View source for Dalai Lama

{{Short description|Head of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism}}
{{For-multi|the current Dalai Lama|14th Dalai Lama|previous Dalai Lamas|List of Dalai Lamas|other uses|Dalailama (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Very long|date=January 2026|words=13,717}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Dalai Lama
| coatofarms = <!-- Optional. Just the image name, no File: or Image: coding. -->
| coatofarms_article = <!-- Required if {{{coatofarms}}} field is used. -->
| coatofarms_link = <!-- Optional. If {{{coatofarms}}} field is used. -->
| incumbent = [[14th Dalai Lama|Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama]]
| incumbentsince = 22 February 1940
| image = The Dalai Lama in 2012.jpg
| first = [[1st Dalai Lama|Gendün Drubpa]], 1st Dalai Lama<br />(posthumously awarded after 1578)
| formation = {{Start date and age|1391}}
| residence = {{ubl|[[McLeod Ganj]], Dharamshala, India (1959–present)|[[Potala Palace]] (1649–1959, winter residence)|[[Norbulingka]] (1783–1959, summer residence)}}
| appointer = <!-- Optional. -->
| website = {{URL|dalailama.com/}}
| native_name = {{bo-textonly|ཏཱ་ལའི་བླ་མ་}}
}}

The '''Dalai Lama''' ({{IPAc-en|UK|ˈ|d|æ|l|aɪ|_|ˈ|l|ɑː|m|ə}}, {{IPAc-en|US|ˈ|d|ɑː|l|aɪ}};<ref name="ddef1">{{cite web |title = Definition of Dalai Lama in English |url = http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Dalai-Lama |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130727211946/http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Dalai-Lama |url-status = dead |archive-date = 27 July 2013 |publisher=Oxford Dictionaries |access-date = 2 May 2015 |quote = The Dalai Lamas are believed by Tibetan Buddhists to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and the patron saint of Tibet. Bodhisattvas are realized beings, inspired by the wish to attain complete enlightenment, who have vowed to be reborn in the world to help all living beings.}}</ref><ref name="ddef">{{cite encyclopedia |url = http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dalai%20lama |title = Dalai lama |dictionary = Dictionary.com |access-date = 12 March 2014 |quote = (formerly) |archive-date = 26 February 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140226010015/http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dalai%20lama |url-status = live }}</ref> {{bo|t=ཏཱ་ལའི་བླ་མ་|w=Tā la'i bla ma|lang=yes}} {{IPA|bo|táːlɛː láma|}}) is the head of the [[Gelug]] school of [[Tibetan Buddhism]]. The term is part of the full title "Holiness Knowing Everything [[Vajradhara]] Dalai Lama"<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NYY36cUr9EC&pg=PA17|title=达赖喇嘛转世及历史定制|isbn=978-7-5085-0272-4|author=陈庆英|date=2003|publisher=五洲传播出版社|quote=So he was given the title of "Holiness Knowing Everything Vazirdala Dalai Lama". "Holiness" means transcending the ordinary and entering the holy, that is, beyond the world; "Knowing Everything" is a Tibetan Buddhist title for monks who have achieved the highest achievements in the exoteric teachings; "Vazirdala" is the transliteration of the Sanskrit word Vajradhra, which is translated into Tibetan as rdo-rje-vchange (Dojijiang) and translated into Chinese as Vajra, which is a Tibetan Buddhist title for monks who have achieved high achievements in the esoteric teachings. (于是赠给尊号「圣识一切瓦齐尔达喇达赖喇嘛」的称号，「圣」是超凡入圣，即超出尘世间之意；「识一切」是藏传佛教对在显宗方面取得最高成就的僧人的尊称；「瓦齐尔达喇」是梵文Vajradhra的音译，译成藏语是rdo- rje- vchange（多吉绛），译成汉语是执金刚，这是藏传佛教对于在密宗方面取得早高成就的僧人的尊称。)}}</ref> given by [[Altan Khan]]. He offered it in appreciation to the Gelug school's then-leader, Sonam Gyatso, who received the title in 1578 at Yanghua Monastery.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NYY36cUr9EC&pg=PA17|title=达赖喇嘛转世及历史定制|isbn=978-7-5085-0272-4|author=陈庆英|date=2003|publisher=五洲传播出版社|quote=The name Dalai Lama was created in 1578 AD, in that year, Sonam Gyatso was invited by Anda (Altan Khan), the leader of the Tümed Mongols, to Mongol area (蒙古地方) to promote Buddhism. At Yanghua Monastery in [sic] Qinghai, Sonam Gyatso gave an extensive exposition of the theories of Tibetan Buddhism, which made the Mongol leader admire him and gave him the title "Holiness Knowing Everying Vajradhara Dalai Lama" title. (达赖喇嘛的名号产生于公元1578年。当时格鲁派大活佛索南嘉措应土默特蒙古首领顺义王俺达汗邀请到蒙古地方弘扬佛法。在青海仰华寺，索南嘉措对藏传佛教的理论进行了广泛的阐述，使这位蒙古首领对他产生了仰慕之心，于是赠给尊号「圣识一切瓦齐尔达喇达赖喇嘛」的称号。)}}</ref> At that time, Sonam Gyatso had just given teachings to the Khan, and so the title of Dalai Lama was also given to the entire [[tulku]] lineage.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}} Sonam Gyatso became the [[3rd Dalai Lama]], while the first two tulkus in the lineage, the [[1st Dalai Lama]] and the [[2nd Dalai Lama]], were posthumously awarded the title.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}  

Since the time of the [[5th Dalai Lama]] in the 17th century, the Dalai Lama has been a symbol of unification of the state of [[Tibet]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=Religions in the Modern World |last=Woodhead |first=Linda |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2016 |isbn = 978-0-415-85881-6 |location=Abingdon |page=94 }}</ref> The Dalai Lama was an important figure of the Gelug tradition, which was dominant in Central Tibet, but his religious authority went beyond sectarian boundaries, representing Buddhist values and traditions not tied to a specific school.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Religions in the Modern World: Traditions and Transformations |at=Kindle locations 2519–2522 |publisher=Taylor and Francis }}</ref> The Dalai Lama's traditional function as an ecumenical figure has been taken up by the [[14th Dalai Lama|fourteenth Dalai Lama]], who has worked to overcome sectarian and other divisions in the exile community and become a symbol of Tibetan nationhood for Tibetans in Tibet and in exile.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Cantwell and Kawanami |title=Religions in the Modern World |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-85880-9 |pages=94 |year=2016 }}</ref> He is [[14th Dalai Lama|Tenzin Gyatso]], who escaped from [[Lhasa]] in [[1959 Tibetan uprising|1959 during the Tibetan uprising]] and lives in exile in [[Dharamshala]], India.

From 1642 to 1951, the Dalai Lama led the secular government of [[Tibet]]. During this period, the Dalai Lamas or their Kalons ([[regent]]s) led the Tibetan government in Lhasa, known as the [[Ganden Phodrang]]. The Ganden Phodrang government officially functioned as a protectorate under Qing China rule and governed all of the [[Tibetan Plateau]] while respecting varying degrees of autonomy.<ref name="smith107149">Smith 1997, pp. 107–149.</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Perkins |first=Dorothy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KMQeAgAAQBAJ&q=%22Tibet%22+%22Protectorate%22+of+the+Qing&pg=PA528 |title=Encyclopedia of China: History and Culture |date=2013-11-19 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-93562-7 |language=en}}</ref> After the Qing dynasty collapsed in 1912, the [[Beiyang government|Republic of China (ROC)]] claimed succession over all former Qing territories, but struggled to establish authority in Tibet. The [[13th Dalai Lama]] declared that Tibet's relationship with China had ended with the [[1911 Revolution|Qing dynasty's fall]] and proclaimed independence, though this was not formally recognized under international law.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hnZqktKhU3YC&pg=PA50 |title=Nomads of Western Tibet: The Survival of a Way of Life |date=1990-01-01 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-07211-4 |language=en}}</ref> In 1951, the 14th Dalai Lama ratified the [[Seventeen Point Agreement]] with China. In 1959, he revoked the agreement. He initially supported the [[Tibetan independence movement]], but in 1974, he rejected calls for Tibetan independence.<ref name="auto">{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/longform/dalai-lama-60-year-exile/|title=The Dalai Lama Has Been the Face of Buddhism for 60 Years. China Wants to Change That|magazine=Time|access-date=11 November 2025|archive-date=17 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917223508/https://time.com/longform/dalai-lama-60-year-exile/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Since 2005, he has publicly agreed that Tibet is part of China and not supported separatism.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-03-15 |title=Tibet part of China, Dalai Lama agrees |url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/tibet-part-of-china-dalai-lama-agrees-20050315-gdkxfo.html |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref>

The extent and nature of the Dalai's secular and religious power remains contested. One common interpretation is the ''mchod yon'' (མཆོད་ཡོན), often translated as "[[priest and patron]] relationship". It describes the historical alliance between Tibetan Buddhist leaders and secular rulers, such as the Mongols, Manchus, and Chinese authorities. In this relationship, the secular patron (''yon bdag'') provides political protection and support to the religious figure, who in turn offers spiritual guidance and legitimacy. Proponents of this theory argue that it allowed Tibet to maintain a degree of autonomy in religious and cultural matters while ensuring political stability and protection.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Chang |first=Simon T. |title=A 'realist' hypocrisy? Scripting sovereignty in Sino–Tibetan relations and the changing posture of Britain and the United States |journal=Asian Ethnicity |date=2011-10-01 |volume=12 |issue=3 |pages=323–335 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14631369.2011.605545 |doi=10.1080/14631369.2011.605545 |issn=1463-1369|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Critics, including [[Sam van Schaik]], contend that the theory oversimplifies the situation and often obscures the political dominance more powerful states exert over Tibet. Historians such as [[Melvyn Goldstein]] have called Tibet a vassal state or tributary, subject to external control.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Goldstein |first=Melvyn C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Upwq0I-wm7YC&q=y%C3%B6ndag&pg=PA44 |title=A History of Modern Tibet, 1913–1951: The Demise of the Lamaist State |date=2023-11-15 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-91176-5 |language=en}}</ref> During the [[Yuan dynasty]], Tibetan lamas held significant religious influence, but the Mongol Khans had ultimate political authority. Similarly, under the Qing Dynasty, which established control over Tibet in 1720, the region enjoyed a degree of autonomy, but all diplomatic agreements recognized Qing China's sovereign right to negotiate and conclude treaties and trade agreements involving Tibet. Since the 18th century, Chinese authorities have asserted the right to oversee the selection of Tibetan spiritual leaders, including the Dalai and [[Panchen Lama]]s.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1994-03-01 |title=Opinion {{!}} Tibet Couldn't Lose What It Never Had |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/01/opinion/l-tibet-couldn-t-lose-what-it-never-had-332046.html |access-date=2025-01-12 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> This practice was formalized in 1793 through the "[[29-Article Ordinance for the More Effective Governing of Tibet]]".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Schwieger |first=Peter |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dHoyBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA186 |title=The Dalai Lama and the Emperor of China: A Political History of the Tibetan Institution of Reincarnation |date=2015-03-31 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-231-53860-2 |language=en}}</ref>

