod-nams Phyogs-glang,་
Bsod-nams Phyogs-kyi Glang-po |
Soinam Qoilang,
Soinam Qoigyi Langbo |
Sonam Choglang, Soenam Choklang |
| 3. |
Ensapa Lobsang DöndrupEnsapa Lobsang Döndrup was a Tibetan Buddhist religious leader. He was posthumously recognised as the third Panchen Lama.Ensapa was known to have spent more than 20 years meditating in isolated caves near the Himalayan mountains....
|
1505–1568 |
Dben-sa-pa Blo-bzang Don-grub |
Wênsaba Lobsang Toinchub |
Gyalwa Ensapa, Ensapa Lozang Döndrup, Ensapa Losang Dhodrub |
| 4. |
Lobsang Chökyi Gyalsten Lobsang Chökyi Gyaltsen was the fourth Panchen Lama of Tibet, and the first to be accorded this title during his lifetime.Lobsang Chökyi Gyaltsen was the teacher and close ally of the Fifth Dalai Lama, Lozang Gyatso, called "the Great"...
|
1570–1662 |
Blo-bzang Chos-kyi Rgyal-mtshan |
Lobsang Qoigyi Gyaicain |
Losang Chökyi Gyältsän, Lozang Chökyi Gyeltsen, Lobsang Chökyi Gyaltsen, Lobsang Choekyi Gyaltsen, Lobsang Choegyal, Losang Chögyan |
| 5. |
Lobsang Yeshe Lobsang Yeshe was the 5th Panchen Lama of Tibet.He was born of a well-known and noble family in the province of Tsang. His father's name was De-chhen-gyalpo and his mother's Serab-Drolma...
|
1663–1737 |
Blo-bzang Ye-shes |
Lobsang Yêxê |
Lobsang Yeshi, Losang Yeshe |
| 6. |
Lobsang Palden Yeshe Lobsang Palden Yeshe was the Sixth Panchen Lama of Tashilhunpo Monastery in Tibet. Lobsang Palden Yeshe was the elder stepbrother of the 10th Shamarpa, Mipam Chödrup Gyamtso ....
|
1738–1780 |
Blo-bzang Gpal-ldan Ye-shes |
Lobsang Baidain Yêxê |
Palden Yeshe, Palden Yeshi |
| 7. |
Gedun Choekyi Nyima |
1782–1853 |
Gpal-ldan Bstan-pa'i Nyi-ma |
Dainbai Nyima |
Tänpä Nyima, Tenpé Nyima, Tempai Nyima, Tenpey Nyima |
| 8. |
Tenpai Wangchuk Tenpai Wangchuk , was the 8th Panchen Lama of Tibet.In 1822 the 10th Dalai Lama, was placed upon the Golden Throne and soon after his enthronement received his pre-novice ordination from Palden Tenpai Nyima, who gave him the name of Tsultrim Gyatso...
|
1855?–1882 |
Bstan-pa'i Dbang-phyug |
Dainbai Wangqug |
Tänpä Wangchug, Tenpé Wangchuk, Tempai Wangchuk, Tenpey Wangchuk |
| 9. |
Thubten Chökyi Nyima |
1883–1937 |
Thub-bstan Chos-kyi Nyi-ma |
Tubdain Qoigyi Nyima |
Choekyi Nyima, Thubtän Chökyi Nyima |
| 10. |
Lobsang Trinley Lhündrub Chökyi GyaltsenLobsang Trinley Lhündrub Chökyi Gyaltsen was the 10th Panchen Lama of Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism. He was often referred to simply as Choekyi Gyaltsen , although this is also the name of several other notable figures in Tibetan history.-Early life and selection:The 10th Panchen Lama was born...
|
1938–1989 |
Blo-bzang Phrin-las Lhun-grub Chos-kyi Rgyal-mtshan |
Lobsang Chinlai Lhünchub Qoigyi Gyaicain |
Choekyi Gyaltsen, Chökyi Gyeltsen, Choekyi Gyaltse, Trinley Choekyi Gyaltsen, Lozang Trinlä Lhündrup Chökyi Gyältsän |
| 11. 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...
|
Gedhun Choekyi NyimaGedhun 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...
|
1989– |
Dge-'dun Chos-kyi Nyi-ma |
Gêdün Qoigyi Nyima |
Gendün Chökyi Nyima, Gendhun Choekyi Nyima |
| Gyancain Norbu |
1990– |
Chos-kyi Rgyal-po |
Gyaincain Norbu |
Choekyi Gyalpo, Chökyi Gyälbo, Gyaincain Norbu, Gyaltsen Norbu, Qoigyijabu |
See also
- History of Tibet
Tibetan history, as it has been recorded, is particularly focused on the history of Buddhism in Tibet. This is partly due to the pivotal role this religion has played in the development of Tibetan, Mongol, and Manchu cultures, and partly because almost all native historians of the country were...
- Sakya Pandita
- Tibetan independence movement
External links
- Free the Panchen Lama, a campaigns website for the Panchen Lama's release
- Tibet Society UK - The Background To The Panchen Lama from http://www.tibet-society.org.uk/
- China Tibetology No. 03, a series of articles from http://www.tibet.cn/ explaining in detail the Chinese government's position on the search of reincarnations of the Panchen Lama:
- Tibet's missing spiritual guide, a May 2005 article from BBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
- 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet, a website about Gedhun Choekyi Nyima
- The Search for the Panchen Lama, The non-fictional story of the Panchen Lama's disappearance, written by Isabel Hilton.
- The Dharma King, The Dharma King is a novel, written by Bradford Stroh
Bradford G. Stroh is an entrepreneur, who has founded and led several companies, and also an author. Stroh co-founded Freedom Financial Network and several related specialty finance businesses...
, about one man's quest to find the reincarnated Panchen Lama.