According to Tibetan Buddhist doctrine, the Dalai Lama chooses his reincarnation. In recent years, the 14th Dalai Lama has opposed Chinese government involvement, emphasizing that [[Succession of the 14th Dalai Lama|his reincarnation]] should not be subject to external political influence.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-01 |title=Dalai Lama likely to announce he will not reincarnate to save Tibetan Buddhism from China |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/dalai-lama-likely-to-announce-he-will-not-reincarnate-to-save-tibetan-buddhism-from-china-436910/ |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=The Tribune |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-02 |title=Dalai Lama sorry for saying female successor would have to be 'attractive' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/dalai-lama-sorry-saying-female-successor-would-have-be-attractive-n1025756 |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref>{{TOC limit|3}}

==Names==
"Dalai Lama" is part of the full title "圣 识一切 瓦齐尔达喇 达赖 喇嘛" ("Holiness Knowing Everything [[Vajradhara]] Dalai Lama") given by [[Altan Khan]]. "Dalai Lama" combines the [[Mongolic languages|Mongolic]] word {{lang|xgn|dalai}} ({{gloss|ocean}}){{sfn|Schwieger|2014|p=33}} and the [[Standard Tibetan|Tibetan]] word {{Bo-textonly|lang=bo|བླ་མ་}} ({{lang|bo-Latn|bla-ma}}) ({{gloss|master, guru}}).<ref name="陈庆英2005_p16">{{cite book |author=陈庆英 |title=达赖喇嘛转世及历史定制英 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=haMIsdC3iZwC&pg=PA16 |year=2005 |publisher=五洲传播出版社 |isbn=978-7-5085-0745-3 |pages=16– }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Oliver |first=Joan Duncan |title=Buddhism: An Introduction to the Buddha's Life, Teachings, and Practices |date=April 2019 |publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers|St. Martin's Essentials]] |isbn=978-1-250-31368-3 |edition=1st |location=New York |pages=42 |language=en-US}}</ref> The word {{lang|xgn|dalai}} corresponds to the Tibetan word ''gyatso<ref>Laird 2006, p. 143.</ref>'' or ''rgya-mtsho'',''<ref name="EB" />'' and, according to Schwieger, was chosen by analogy with the Mongolian title {{lang|mn-Latn|Dalaiyin qan}}{{sfn|Schwieger|2014|p=33}} or {{lang|mn-Latn|Dalaiin khan}}.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}} Others suggest it may have been chosen in reference to the breadth of the Dalai Lama's wisdom.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-10 |title=Dalai Lama {{!}} Meaning, People, Facts, & History {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dalai-Lama |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> The Dalai Lama is also known in Tibetan as the ''Rgyal-ba Rin-po-che'' ({{gloss|Precious Conqueror}})<ref name="EB">{{Britannica|150076|Dalai Lama}}</ref> or simply the ''Rgyal-ba''.<ref name="Petech">{{cite book |last=Petech |first=Luciano |title=The Kingdom of Ladakh, c.&nbsp;950–1842 A.D. |publisher=Instituto Italiano Per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente |year=1977 |url=https://www.academia.edu/download/48901732/1977_Kingdom_of_Ladakh_c_950-1842_AD_by_Petech_s.pdf |via=academia.edu}}{{dead link|date=July 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>{{rp|23}}

== History ==
{{Main|History of Tibet}}

{{Tibetan Buddhism sidebar}}

=== Origins in myth and legend ===
Since the 11th century, it has been widely believed in Central Asian Buddhist countries that [[Avalokiteśvara]], the [[bodhisattva]] of compassion, has a special relationship with the people of Tibet and intervenes in their fate by incarnating as benevolent rulers and teachers such as the Dalai Lamas.<ref>{{cite book |author = Thubten Jinpa |title = The Book of Kadam |publisher = Wisdom Publications |isbn = 978-0-86171-441-4 |chapter-url = http://www.wisdompubs.org/book/book-kadam/introduction |chapter = Introduction |quote = Available textual evidence points strongly toward the 11th and 12th centuries as the period during which the full myth of Avalokiteśvara's special destiny with Tibet was established. During this era, the belief that this compassionate spirit intervenes in the fate of the Tibetan people by manifesting as benevolent rulers and teachers took firm root |date = 15 July 2008 |access-date = 29 May 2015 |archive-date = 29 May 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150529174226/http://www.wisdompubs.org/book/book-kadam/introduction |url-status = live }}</ref> ''The Book of Kadam'',<ref>{{cite book|author1=Thubten Jinpa|title=The Book of Kadam|publisher=Wisdom Publications|isbn=978-0-86171-441-4|url=http://www.wisdompubs.org/book/book-kadam|date=15 July 2008|access-date=29 May 2015|archive-date=29 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529174200/http://www.wisdompubs.org/book/book-kadam|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Mullin 2001, p. 39.</ref> the main text of the [[Kadampa]] school from which the [[1st Dalai Lama]] hailed, is said to have laid the foundation for the Tibetans' later identification of the Dalai Lamas as incarnations of Avalokiteśvara.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Thubten Jinpa|title=The Book of Kadam|publisher=Wisdom Publications|isbn=978-0-86171-441-4|chapter-url=http://www.wisdompubs.org/book/book-kadam/introduction|chapter=Introduction|quote=Perhaps the most important legacy of the book, at least for the Tibetan people as a whole, is that it laid the foundation for the later identification of Avalokiteśvara with the lineage of the Dalai Lama|date=4 July 2008|access-date=29 May 2015|archive-date=29 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529174226/http://www.wisdompubs.org/book/book-kadam/introduction|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Tuttle, Gray|author2=Schaeffer, Curtis R.|title=The Tibetan History Reader|date=2013|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-51354-8|page=335|quote=In Atiśa's telling, Dromtön was not only Avalokiteśvara but also a reincarnation of former Buddhist monks, laypeople, commoners, and kings. Furthermore, these reincarnations were all incarnations of that very same being, Avalokiteśvara. Van der Kuijp takes us on a tour of literary history, showing that the narrative attributed to Atiśa became a major source for both incarnation and reincarnation ideology for centuries to come." From: "The Dalai Lamas and the Origins of Reincarnate Lamas. Leonard W. J. van der Kuijp"}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Thubten Jinpa|title=The Book of Kadam|publisher=Wisdom Publications|isbn=978-0-86171-441-4|chapter-url=http://www.wisdompubs.org/book/book-kadam/introduction|chapter=Introduction|quote='The Book' gives ample evidence of the existence of an ancient, mythological Tibetan narrative placing the Dalai Lamas as incarnations of Dromtönpa, of his predecessors and of [[Avalokiteshvara]]|date=15 July 2008|access-date=29 May 2015|archive-date=29 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529174226/http://www.wisdompubs.org/book/book-kadam/introduction|url-status=live}}</ref> It traces the legend of the bodhisattva's incarnations as [[List of rulers of Tibet|early Tibetan kings and emperors]] such as [[Songtsen Gampo]] and later as [[Dromtönpa]] (1004–1064).<ref>{{cite book |author=Thubten Jinpa |title=The Book of Kadam |publisher=Wisdom Publications |isbn=978-0-86171-441-4 |chapter-url=http://www.wisdompubs.org/book/book-kadam/introduction |chapter=Introduction |quote=For the Tibetans, the mythic narrative that began with Avalokiteśvara's embodiment in the form of Songtsen Gampo in the seventh century—or even earlier with the mythohistorical figures of the first king of Tibet, Nyatri Tsenpo (traditionally calculated to have lived around the fifth century B.C.E.), and Lha Thothori Nyentsen (ca. third-century c.e.), during whose reign some sacred Buddhist scriptures are believed to have arrived in Tibet... continued with Dromtönpa in the eleventh century |date=15 July 2008 |access-date=29 May 2015 |archive-date=29 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529174226/http://www.wisdompubs.org/book/book-kadam/introduction |url-status=live }}</ref> This lineage has been extrapolated by Tibetans up to and including the Dalai Lamas.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Thubten Jinpa|title=The Book of Kadam|publisher=Wisdom Publications|isbn=978-0-86171-441-4|chapter-url=http://www.wisdompubs.org/book/book-kadam/introduction|chapter=Introduction|quote=For the Tibetans, the mythic narrative... continues today in the person of His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama|date=15 July 2008|access-date=29 May 2015|archive-date=29 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529174226/http://www.wisdompubs.org/book/book-kadam/introduction|url-status=live}}</ref>

Thus, according to such sources, an informal line of succession of the present Dalai Lamas as incarnations of [[Avalokiteśvara]] stretches back much further than the 1st Dalai Lama, [[Gendun Drub]]; as many as sixty persons are enumerated as earlier incarnations of Avalokiteśvara and predecessors in the same lineage leading up to Gendun Drub. These earlier incarnations include a mythology of 36 Indian personalities, ten [[List of rulers of Tibet|early Tibetan kings and emperors]] all said to be previous incarnations of Dromtönpa, and fourteen further Nepalese and Tibetan yogis and sages.<ref>Stein (1972), p. 138–139|quote=the Dalai Lama is ... a link in the chain that starts in history and leads back through legend to a deity in mythical times. The First Dalai Lama, Gedün-trup (1391–1474), was already the 51st incarnation; the teacher Dromtön, Atiśa's disciple (eleventh century), the 45th; whilst with the 26th, one Gesar king of India, and the 27th, a hare, we are in pure legend</ref> In fact, according to the "Birth to Exile" article on the 14th Dalai Lama's website, he is "the seventy-fourth in a lineage that can be traced back to a Brahmin boy who lived in the time of Buddha Shakyamuni."<ref>{{cite web|title=The Dalai Lama – Birth to Exile|url=http://www.dalailama.com/biography/from-birth-to-exile|website=His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet|publisher=Office of the Dalai Lama|access-date=28 October 2015|quote=Thus His Holiness is also believed to be a manifestation of Chenrezig, in fact the seventy-fourth in a lineage that can be traced back to a Brahmin boy who lived in the time of Buddha Shakyamuni|archive-date=7 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307105420/http://www.dalailama.com/biography/from-birth-to-exile|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Avalokiteśvara's "Dalai Lama master plan" ===
According to the [[14th Dalai Lama]], long ago Avalokiteśvara had promised the [[Buddha]] to guide and defend the [[Tibetan people]]. In the late Middle Ages, his master plan to fulfill this promise was the stage-by-stage establishment of the Dalai Lama institution in Tibet.<ref name=Laird138>Laird 2006, p. 138.</ref>

First, Tsongkhapa established three great monasteries around Lhasa in the province of [[Ü (region)|Ü]] before he died in 1419.<ref name=norb216>Norbu 1968, p. 216.</ref> The 1st Dalai Lama soon became Abbot of the greatest one, [[Drepung]], and developed a large popular power base in Ü. He later extended this to cover Tsang,<ref>Mullin 2001, p. 59.</ref> where he constructed a fourth great monastery, [[Tashilhunpo Monastery|Tashi Lhunpo]], at [[Shigatse]].<ref>Mullin 2001, pp. 66–67.</ref> The [[2nd Dalai Lama|2nd]] studied there before returning to Lhasa,<ref name=Laird138 /> where he became Abbot of Drepung.<ref name=TN1>Smith 1997, p. 106.</ref> Having reactivated the 1st's large popular followings in Tsang and Ü,<ref>Laird 2006, p. 138–139.</ref> the 2nd then moved on to southern Tibet and gathered more followers there who helped him construct a new monastery, [[Chokorgyel Monastery|Chokorgyel]].<ref name=shak91>Shakabpa 1984, p. 91.</ref> He established the method by which later Dalai Lama incarnations would be discovered through visions at the "oracle lake", [[Lhamo Lhatso]].<ref name="laird139">Laird 2006, p. 139.</ref>

The [[3rd Dalai Lama|3rd]] built on his predecessors' fame by becoming Abbot of the two great monasteries of Drepung and [[Sera Monastery|Sera]].<ref name="laird139" /> The Mongol leader [[Altan Khan]], first Ming Shunyi King, hearing of his reputation, invited the 3rd to [[Mongolia]], where he converted the King and his followers to Buddhism, covering a vast tract of central Asia. This brought most of Mongolia into the Dalai Lama's sphere of influence, founding a spiritual empire which largely survives to the modern age.<ref>Laird 2006, pp. 140–145.</ref> After being given the Mongolian name 'Dalai',<ref>MacKay 2003, p. 18.</ref> he returned to Tibet to found the great monasteries of [[Litang County#History|Lithang]] in Kham, eastern Tibet and [[Kumbum Monastery|Kumbum]] in Amdo, north-eastern Tibet.<ref>Laird 2006, p. 146.</ref>

The [[4th Dalai Lama|4th]] was then born in Mongolia as the great-grandson of [[Altan Khan]], cementing strong ties between Central Asia, the Dalai Lamas, the [[Gelugpa]] and [[Tibet]].<ref>Laird 2006, pp. 147–149.</ref> The [[5th Dalai Lama|5th]] in the succession used the vast popular power base of devoted followers built up by his four predecessors. By 1642, with the strategy provided by his ''chagdzo'' (manager) [[Sonam Rapten]] and the military assistance of [[Khoshut]] chieftain [[Gushri Khan]], the 'Great 5th' founded the Dalai Lamas' religious and political reign over Tibet that survived for over 300 years.<ref>Laird 2006, pp. 149–151.</ref>

=== Establishment of the Dalai Lama lineage ===
Gendun Drup (1391–1474), a disciple of [[Je Tsongkhapa|Je Tsongkapa]],<ref name="陈庆英2005_p15">{{cite book|author=陈庆英|title=达赖喇嘛转世及历史定制英|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=haMIsdC3iZwC&pg=PA15|year=2005|publisher=五洲传播出版社|isbn=978-7-5085-0745-3|pages=16–}}</ref> would eventually be known as the '[[First Dalai Lama]]', but he would not receive this title until 104 years after he died.<ref name=rich>Richardson 1984, pp. 40–41.</ref>
There was resistance to naming him as such, since he was ordained a monk in the Kadampa tradition<ref name=shak91 /> and for various reasons,{{Explain|reason=what reasons?|date=April 2024}} the Kadampa school had eschewed the adoption of the ''tulku'' system to which the older schools adhered. Therefore, although Gendun Drup grew to be an important Gelugpa lama, there was no search to identify his incarnation after his death in 1474.<ref name="mull87">Mullin 2001, p. 87.</ref>

Despite this, 55 years after Tsongkhapa, the Tashilhunpo monks heard accounts that an incarnation of Gendun Drup had appeared nearby and repeatedly announced himself from the age of two.<ref>Mullin 2001, pp. 90–95.</ref> The monastic authorities saw compelling evidence that convinced them the child in question was indeed the incarnation of their founder and felt obliged to break with their own tradition, and in 1487, the boy was renamed [[Gendun Gyatso]] and installed at Tashilhunpo as Gendun Drup's tulku, albeit informally.<ref name=mull956>Mullin 2001, pp. 95–96.</ref>

Gendun Gyatso died in 1542, but the lineage of Dalai Lama tulkus became firmly established with the third incarnation, [[3rd Dalai Lama|Sonam Gyatso]] (1543–1588), who was formally recognised and enthroned at Drepung in 1546.<ref>Mullin 2001, p. 137–8.</ref> Gendun Gyatso was given the title "Dalai Lama" by the Tümed [[Altan Khan]] in 1578,<ref name="Tagliacozzo2015">{{cite book|author=Eric Tagliacozzo|title=Asia Inside Out: Changing Times|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rKLrBQAAQBAJ&pg=PT153|date=5 January 2015|publisher=Harvard University Press|isbn=978-0-674-96694-9}}</ref>{{rp|153}} and his two predecessors were then accorded the title posthumously, making Gendun now the third in the lineage.<ref name=rich />

=== 1st Dalai Lama ===
{{Main|1st Dalai Lama}}

Pema Dorje (1391–1474), who would eventually be posthumously declared the 1st Dalai Lama, was born in a cattle pen in Shabtod, [[Ü-Tsang|Tsang]] in 1391.<ref name="norb215">Norbu 1968, p. 215.</ref><ref name="shak91" /> His family were goatherders, but when his father died in 1398, his mother entrusted him to his uncle for education as a Buddhist monk.<ref>Mullin 2001, pp. 52–3.</ref>  Pema Dorje was sent to [[Narthang Monastery|Narthang]], a major Kadampa monastery near Shigatse, which ran the largest printing press in Tibet.<ref>David-Neel 2007, p. 89.</ref> Its celebrated library attracted many scholars, so Pema Dorje received an education beyond the norm at the time as well as exposure to diverse spiritual schools and ideas.<ref name=mull54>Mullin 2001, p. 54.</ref>

He studied Buddhist philosophy extensively. In 1405, ordained by Narthang's abbot, he took the name of Gendun Drup.<ref name=shak91 /> He was recognised as an exceptionally gifted pupil, so the abbot tutored him personally and took special interest in his progress.<ref name=mull54 /> In twelve years he passed the twelve grades of monkhood and took the highest vows.<ref name=norb215 /> After completing his intensive studies at Narthang he left to continue at specialist monasteries in Central Tibet.<ref>Mullin 2001, pp. 54, 56.</ref>

In 1415, Gendun Drup met [[Tsongkhapa]], founder of the [[Gelugpa]] school, and became his student.<ref>Dhondub 1984, p. 3.</ref> After the death of Tsongkhapa's successor, the [[Khedrup Gelek Pelzang, 1st Panchen Lama|Panchen Lama Khedrup Je]], Gendun Drup became the leader of the Gelugpa.<ref name=norb215 /> He rose to become Abbot of Drepung, the greatest Gelugpa monastery outside Lhasa.<ref name=TN1 />

It was mainly due to Gendun Drup that Tsongkhapa's new school grew into an order capable of competing with others on an equal footing.<ref name=snel182>Snellgrove & Richardson 1986, p. 182.</ref> Taking advantage of good relations with the nobility and a lack of determined opposition from rival orders, he founded Tashilhunpo Monastery at Shigatse, on the very edge of Karma Kagyu-dominated territory,<ref name=snel182 /> and would serve as its Abbot until his death.<ref>Richardson 1984, p. 40.</ref> This monastery became the fourth great Gelugpa monastery in Tibet, after [[Ganden]], Drepung, and Sera, all founded in Tsongkhapa's time,<ref name=norb216 /> and would later become the seat of the [[Panchen Lamas]].<ref name=bell33>Bell 1946, p. 33.</ref>
By establishing it at Shigatse in the middle of Tsang, Gendun Drup expanded the Gelugpa sphere of influence, and his own, from the Lhasa region of Ü to this province, which was the stronghold of the [[Karma Kagyu]] school and their patrons, the rising [[Tsangpa]] dynasty.<ref name=norb216 /><ref>Smith 1997, p. 101.</ref> Tashilhunpo eventually became 'Southern Tibet's greatest monastic university'<ref name=mull242>Mullin 1983, p. 242.</ref> with a complement of 3,000 monks.<ref name="shak91" />

Gendun Drup was said to be the greatest scholar-saint ever produced by [[Narthang Monastery]]<ref name=mull242 /> and became 'the single most important lama in Tibet'.<ref>Mullin 2001, p. 52.</ref> Through hard work he became a leading lama, known as 'Perfecter of the Monkhood', 'with a host of disciples'.<ref name=bell33 /> Famed for his Buddhist scholarship, he was also referred to as ''Panchen Gendun Drup'', 'Panchen' being an honorary title designating 'great scholar'.<ref name=shak91 /> By the great [[Jonangpa]] master Bodong Chokley Namgyal<ref>[[:de:Bodong Chogle Namgyel]]{{Circular reference|date=July 2021}}</ref> he was accorded the honorary title ''Tamchey Khyenpa'' meaning "The Omniscient One", an appellation that was later assigned to all Dalai Lama incarnations.<ref>Mullin 2001, pp. 58–9.</ref>

At the age of 50, he entered meditation retreat at [[Narthang Monastery|Narthang]]. As he grew older, [[Karma Kagyu]] adherents, finding their sect was losing too many recruits to the monkhood to burgeoning [[Gelugpa]] monasteries, tried to contain Gelug expansion by launching military expeditions against them.<ref>Mullin 2001, p. 60.</ref> This led to decades of military and political power struggles between [[Tsangpa]] dynasty forces and others across central Tibet.<ref>Dhondup 1984, p. 4.</ref> In an attempt to ameliorate these clashes, Gendun Drup issued a poem of advice to his followers advising restraint from responding to violence with more violence and urged compassion and patience instead. The poem, entitled ''Shar Gang Rima'', "The Song of the Eastern Snow Mountains", became one of his most enduring popular literary works.<ref>Mullin 2001, p. 61.</ref>

Gendun Drup's spiritual accomplishments brought him substantial donations from devotees which he used to build and furnish new monasteries, as well as to print and distribute Buddhist texts and to maintain monks and meditators.<ref>Mullin 2001, p. 6.9</ref> In 1474, at the age of 84, he went on a final teaching tour by foot to visit [[Narthang Monastery]]. Returning to Tashilhunpo<ref>Mullin 2001, p. 69–70.</ref> he died 'in a blaze of glory, recognised as having attained Buddhahood'.<ref name=bell33 />

His remains were interred in a bejewelled silver [[stupa]] at [[Tashi Lhunpo Monastery]], which survived the [[Cultural Revolution]] and can still be seen.<ref name=mull87 />

=== 2nd Dalai Lama ===
{{Main|2nd Dalai Lama}}

After Gendun Drup died, a boy called Sangyey Pel, born to Nyngma adepts at Yolkar in [[Ü-Tsang|Tsang]],<ref name=shak91 /><ref>Mullin 2001, p. 89.</ref> declared himself at the age of three to be Gendun Drup and asked to be 'taken home' to Tashilhunpo. He spoke in mystical verses, quoted classical texts spontaneously,<ref>Mullin 2001, pp. 90–93.</ref> and claimed to be [[Dromtönpa]], an earlier incarnation of the Dalai Lamas.<ref>Mullin 2001, p. 90.</ref> When he saw monks from Tashilhunpo, he greeted the disciples of the late Gendun Drup by name.<ref>Mullin 2001, p. 95.</ref> Convinced by the evidence, the Gelugpa elders broke with the traditions of their school and recognised him as Gendun Drup's ''tulku'' at the age of eight.<ref name=mull956 />

His father took him on teachings and retreats, training him in all the family [[Nyingma]] lineages.<ref>Mullin 2001, p. 94.</ref> At twelve he was installed at Tashilhunpo as Gendun Drup's incarnation, ordained, enthroned, and renamed [[Gendun Gyatso Palzangpo]] (1475–1542).<ref name=mull956 />

Tutored personally by the abbot, he made rapid progress, and in 1492 at the age of seventeen he was requested to teach all over Tsang, where thousands gathered to listen and give obeisance, including senior scholars and abbots.<ref>Mullin 2001, pp. 97–8.</ref> Two years later, he met some opposition from the Tashilhunpo establishment when tensions arose over conflicts between advocates of the two types of succession: the traditional abbatial election through merit and incarnation. He therefore moved to central Tibet, where he was invited to Drepung and where his reputation as a brilliant young teacher quickly grew.<ref>Kapstein 2006, p. 129.</ref><ref>Mullin 2001, 99–100</ref> This move had the effect of shifting central Gelug authority back to Lhasa.{{cn|date=December 2025}}

He was afforded all the loyalty and devotion that Gendun Drup had earned and the Gelug school remained as united as ever.<ref name=norb216 />  Under his leadership, the sect continued growing in size and influence<ref name=norb217 /> and its lamas were asked to mediate in disputes between other rivals.<ref>Snelling & Richardson 1986, pp. 182–3.</ref> Gendun Gyatso's popularity in Ü-Tsang grew as he went on pilgrimage, teaching and studying from masters such as the adept Khedrup Norzang Gyatso in the Olklha mountains.<ref>Mullin 2001, pp. 100–103.</ref> He also stayed in [[Kongpo]] and Dagpo<ref>[[:de:Dagpo (Region)]]{{Circular reference|date=July 2021}}</ref> and became known all over Tibet.<ref name="laird139" /> He spent his winters in Lhasa, writing commentaries, and spent the rest of the year travelling and teaching many thousands of monks and laypeople.<ref>Mullin 2001, p. 105.</ref>

In 1509, he moved to southern Tibet to build Chokorgyel Monastery near the 'Oracle Lake', [[Lhamo Latso]],<ref name="laird139" /> completing it by 1511.<ref name=mull111>Mullin 2001, p. 111.</ref> That year he saw visions in the lake and 'empowered' it to impart clues to help identify incarnate lamas. All Dalai Lamas from the 3rd on were found with the help of such visions granted to regents.<ref name="laird139" /><ref>Mullin 2001, pp. 107–9.</ref> He was invited back to Tashilhunpo and given the residence built for Gendun Drup, to be occupied later by the [[Panchen Lamas]].<ref name=shak91 /> He was made abbot of Tashilhunpo<ref>Stein 1972, p. 84.</ref> and stayed there teaching in Tsang for nine months.<ref>Mullin 2001, pp. 109–110.</ref>

Gendun Gyatso continued to travel widely and teach while based at Tibet's largest monastery, Drepung and became known as 'Drepung Lama',<ref name=norb217>Norbu 1984, p. 217/</ref> his fame and influence spreading all over Central Asia as the best students from hundreds of lesser monasteries in Asia were sent to Drepung for education.<ref name=mull111 />

Throughout Gendun Gyatso's life, the Gelugpa were opposed and suppressed by older rivals, particularly the [[Karma Kagyu]] and their Ringpung clan patrons from Tsang, who felt threatened by their loss of influence.<ref name=dhon456>Dhondup 1984, pp. 4–6.</ref> In 1498, the Ringpung army captured Lhasa and banned the Gelugpa annual New Year [[Monlam Prayer Festival]].<ref name=dhon456 /><ref name=mull112>Mullin 2001, p. 112.</ref> Gendun Gyatso was promoted to abbot of Drepung in 1517<ref name=mull111 /> and that year Ringpung forces were forced to withdraw from Lhasa.<ref name=dhon456 /><ref>Shakabpa 1984, p. 90.</ref> Gendun Gyatso then went to the ''Gongma'' (King) [[Drakpa Jungne]]<ref>Shakabpa 1984, pp. 89–92.</ref> to obtain permission for the festival to be held again.<ref name="mull112" /> The next New Year, the ''Gongma'' was so impressed by Gendun Gyatso's performance leading the festival that he sponsored construction of a large new residence for him at Drepung, 'a monastery within a monastery'.<ref name="mull112" /> It was called the [[Ganden Phodrang]], a name later adopted by the Tibetan Government,<ref name="shak91" /> and it served as home for Dalai Lamas until the Fifth moved to the [[Potala Palace]] in 1645.{{cn|date=December 2025}}

In 1525, already abbot of Chokhorgyel, Drepung and Tashilhunpo, he was made abbot of Sera monastery as well, and worked to increase the number of monks there. Based at Drepung in winter and Chokorgyel in summer, he spent his remaining years composing commentaries, making regional teaching tours, visiting Tashilhunpo, and acting as abbot of these four great monasteries.<ref name="mull113">Mullin 2001, p. 113.</ref> As abbot, he made Drepung the largest monastery in the whole of Tibet.<ref name="sr183">Snellgrove & Richardson 1986, p. 183.</ref> He attracted many students and disciples 'from Kashmir to China' as well as major patrons and disciples such as ''Gongma'' Nangso Donyopa of Droda who built a monastery at Zhekar Dzong in his honour and invited him to name it and be its spiritual guide.<ref>Mullin 2001, pp. 114–5.</ref><ref name="mull113" />

''Gongma'' Gyaltsen Palzangpo of Khyomorlungand and his Queen, Sangyey Paldzomma, became his favorite patrons and disciples and he visited their area to carry out rituals as 'he chose it for his next place of rebirth'.<ref name="mull1137">Mullin 2001, pp. 113, 117.</ref> He died in meditation at Drepung in 1542 at the age of 67 and his reliquary stupa was constructed at Khyomorlung.<ref name="mull120">Mullin 2001, p. 120.</ref> It was said that, by the time he died, through his disciples and their students, his personal influence covered the whole of Buddhist Central Asia where 'there was nobody of any consequence who did not know of him.'<ref name="mull120" /> The Dalai Lama title was posthumously granted to Gedun Gyatso after 1578.{{cn|date=December 2025}}

=== 3rd Dalai Lama ===
{{Main|3rd Dalai Lama}}

The Third Dalai Lama, [[3rd Dalai Lama|Sonam Gyatso]] (1543–1588), was born in Tolung, near Lhasa,<ref name=shak92>Shakabpa 1984, p. 92.</ref>
as predicted by his predecessor.<ref name=mull1137 /> Claiming he was Gendun Gyatso and readily recalling events from his previous life, he was recognised as the incarnation, named 'Sonam Gyatso' and installed at Drepung, where 'he quickly excelled his teachers in knowledge and wisdom and developed extraordinary powers'.<ref>Norbu 1986, p. 217.</ref> Unlike his predecessors, he came from a noble family, connected with the [[Sakya (tribe)|Sakya]] and the [[Phagmo Drupa]] (Karma Kagyu affiliated) dynasties,<ref name=sr183 /> and it is to him that the effective conversion of Mongolia to Buddhism is due.<ref name="bell33" />

A brilliant scholar and teacher,<ref name=rich41>Richardson 1984, p. 41.</ref> he had the spiritual maturity to be made Abbot of Drepung,<ref>Dhondup 1984, p. 6.</ref> taking responsibility for the material and spiritual well-being of Tibet's largest monastery at the age of nine. At 10 he led the [[Monlam Prayer Festival]], giving daily discourses to the assembly of all Gelugpa monks.<ref>Mullin 2001, p. 141.</ref> His influence grew so quickly that soon the monks at Sera Monastery also made him their Abbot<ref name="laird139" /> and his mediation was being sought to prevent fighting between political power factions. At 16, in 1559, he was invited to [[Nêdong (village)|Nedong]] by King [[Ngawang Tashi Drakpa]], a [[Karma Kagyu]] supporter, and became his personal teacher.<ref name=shak92 />

At 17, when fighting broke out in Lhasa between Gelug and Kagyu parties and efforts by local lamas to mediate failed, Sonam Gyatso negotiated a peaceful settlement. At 19, when the [[Lhasa River|Kyichu River]] burst its banks and flooded Lhasa, he led his followers to rescue victims and repair the dykes. He then instituted a custom whereby on the last day of [[Monlam]], all the monks would work on strengthening the flood defences.<ref name=shak92 /> Gradually, he was shaping himself into a national leader.<ref>Dhondup 1984, p. 7.</ref> His popularity and renown became such that in 1564 when the Nedong King died, it was Sonam Gyatso at the age of 21 who was requested to lead his funeral rites, rather than his own Kagyu lamas.<ref name=laird139 />

Required to travel and teach without respite after taking full ordination in 1565, he still maintained extensive meditation practices in the hours before dawn and again at the end of the day.<ref name=mull142>Mullin 2001, p. 142.</ref> In 1569, at age 26, he went to Tashilhunpo to study the layout and administration of the monastery built by his predecessor Gendun Drup. Invited to become the Abbot he declined, already being Abbot of Drepung and Sera, but left his deputy there in his stead.<ref>Shakabpa 1984, p. 93.</ref> From there he visited [[Narthang Monastery|Narthang]], the first monastery of Gendun Drup and gave numerous discourses and offerings to the monks in gratitude.<ref name=mull142 />

Meanwhile, [[Altan Khan]], chief of all the Mongol tribes near China's borders, had heard of Sonam Gyatso's spiritual prowess and repeatedly invited him to Mongolia.<ref name=sr183 /> By 1571, when Altan Khan received a title of Shunyi Wang (King) from the [[Ming dynasty]] of China<ref name="Dardess2012_p16">{{cite book|author=John W. Dardess|title=Ming China, 1368–1644: A Concise History of a Resilient Empire|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ROQVzWT2iiUC&pg=PA16|year=2012|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-1-4422-0491-1|pages=16–}}</ref> and swore allegiance to Ming,<ref name="蔡東藩2015">{{cite book|author=蔡東藩|title=明史通俗演義: 蔡東藩歷史演義-明朝|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jismCQAAQBAJ&pg=PT440|date=9 May 2015|publisher=谷月社|pages=440–|id=GGKEY:K7LK6AK932B|quote =俺答道:"我當約令稱臣，永不復叛，我死后，我子我孫，將必襲封，世世衣食中國。"}}</ref> Although he remained de facto quite independent,<ref name="Tagliacozzo2015" />{{rp|106}} he had fulfilled his political destiny and a nephew advised him to seek spiritual salvation, saying that "in Tibet dwells [[Avalokiteshvara]]", referring to Sonam Gyatso, then 28 years old.<ref>Laird 2006, pp. 141–142.</ref> China was also happy to help Altan Khan by providing necessary translations of holy scripture, and also lamas.<ref name="Dardess2012_p17">{{cite book|author=John W. Dardess|title=Ming China, 1368–1644: A Concise History of a Resilient Empire|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ROQVzWT2iiUC&pg=PA16|year=2012|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-1-4422-0491-1|pages=17–}}</ref>

At the second invitation, in 1577–78 Sonam Gyatso travelled 1,500 miles to Mongolia to see him. They met in an atmosphere of intense reverence and devotion<ref name=sr184>Snellgrove & Richardson 1984, p. 184.</ref> and their meeting resulted in the re-establishment of strong Tibet-Mongolia relations after a gap of 200 years.<ref name=sr183 />
To Altan Khan, Sonam Gyatso identified himself as the incarnation of [[Drogön Chögyal Phagpa]], and Altan Khan as that of [[Kubilai Khan]], thus placing the Khan as heir to the [[Chingizid]] lineage whilst securing his patronage.<ref name="Smith 1996, p. 106">Smith 1996, p. 106.</ref>
Altan Khan and his followers quickly adopted Buddhism as their state religion, replacing the prohibited traditional [[Shamanism]].<ref name=rich41 />

Mongol law was reformed to accord with Tibetan Buddhist law. From this time Buddhism spread rapidly across Mongolia<ref name="Smith 1996, p. 106" /> and soon the Gelugpa had won the spiritual allegiance of most of the Mongolian tribes.<ref name=rich41 />
As proposed by Sonam Gyatso, Altan Khan sponsored the building of Thegchen Chonkhor Monastery at the site of Sonam Gyatso's open-air teachings given to the whole Mongol population. He also called Sonam Gyatso "Dalai", Mongolian for 'Gyatso' (Ocean).<ref>Shakabpa 1984, pp. 94–95.</ref>

The name "Dalai Lama", by which the lineage later became known throughout the non-Tibetan world, was thus established and it was applied to the first two incarnations retrospectively.<ref name=rich />

In 1579, the Ming allowed the third Dalai Lama to pay regular tribute.<ref>L. Carrington Goodrich and Chaoying Fang，《Biography of Celebrities in Ming Dynasty 明代名人傳》，page 23</ref> Returning eventually to Tibet by a roundabout route and invited to stay and teach all along the way, in 1580 Sonam Gyatso was in [[Hohhot]] [or [[Ningxia]]], not far from Beijing, when the Chinese Emperor summoned him to his court.<ref>Smith 1996, p. 104.</ref><ref name=shak96>Shakabpa 1986, p. 96.</ref>
By then he had established a religious empire of such proportions that it was unsurprising the Emperor wanted to summon him and grant him a diploma.<ref name=sr184 />

Through Altan Khan, the 3rd Dalai Lama requested to pay tribute to the Emperor of China in order to raise his State Tutor ranking, and the Ming imperial court of China agreed with the request.<ref name="Wang尼玛坚赞1997">{{cite book|author1=Jiawei Wang|author2=尼玛坚赞|title=The Historical Status of China's Tibet|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ak3SQTVS7acC&pg=PA44|year=1997|publisher=五洲传播出版社|isbn=978-7-80113-304-5|pages=44–}}</ref> In 1582, he heard Altan Khan had died and invited by his son Dhüring Khan he decided to return to Mongolia. Passing through [[Amdo]], he founded a second great monastery, [[Kumbum Monastery|Kumbum]], at the birthplace of [[Tsongkhapa]] near [[Chinghai Lake|Kokonor]].<ref name=shak96 /> Further on, he was asked to adjudicate on border disputes between Mongolia and China. It was the first time a Dalai Lama had exercised such political authority.<ref name=norb220>Norbu 1986, p. 220.</ref>

Arriving in Mongolia in 1585, he stayed 2 years with Dhüring Khan, teaching Buddhism to his people<ref name=shak96 /> and converting more Mongol princes and their tribes. Receiving a second invitation from the Emperor in Beijing he accepted, but died en route in 1588.<ref name=Laird147>Laird 2006, p. 147.</ref> As he was dying, his Mongolian converts urged him not to leave them, as they needed his continuing religious leadership. He promised them he would be incarnated next in Mongolia, as a Mongolian.<ref name=norb220 />

=== 4th Dalai Lama ===
{{Main|4th Dalai Lama}}

The Fourth Dalai Lama, [[Yonten Gyatso]] (1589–1617) was a Mongol, the great-grandson of [[Altan Khan]]<ref name="Dardess2012">{{cite book |author=John W. Dardess |title=Ming China, 1368–1644: A Concise History of a Resilient Empire |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ROQVzWT2iiUC&pg=PA16 |year=2012 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn = 978-1-4422-0491-1 |pages=16– }}</ref> who was a descendant of [[Kublai Khan]] and leader of the [[Tümed]] Mongols who had already been converted to Buddhism by the Third Dalai Lama, Sonam Gyatso (1543–1588).<ref name=TN1 /> This strong connection caused the Mongols to zealously support the Gelugpa sect in Tibet, strengthening their status and position but also arousing intensified opposition from the Gelugpa's rivals, particularly the Tsang Karma Kagyu in Shigatse and their Mongol patrons and the Bönpo in Kham and their allies.<ref name=TN1 /> Being the newest school, unlike the older schools the Gelugpa lacked an established network of Tibetan clan patronage and were thus more reliant on foreign patrons.<ref name=TN2>Smith 1997, p. 107.</ref>

At the age of 10 with a large Mongol escort he travelled to Lhasa where he was enthroned. He studied at Drepung and became its abbot but being a non-Tibetan he met with opposition from some Tibetans, especially the Karma Kagyu who felt their position was threatened by these emerging events; there were several attempts to remove him from power.<ref>Mullin 2001, p. 172–181.</ref> Seal of authority was granted in 1616 by [[Wanli Emperor]] of Ming.<ref name="Biography of the 4th Dalai Lama">Biography of the 4th Dalai Lama</ref> Yonten Gyatso died at the age of 27 under suspicious circumstances and his chief attendant [[Sonam Rapten]] went on to discover the 5th Dalai Lama, became his ''chagdzo'' or manager and after 1642 he went on to be his regent, the Desi.<ref>Mullin 2001, p. 182.</ref>

=== 5th Dalai Lama ===
{{Main|5th Dalai Lama}}

{{multiple image |width=200 |direction=vertical 
|image1=Jokhang,Gushi Khan Fresco.Color.jpg|caption1=[[Güshi Khan]]
|image2=Mongolia XVII.png|caption2=Map showing the extent of the [[Khoshut Khanate]], 1642–1717, after the Unification of Tibet under the 5th Dalai Lama with Sonam Chöphel and Güshi Khan
|image3=Tibet-claims.jpg|caption3='Greater Tibet' as claimed by exiled groups
}}

The death of the Fourth Dalai Lama in 1617 led to open conflict breaking out between various parties.<ref name=TN2 /> First, the [[Tsangpa]] dynasty, rulers of Central Tibet from Shigatse, supporters of the [[Karmapa]] school and rivals to the [[Gelugpa]], forbade the search for his incarnation.<ref name=SK>{{cite journal|author1=Karmay, Samten C.|title=The Great Fifth|journal=The Newsletter|year=2005|volume=Winter 2005|issue=39|page=2|url=http://www.iias.nl/sites/default/files/IIAS_NL39_1213.pdf|access-date=14 June 2015|series=Research|publisher=International Institute for Asian Studies|location=Leiden, the Netherlands|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141207235713/http://www.iias.nl/sites/default/files/IIAS_NL39_1213.pdf|archive-date=7 December 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> But in 1618, [[Sonam Rapten]], the former attendant of the 4th Dalai Lama who had become the [[Ganden Phodrang]] treasurer, secretly identified the child,<ref name=shak101>Shakabpa 1984, pp. 101–102.</ref> who had been born to the noble Zahor family at Tagtse castle, south of Lhasa. Then, the [[Panchen Lama]], in Shigatse, negotiated the lifting of the ban, enabling the boy to be recognised as [[Lobsang Gyatso]], the 5th Dalai Lama.<ref name=SK />

Also in 1618, the Tsangpa King, Karma Puntsok Namgyal, whose Mongol patron was [[Choghtu Khong Tayiji]] of the [[Khalkha Mongols]], attacked the Gelugpa in Lhasa to avenge an earlier snub and established two military bases there to control the monasteries and the city. This caused Sonam Rabten who became the 5th Dalai Lama's ''changdzo'' or manager,<ref>Mullin 2001, p. 198.</ref> to seek more active Mongol patronage and military assistance for the Gelugpa while the Fifth was still a boy.<ref name=TN2 /> So, in 1620, Mongol troops allied to the Gelugpa who had camped outside Lhasa suddenly attacked and destroyed the two Tsangpa camps and drove them out of Lhasa, enabling the Dalai Lama to be brought out of hiding and publicly enthroned there in 1622.<ref name=shak101 />

In fact, throughout the 5th's minority, it was the influential and forceful Sonam Rabten who inspired the [[Dzungars|Dzungar Mongols]] to defend the Gelugpa by attacking their enemies. These enemies included other Mongol tribes who supported the Tsangpas, the Tsangpa themselves and their Bönpo allies in Kham who had also opposed and persecuted Gelugpas. Ultimately, this strategy led to the destruction of the Tsangpa dynasty, the defeat of the Karmapas and their other allies and the Bönpos, by armed forces from the Lhasa valley aided by their Mongol allies, paving the way for Gelugpa political and religious hegemony in Central Tibet.<ref name=SK />

Apparently by general consensus, by virtue of his position as the Dalai Lama's ''changdzo'' (chief attendant, minister), after the Dalai Lama became absolute ruler of Tibet in 1642 Sonam Rabten became the "''Desi''" or "Viceroy", in fact, the ''de facto'' regent or day-to-day ruler of Tibet's governmental affairs. During these years and for the rest of his life (he died in 1658), "there was little doubt that politically Sonam Chophel [Rabten] was more powerful than the Dalai Lama".<ref name=GM199>Mullin 2001, p. 199.</ref> As a young man, being 22 years his junior, the Dalai Lama addressed him reverentially as "''Zhalngo''", meaning "the Presence".<ref>Karmay 2014, p. 4.</ref>

During the 1630s Tibet was deeply entangled in rivalry, evolving power struggles and conflicts, not only between the Tibetan religious sects but also between the rising [[Manchu people|Manchus]] and the various rival [[Mongol]] and [[Oirats|Oirat]] factions, who were also vying for supremacy amongst themselves and on behalf of the religious sects they patronised.<ref name=TN2 /> For example, [[Ligdan Khan]] of the [[Chahars]], a Mongol subgroup who supported the Tsang Karmapas, after retreating from advancing Manchu armies headed for [[Qinghai|Kokonor]] intending destroy the [[Gelug]]. He died on the way, in 1634.<ref>Michael Weiers, ''Geschichte der Mongolen'', Stuttgart 2004, p. 182f</ref>

His vassal [[Choghtu Khong Tayiji]], continued to advance against the Gelugpas, even having his own son Arslan killed after Arslan changed sides, submitted to the Dalai Lama and become a Gelugpa monk.<ref>Shakabpa 1984, p. 104.</ref> By the mid-1630s, thanks again to the efforts of Sonam Rabten,<ref name=SK /> the [[5th Dalai Lama]] had found a powerful new patron in Güshi Khan of the [[Khoshut]] Mongols, a subgroup of the [[Dzungars]], who had recently migrated to the Kokonor area from [[Dzungaria]].<ref name=TN2 /> He attacked [[Choghtu Khong Tayiji]] at Kokonor in 1637 and defeated and killed him, thus eliminating the Tsangpa and the Karmapa's main Mongol patron and protector.<ref name=TN2 />

Next, Donyo Dorje, the [[Bönpo]] king of Beri in [[Kham]] was found writing to the Tsangpa king in Shigatse to propose a co-ordinated 'pincer attack' on the Lhasa Gelugpa monasteries from east and west, seeking to utterly destroy them once and for all.<ref>Shakabpa 1984, pp. 105–106.</ref> The intercepted letter was sent to Güshi Khan who used it as a pretext to invade central Tibet in 1639 to attack them both, the Bönpo and the Tsangpa. By 1641 he had defeated Donyo Dorje and his allies in Kham and then he marched on Shigatse where after laying siege to their strongholds he defeated [[Karma Tenkyong]], broke the power of the Tsang Karma Kagyu in 1642 and ended the Tsangpa dynasty.<ref>Shakabpa 1967, p. 105–111.</ref>

Güshi Khan's attack on the Tsangpa was made on the orders of [[Sonam Rapten]] while being publicly and robustly opposed by the Dalai Lama, who, as a matter of conscience, out of compassion and his vision of tolerance for other religious schools, refused to give permission for more warfare in his name after the defeat of the Beri king.<ref name=GM199 /><ref name=shak106>Shakabpa 1984, p. 106–110.</ref> Sonam Rabten deviously went behind his master's back to encourage Güshi Khan, to facilitate his plans and to ensure the attacks took place;<ref name=SK /> for this defiance of his master's wishes, Rabten was severely rebuked by the 5th Dalai Lama.<ref name=shak106 />

After Desi [[Sonam Rapten]] died in 1658, the 5th Dalai Lama appointed his younger brother [[Depa Norbu]] (aka Nangso Norbu) as his successor the next year.<ref>Karmay 2014, p. 403.</ref> But after a few months, Norbu betrayed him and led a rebellion against the Ganden Phodrang Government. With his accomplices he seized Samdruptse fort at Shigatse and tried to raise a rebel army from Tsang and Bhutan, but the Dalai Lama foiled his plans without any fighting taking place and Norbu fled.<ref>Karmay 2014, pp. 409–425.</ref> Four other Desis were appointed after Depa Norbu: Trinle Gyatso, Lozang Tutop, Lozang Jinpa and [[Sangye Gyatso]].<ref>Shakabpa 2010, p. 1133.</ref>

==== Reunification of Tibet ====
Having thus defeated all the Gelugpa's rivals and resolved all regional and sectarian conflicts Güshi Khan became the undisputed patron of a unified Tibet and acted as a "Protector of the Gelug",<ref>René Grousset, ''The Empire of the Steppes'', New Brunswick 1970, p. 522.</ref> establishing the [[Khoshut Khanate]] which covered almost the entire Tibetan plateau, an area corresponding roughly to '[[Greater Tibet]]' including [[Kham]] and [[Amdo]], as claimed by exiled groups (see maps). At an enthronement ceremony in [[Shigatse]] he conferred full sovereignty over Tibet on the Fifth Dalai Lama,<ref name="bell273">Bell 1946, p. 273.</ref> unified for the first time since the collapse of the Tibetan Empire exactly eight centuries earlier.<ref name=TN2 /><ref name=TN3>Smith 1997, p. 108.</ref> Güshi Khan then retired to [[Qinghai|Kokonor]] with his armies<ref name=TN2 /> and [according to Smith] ruled Amdo himself directly thus creating a precedent for the later separation of Amdo from the rest of Tibet.<ref name=TN3 />

In this way, Güshi Khan established the Fifth Dalai Lama as the highest spiritual and political authority in Tibet. 'The Great Fifth' became the temporal ruler of Tibet in 1642 and from then on the rule of the Dalai Lama lineage over some, all or most of Tibet lasted with few breaks for the next 317 years, until 1959, when the [[14th Dalai Lama]] fled to India.{{sfn|Buswell|Lopez|2014|p=210}} In 1645, the Great Fifth began the construction of the [[Potala Palace]] in Lhasa.<ref name=mull201>Mullin 2001, p. 201.</ref>

Güshi Khan died in 1655 and was succeeded by his descendants [[Dayan Khan (Khoshut)|Dayan]], [[Tenzin Dalai Khan]] and Tenzin Wangchuk Khan. Güshi Khan's other eight sons settled in Amdo and fought among themselves over territory, so the Fifth Dalai Lama sent governors to rule them in 1656 and 1659, thereby bringing [[Amdo]] and thus the whole of Greater Tibet under his personal rule and Gelugpa control. The Mongols in Amdo became absorbed and Tibetanised.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Karmay, Samten C.|title=The Great Fifth|journal=The Newsletter|year=2005|volume=Winter 2005|issue=39|page=2|url=http://www.iias.nl/sites/default/files/IIAS_NL39_1213.pdf|access-date=14 June 2015|series=Research|publisher=International Institute for Asian Studies|location=Leiden, the Netherlands|quote=Over time the region's Mongols were completely Tibetanized but continued to enjoy prestige among the Tibetans as Gushri Khan's descendants and played a significant role in the Gelug Order's expansion in Amdo.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141207235713/http://www.iias.nl/sites/default/files/IIAS_NL39_1213.pdf|archive-date=7 December 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== Visit to Beijing ====
In 1636 the [[Manchu people|Manchus]] proclaimed their dynasty the [[Qing dynasty]], and by 1644 they had completed [[Qing conquest of the Ming|their conquest of China]] under the [[prince regent]] [[Dorgon]].<ref>{{Cite book |doi = 10.1002/9781118455074.wbeoe287|chapter = China, imperial: 8. Qing or Manchu dynasty period, 1636-1911|title = The Encyclopedia of Empire|pages = 1–13|year = 2016|last1 = Hang|first1 = Henry Choi Sze|isbn = 9781118455074}}</ref> In 1645, their forces approached [[Amdo]] in northern Tibet, causing the Oirat and Khoshut Mongols there to submit in 1647 and send tribute. In 1648, after quelling a rebellion of Tibetans in Gansu-Xining, the Qing invited the Fifth Dalai Lama to visit its court in Beijing since it wished to engender Tibetan influence in its dealings with the Mongols. The Qing was aware the Dalai Lama had extraordinary influence with the Mongols and saw relations with the Dalai Lama as a means to facilitate submission of the [[Khalka Mongols]], traditional patrons of the [[Karma Kagyu]] sect.<ref name="Smith 1997, pp. 108–113">Smith 1997, pp. 108–113.</ref>

Similarly, since the Tibetan Gelugpa were keen to revive a [[priest-patron]] relationship with the dominant power in China and Inner Asia, the Qing invitation was accepted. After five years of complex diplomatic negotiations about whether the emperor or his representatives should meet the Dalai Lama inside or outside the Great Wall, when the meeting would be astrologically favourable, how it would be conducted, and so on, it took place in Beijing in 1653.<ref name="Smith 1997, pp. 108–113"/>

The Shunzhi Emperor was then 16 years old, having ascended the throne in 1650 upon Dorgon's death. For the Qing, although the Dalai Lama was not required to [[kowtow]] to the emperor, who rose from his throne and advanced 30 feet to greet him, the visit's significance was that of nominal political submission by the Dalai Lama since Inner Asian heads of state did not travel to meet each other but sent envoys. But for Tibetan Buddhist historians it was interpreted as the start of an era of independent rule by the Dalai Lamas, and of Qing patronage alongside that of the Mongols.<ref name="Smith 1997, pp. 108–113"/>

When the 5th Dalai Lama returned, the emperor had granted him a golden seal of authority and golden sheets with texts in Manchu, Tibetan, and Han Chinese.<ref name="陈庆英2005_p41">{{cite book |author=陈庆英 |title=达赖喇嘛转世及历史定制英 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=haMIsdC3iZwC&pg=PA41 |year=2005 |publisher=五洲传播出版社 |isbn = 978-7-5085-0745-3 |pages=41–}}</ref><ref name=K309>Karmay 2014, p. 309.</ref> The 5th Dalai Lama wanted to use the golden seal of authority right away,<ref name="陈庆英2005_p41" /> but, Lobzang Gyatsho noted, "The Tibetan version of the inscription of the seal was translated by a Mongol translator but was not a good translation". After correction, it read: "The one who resides in the Western peaceful and virtuous paradise is unalterable Vajradhara, Ocean Lama, unifier of the doctrines of the Buddha for all beings under the sky". The words of the diploma ran: "Proclamation, to let all the people of the western hemisphere know".<ref name=K309 /> Tibetan historian Nyima Gyaincain points out that based on these texts, the Dalai Lama was only a subordinate of the emperor.<ref name="王家伟尼玛坚赞1997">{{cite book|author1=王家伟|author2=尼玛坚赞|title=中国西藏的历史地位|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eWCa0NSILSsC&pg=PA38|year=1997|publisher=五洲传播出版社|isbn=978-7-80113-303-8|pages=38–}}</ref>

Despite such patronising attempts by Chinese officials and historians to symbolically show for the record that they held political influence over Tibet, the Tibetans did not accept any such symbols imposed on them by the Chinese with this kind of motive. For example, of the golden seal, the Fifth Dalai Lama wrote in ''Dukula'', his autobiography, that after his 1653 visit to the emperor, "the emperor made his men bring a golden seal for me that had three vertical lines in three parallel scripts: Chinese, Mongol and Tibetan". He also criticised the words carved on this gift as incorrectly translated into Tibetan, writing, "The Tibetan version of the inscription of the seal was translated by a Mongol translator but was not a good translation".<ref name=K309/> When he returned to Tibet, he discarded the emperor's golden seal and made a new one for state usage, writing in his autobiography: "Leaving out the Chinese characters that were on the seal given by the emperor, a new seal was carved for stamping documents that dealt with territorial issues. The first imprint of the seal was offered with prayers to the image of Lokeshvara".<ref>Karmay 2014, p. 402.</ref>

==== Relations with the Qing dynasty ====
The 17th-century struggles for domination between the Manchu-led Qing dynasty and the various Mongol groups spilled over to involve Tibet because of the Fifth Dalai Lama's strong influence over the Mongols as a result of their general adoption of Tibetan Buddhism and their consequent deep loyalty to the Dalai Lama as their guru. Until 1674, the Fifth Dalai Lama had mediated in [[Dzungar people|Dzungar Mongol]] affairs whenever they required him to do so, and the [[Kangxi Emperor]], who had succeeded the Shunzhi Emperor in 1661, would accept and confirm his decisions automatically.<ref name="TN6">Smith 1997, pp. 116–117.</ref>

For the Kangxi Emperor, the alliance between the Dzungar Mongols and the Tibetans was unsettling because he feared it had the potential to unite all the other Mongol tribes together against the Qing Empire, including those tribes who had already submitted. Therefore, in 1674, the Kangxi Emperor, annoyed by the Fifth's less than full cooperation in quelling a rebellion against the Qing in [[Yunnan]], ceased deferring to him as regards Mongol affairs and started dealing with them directly.<ref name="TN6"/>

In the same year, 1674, the Dalai Lama, then at the height of his powers and conducting a foreign policy independent of the Qing, caused Mongol troops to occupy the border post of [[Dartsedo]] between Kham and Sichuan, further annoying the Kangxi Emperor who (according to Smith) already considered Tibet as part of the Qing Empire. It also increased Qing suspicion about Tibetan relations with the Mongol groups and led him to seek strategic opportunities to oppose and undermine Mongol influence in Tibet and eventually, within 50 years, to defeat the Mongols militarily and to establish the Qing as sole 'patrons and protectors' of Tibet in their place.<ref name=TN6 />

==== Cultural development ====
The time of the Fifth Dalai Lama, who reigned from 1642 to 1682 and founded the government known as the [[Ganden Phodrang]], was a period of rich cultural development.<ref>Snellgrove & Richardson 1968, p. 197.</ref> His reign and that of [[Desi Sangye Gyatso]] are noteworthy for the upsurge in literary activity and of cultural and economic life that occurred. The same goes for the great increase in the number of foreign visitors thronging Lhasa during the period as well as for the number of inventions and institutions that are attributed to the 'Great Fifth', as the Tibetans refer to him.<ref>Stein 1972, p. 84–5.</ref> The most dynamic and prolific of the early Dalai Lamas, he composed more literary works than all the other Dalai Lamas combined. Writing on a wide variety of subjects he is specially noted for his works on history, classical Indian poetry in Sanskrit and his biographies of notable personalities of his epoch, as well as his own two autobiographies, one spiritual in nature and the other political (see [[#Further reading|Further Reading]]).<ref name=mull83244>Mullin 1983, p. 244.</ref> He also taught and travelled extensively, reshaped the politics of Central Asia, unified Tibet, conceived and constructed the Potala Palace and is remembered for establishing systems of national medical care and education.<ref name=mull83244 />

==== Death of the fifth Dalai Lama ====
The Fifth Dalai Lama died in 1682. Tibetan historian Nyima Gyaincain points out that the written wills from the fifth Dalai Lama before he died explicitly said his title and authority were from the Emperor of China, and he was subordinate of the Emperor of China.<ref name="王家伟尼玛坚赞1997" />

The Fifth Dalai Lama's death in 1682 was kept secret for fifteen years by his regent [[Desi Sangye Gyatso]]. He pretended the Dalai Lama was in retreat and ruled on his behalf, secretly selecting the 6th Dalai Lama and presenting him as someone else. Tibetan historian Nyima Gyaincain points out that Desi Sangye Gyatso wanted to consolidate his personal status and power by not reporting the death of the fifth Dalai Lama to the Emperor of China, and also collude with the rebellion group of the Qing dynasty, Mongol [[Dzungar people|Dzungar]] tribe in order to counter influence from another Mongol [[Khoshut]] tribe in Tibet. Being afraid of prosecution by the Kangxi Emperor of China, Desi Sangye Gyatso explained with fear and trepidation the reason behind his action to the Emperor.<ref name="王家伟尼玛坚赞1997" />

In 1705, Desi Sangye Gyatso was killed by [[Lha-bzang Khan]] of the Mongol [[Khoshut]] tribe because of his actions including his illegal action of selecting the 6th Dalai Lama. Since the Kangxi Emperor was not happy about Desi Sangye Gyatso's action of not reporting, the Emperor gave [[Lha-bzang Khan]] additional title and golden seal. The Kangxi Emperor also ordered [[Lha-bzang Khan]] to arrest the 6th Dalai Lama and send him to Beijing, the 6th Dalai Lama died when he was en route to Beijing.<ref name="王家伟尼玛坚赞1997" /> Journalist Thomas Laird argues that it was apparently done so that construction of the Potala Palace could be finished, and it was to prevent Tibet's neighbors, the Mongols and the Qing, from taking advantage of an interregnum in the succession of the Dalai Lamas.{{sfn|Laird|2006|pp=181–182}}

=== 6th Dalai Lama ===
{{Main|6th Dalai Lama}}

The [[6th Dalai Lama|Sixth Dalai Lama]] (1683–1706) was born near [[Tawang]], now in India. After death of the 5th Dalai Lama, the regent [[Desi Sangye Gyatso]] kept death of the 5th Dalai Lama a secret, this allowed him to continue to use the authority of the Fifth Dalai Lama to manage the affairs of the Gelug. Tsangyang Gyatso was picked out in 1685, but his parents were not informed. In 1696, while suppressing the Dzungar rebellion, [[Kangxi Emperor]] accidentally learned from the captives that the 5th Dalai Lama had died many years ago. Kangxi severely rebuked the regent for his mistake, the regent admitted his mistake and sent people to Monpa to welcome the [[reincarnated soul boy]] in 1697. After 16 years of study as a novice monk, in 1702 in his 20th year he rejected full ordination and gave up his monk's robes and monastic life, preferring the lifestyle of a layman.<ref>Mullin 2001, pp. 245–256.</ref><ref>Karenina Kollmar-Paulenz, ''Kleine Geschichte Tibets'', München 2006, pp. 109–122.</ref>

In 1703 [[Güshi Khan]]'s ruling grandson Tenzin Wangchuk Khan was murdered by his brother [[Lha-bzang Khan|Lhazang Khan]] who usurped the [[Khoshut Khanate]]'s Tibetan throne, but unlike his four predecessors he started interfering directly in Tibetan affairs in Lhasa; he opposed the Fifth Dalai Lama's regent, [[Desi Sangye Gyatso]] for his deceptions and in the same year, with the support of the [[Kangxi Emperor]], he forced him out of office. When Lhazang was requested by the Tibetans to leave Lhasa politics to them and to retire to Kokonor like his predecessors, he quit the city. Desi Sangye Gyatso  decided to kill Lhazang, he secretly sent someone to poison the food of Lhazang, but was discovered. Lhazang was furious and immediately mobilized a large army to defeat the Tibetan army and killed Desi Sangye Gyatso. In 1705, he wrote a letter to the Qing government, reporting Desi Sangye Gyatso's rebellion and that the sixth Dalai Lama, appointed by Desi Sangye Gyatso, was addicted to wine and sex and ignored religious affairs. He reported the Dalai Lama was not a real Dalai Lama and requested emperor to demote and revoke him.  He used the Sixth's escapades as an excuse to seize full control of Tibet. Most Tibetans, though, still supported their Dalai Lama despite his behaviour and deeply resented Lhazang Khan's interference.<ref name="Smith 1997, p. 121">Smith 1997, p. 121.</ref> But Emperor Kangxi then issued an edict: "Because Lhazang Khan reported to depose the sixth Dalai Lama appointed by Desi Sangye Gyatso, the sixth Dalai Lama is ordered to be sent to capital Beijing."<ref name="Smith 1997, p. 121"/> In 1706 with the compliance of the Kangxi Emperor, the Sixth Dalai Lama was deposed and arrested by Lhazang who considered him to be an impostor set up by the regent. [[Lhazang Khan]], now acting as the only outright foreign ruler that Tibet had ever had, then sent him to Beijing under escort to appear before the emperor but he died mysteriously on the way near [[Lake Qinghai]], ostensibly from illness, he was 24 years' old.<ref>Mullin 2001, pp. 260–271.</ref><ref name="HarperCollins">Smith 1997, p. 122.</ref>

Having discredited and deposed the Sixth Dalai Lama, whom he considered an impostor, and having removed the regent, Lhazang Khan pressed the Lhasa Gelugpa lamas to endorse a new Dalai Lama in [[Tsangyang Gyatso]]'s place as the true incarnation of the Fifth. They eventually nominated one Pekar Dzinpa, a monk but also rumored to be Lhazang's son,<ref>McKay 2003, p. 569.</ref> and Lhazang had him installed as the 'real' Sixth Dalai Lama, endorsed by the [[Panchen Lama]] and named [[Yeshe Gyatso]] in 1707.<ref>Mullin 2001, p. 274.</ref> This choice was in no way accepted by the Tibetan people, however, nor by Lhazang's princely Mongol rivals in Kokonor who resented his usurpation of the [[Khoshut]] Tibetan throne as well as his meddling in Tibetan affairs.<ref name="HarperCollins" />

The Kangxi Emperor concurred with them, after sending investigators, initially declining to recognize [[Yeshe Gyatso]]. He recognized him in 1710, after sending a Qing official party to assist Lhazang in 'restoring order'. These were the first Chinese representatives of any sort to officiate in Tibet.<ref name="HarperCollins" /> At the same time, while this puppet 'Dalai Lama' had no political power, the Kangxi Emperor secured from Lhazang Khan in return for this support the promise of regular payments of tribute; this was the first time tribute had been paid to the Manchu by the Mongols in Tibet and the first overt acknowledgment of Qing supremacy over Mongol rule in Tibet.<ref>Richardson 1984, p. 48.</ref>

=== 7th Dalai Lama ===
{{Main|7th Dalai Lama}}

In 1708, in accordance with an indication given by the [[6th Dalai Lama]] when quitting Lhasa, a child called Kelzang Gyatso had been born at [[Litang County|Lithang]] in eastern Tibet who was soon claimed by local Tibetans to be his incarnation. After going into hiding out of fear of Lhazang Khan, he was installed in Lithang monastery. Along with some of the Kokonor Mongol princes, rivals of Lhazang, in defiance of the situation in Lhasa the Tibetans of [[Kham]] duly recognised him as the [[Seventh Dalai Lama]] in 1712, retaining his birth-name of [[Kelzang Gyatso]]. For security reasons he was moved to [[Derge]] monastery and eventually, in 1716, now also backed and sponsored by the Kangxi Emperor of China.<ref name="Mullin 2001, p.276-281">Mullin 2001, p. 276–281.</ref>

The Tibetans asked Dzungars to bring a true Dalai Lama to Lhasa, but the Manchu Chinese did not want to release Kelsan Gyatso to the Mongol Dzungars. The Regent Taktse Shabdrung and Tibetan officials then wrote a letter to the Manchu Chinese Emperor that they recognized Kelsang Gyatso as the Dalai Lama. The Emperor then granted Kelsang Gyatso a golden seal of authority.<ref name="Society">{{cite book|author=Western Shugden Society|title=A Great Deception: The Ruling Lamas' Policies|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-uySE2XJVq4C&pg=PP161|publisher=Tharpa Publications US|isbn=978-0-9563918-8-9|pages=161–}}</ref> The Sixth Dalai Lama was taken to Amdo at the age of 8 to be installed in [[Kumbum Monastery]] with great pomp and ceremony.<ref name="Mullin 2001, p.276-281" />

According to Smith, the Kangxi Emperor now arranged to protect the child and keep him at Kumbum monastery in Amdo in reserve just in case his ally Lhasang Khan and his 'real' Sixth Dalai Lama, were overthrown.<ref>Smith 1997, p. 123.</ref> But according to Mullin, the emperor's support came from genuine spiritual recognition and respect rather than being politically motivated.<ref>Mullin 2001, p. 281.</ref>

==== Dzungar invasion ====
In any case, the Kangxi Emperor took full advantage of having Kelzang Gyatso under Qing control at [[Kumbum]] after other Mongols from the [[Dzungars|Dzungar tribes]] led by [[Tsewang Rabtan]] who was related to his supposed ally [[Lhazang Khan]], deceived and betrayed the latter by invading Tibet and capturing Lhasa in 1717.<ref>Mullin 2001, p. 285–9.</ref><ref>Smith 1997, pp. 123–5.</ref>

These Dzungars, who were Buddhist, had supported the Fifth Dalai Lama and his regent. They were secretly petitioned by the Lhasa [[Gelugpa]] lamas to invade with their help in order to rid them of their foreign ruler Lhazang Khan and to replace the unpopular [[Yeshe Gyatso|Sixth Dalai Lama pretender]] with the young Kelzang Gyatso. This plot suited the devious Dzungar leaders' ambitions and they were only too happy to oblige.<ref>Mullin 2001, p. 285.</ref><ref>Smith 1997, pp. 122–3.</ref> Early in 1717, after conspiring to undermine Lhazang Khan through treachery they entered Tibet from the northwest with a large army, sending a smaller force to [[Kumbum]] to collect Kelzang Gyatso and escort him to Lhasa.<ref name="Smith 1997, pp. 123–4">Smith 1997, pp. 123–4.</ref><ref name="Mullin 2001, pp. 286–7">Mullin 2001, pp. 286–7.</ref>

By the end of the year, with Tibetan connivance they had captured Lhasa, killed Lhazang and all his family and deposed [[Yeshe Gyatso]]. But their force sent to fetch Kelzang Gyatso was intercepted and destroyed by Qing armies alerted by Lhazang. In Lhasa, the unruly Dzungar not only failed to produce the boy but also went on a rampage, looting and destroying holy places, abusing the populace, killing hundreds of Nyingma monks, causing chaos and bloodshed, and turning their Tibetan allies against them. The Tibetans soon appealed to the Kangxi Emperor to rid them of the Dzungars.<ref name="Smith 1997, pp. 123–4"/><ref name="Mullin 2001, pp. 286–7"/>

When the Dzungars had first attacked, the weakened Lhazang sent word to the Qing for support and they quickly dispatched two armies to assist, the first Chinese armies ever to enter Tibet, but they arrived too late. In 1718 they were halted not far from Lhasa to be defeated and then annihilated by the Dzungars in the [[Battle of the Salween River]].<ref>Richardson 1984, pp. 48–9.</ref><ref name="Stein 1972, p. 85">Stein 1972, p. 85.</ref>

==== Enthronement in Lhasa ====
This humiliation only determined the Kangxi Emperor to expel the [[Dzungars]] from Tibet once and for all and he set about assembling and dispatching a much larger force to march on Lhasa, bringing the emperor's [[Trump (card games)#Metaphorical uses|trump card]] the young Kelzang Gyatso with it. On the imperial army's stately passage from [[Kumbum]] to Lhasa with the boy being welcomed adoringly at every stage, [[Khoshut]] Mongols and Tibetans were happy (and well paid) to join and swell its ranks.<ref>Mullin 2001, pp. 287–9.</ref>

By the autumn of 1720, the marauding [[Dzungar people|Dzungar Mongols]] had been vanquished from Tibet. Qing imperial forces had entered Lhasa triumphantly with the 12-year-old, acting as patrons of the Dalai Lama, liberators of Tibet, allies of the Tibetan anti-Dzungar forces led by [[Khangchenné|Kangchenas]] and [[Polhané Sönam Topgyé|Polhanas]], and allies of the [[Khoshut]] Mongol princes. The delighted Tibetans enthroned him as the [[Seventh Dalai Lama]] at the [[Potala Palace]].<ref>Smith 1997, pp. 124–5.</ref><ref>Mullin 2001, p. 289.</ref>

A new Tibetan government was established consisting of a [[Kashag]] or cabinet of Tibetan ministers headed by [[Khangchenné|Kangchenas]]. Kelzang Gyatso, too young to participate in politics, studied Buddhism. He played a symbolic role in government, and, being profoundly revered by the Mongols, he exercised much influence with the Qing who now had now taken over Tibet's [[Priest-patron|patronage and protection]] from them.<ref>Smith 1997, pp. 124–6.</ref>

==== Exile to Kham ====
Having vanquished the Dzungars, the Qing army withdrew leaving the [[Seventh Dalai Lama]] as a political figurehead and only a [[Khalkha Mongol]] as the Qing ''[[amban]]'' or representative and a garrison in Lhasa.<ref name="Mullin 2001, p.291">Mullin 2001, p. 291.</ref><ref name=TN7>Smith 1997, p. 127.</ref> After the Kangxi Emperor died in 1722 and was succeeded by his son, the [[Yongzheng Emperor]], these were also withdrawn, leaving the Tibetans [[Autonomous|to rule autonomously]] and showing the Qing were interested in an alliance, not conquest.<ref name="Mullin 2001, p.291" /><ref name=TN7 /> In 1723, after brutally quelling a major rebellion by zealous Tibetan patriots and disgruntled [[Khoshut]] Mongols from Amdo who attacked [[Xining]], the Qing intervened again, splitting Tibet by putting [[Amdo]] and [[Kham]] under their own more direct control.<ref>Smith 1997, pp. 125–6.</ref>

Continuing Qing interference in [[Central Tibet]]an politics and religion incited an anti-Qing faction to quarrel with the Qing-sympathising Tibetan nobles in power in Lhasa, led by [[Khangchenné|Kanchenas]] who was supported by [[Pholhane|Polhanas]]. This led eventually to the murder of [[Khangchenné|Kanchenas]] in 1727 and a civil war that was resolved in 1728 with the canny [[Pholhane|Polhanas]], who had sent for Qing assistance, the victor. When the Qing forces did arrive they punished the losers and exiled the [[Seventh Dalai Lama]] to Kham, under the pretence of sending him to Beijing, because his father had assisted the defeated, anti-Qing faction. He studied and taught Buddhism there for the next seven years.<ref>Smith 1997, pp. 129–30.</ref>

==== Return to Lhasa ====
In 1735 he was allowed back to Lhasa to study and teach, but still under strict control, being mistrusted by the Qing, while [[Polhané Sönam Topgyé|Polhanas]] ruled [[Central Tibet]] under nominal Qing supervision. Meanwhile, the Qing had promoted the [[Fifth Panchen Lama]] to be a rival leader and reinstated the ''ambans'' and the Lhasa garrison. Polhanas died in 1747. He was succeeded by his son [[Gyurme Namgyal]], the last dynastic ruler of Tibet, who was far less cooperative with the Qing. He built a Tibetan army and started conspiring with the Dzungars to rid Tibet of Qing influence.<ref>Shakabpa 1967, pp. 147–8.</ref> In 1750, when the ''ambans'' realised this, they invited him and personally assassinated him. Despite the Dalai Lama's attempts to calm the angered populace, a vengeful Tibetan mob assassinated the ''ambans'', along with most of their escort.<ref>Smith 1997, p. 130–132.</ref>

==== Restoration as Tibet's political leader ====
The Qing sent yet another force 'to restore order' but when it arrived the situation had already been stabilised under the leadership of the [[7th Dalai Lama]] who was now seen to have demonstrated loyalty to the Qing. Just as Güshi Khan had done with the Fifth Dalai Lama, they therefore helped reconstitute the government with the Dalai Lama presiding over a [[Kashag]] of four Tibetans, reinvesting him with temporal power in addition to his already established spiritual leadership. This arrangement, with a Kashag under the Dalai Lama or his regent, outlasted the Qing dynasty which collapsed in 1912.<ref>Van Schaik 2011, p. 144; Shakabpa 1967, p. 150.</ref>

The ''ambans'' and their garrison were reinstated to observe and to some extent supervise affairs. Their influence generally waned with the power of their empire, which gradually declined after 1792 along with its influence over Tibet, a decline aided by a succession of corrupt or incompetent ''ambans''.<ref>Smith 1997, p. 137.</ref> Moreover, there was soon no reason for the Qing to fear the [[Dzungar people|Dzungar]]; by the time the [[Seventh Dalai Lama]] died in 1757 at the age of 49, the entire [[Dzungar people]] had been practically exterminated through years of genocidal campaigns by Qing armies, and deadly smallpox epidemics, with the survivors being forcibly transported into China. Their emptied lands were then awarded to other peoples.<ref>Smith 1997, p. 132–3.</ref>

According to Mullin, despite living through such violent times Kelzang Gyatso was perhaps 'the most spiritually learned and accomplished of any Dalai Lama', his written works comprising several hundred titles including 'some of Tibet's finest spiritual literary achievements'.<ref>Mullin 2001, p. 302, p. 308.</ref> Despite his apparent lack of zeal in politics, Kelzang Gyatso is credited with establishing in 1751 the reformed government of Tibet headed by the Dalai Lama, which continued over 200 years until the 1950s, and then in exile.<ref>Mullin 2001, p. 303.</ref> Construction of the [[Norbulingka]], the 'Summer Palace' of the Dalai Lamas in Lhasa was started during Kelzang Gyatso's reign.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Suhasini Haidar|title=At Lhasa, Tibetans still pray for Dalai Lama's return|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/world/at-lhasa-tibetans-still-pray-for-dalai-lamas-return/article6367393.ece|access-date=19 July 2015|newspaper=The Hindu|date=1 September 2014|archive-date=3 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903220607/http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/world/at-lhasa-tibetans-still-pray-for-dalai-lamas-return/article6367393.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Introduction to The Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka, Tibet|url=http://worldheritage.routes.travel/world-heritage-site/the-potala-palace-jokhang-temple-and-norbulingka-tibet/|publisher=World Heritage|access-date=19 July 2015|quote=Norbulingka was built in the 1700s by the seventh Dalai Lama and served as the regular dwelling of future Dalai Lamas. It is also referred to as the Summer Palace.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721213614/http://worldheritage.routes.travel/world-heritage-site/the-potala-palace-jokhang-temple-and-norbulingka-tibet/|archive-date=21 July 2015}}</ref>

=== 8th Dalai Lama ===
{{Main|8th Dalai Lama}}

The [[Eighth Dalai Lama]], [[Jamphel Gyatso]], was born in [[Ü-Tsang|Tsang]] in 1758 and died aged 46 having taken little part in Tibetan politics, mostly leaving temporal matters to his [[regents]] and the ''ambans''.<ref>Smith 1997, pp. 133, 137.</ref> The Emperor of China exempted him from the lot-drawing ceremony of the [[Golden Urn]].<ref name="陈庆英2005_106">{{cite book|author=陈庆英|title=达赖喇嘛转世及历史定制英|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=haMIsdC3iZwC&pg=PA106|year=2005|publisher=五洲传播出版社|isbn=978-7-5085-0745-3|pages=106–}}</ref><ref name="Wang尼玛坚赞1997_p70">{{cite book|author1=Jiawei Wang|author2=尼玛坚赞|title=The Historical Status of China's Tibet|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ak3SQTVS7acC&pg=PA70|year=1997|publisher=五洲传播出版社|isbn=978-7-80113-304-5|pages=70–}}</ref> [[Qianlong Emperor]] officially accepted Gyiangbai as the 8th Dalai Lama when the 6th Panchen Erdeni came to congratulate the emperor on his 70th birthday in 1780. The emperor granted the 8th Dalai Lama a jade seal of authority and jade sheets of confirmation of authority.<ref name="陈庆英2005_p55">{{cite book|author=陈庆英|title=达赖喇嘛转世及历史定制英|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=haMIsdC3iZwC&pg=PA55|year=2005|publisher=五洲传播出版社|isbn=978-7-5085-0745-3|pages=55–}}</ref><ref name="Wang尼玛坚赞1997_p62">{{cite book|author1=Jiawei Wang|author2=尼玛坚赞|title=The Historical Status of China's Tibet|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ak3SQTVS7acC&pg=PA62|year=1997|publisher=五洲传播出版社|isbn=978-7-80113-304-5|pages=62–}}</ref> The confirmation of authority says:

{{blockquote|You, the Dalai Lama, are the legal incarnation of Zhongkapa. You are granted the jade certificate of confirmation of authority and jade seal of authority, which you enshrine in the Potala monastery to guard the gate of Buddhism forever. All documents sent for the country's important ceremonies must be stamped with this seal, and all the other reports can be stamped with the original seal. Since you enjoy such honor, you have to make efforts to promote self-cultivation, study and propagate Buddhism, and help me promote Buddhism and goodness of the previous generation of the Dalai Lama for the people, and for the long life of our country.<ref name="qing_emperor_gaozong">{{cite book|author1=Gaozong|title=Records of the Qing Emperor Gaozong, Vol. 1186. p. 9.}}</ref><ref name="Wang尼玛坚赞1997_p62" />}}

The Dalai Lama, his later generations and the local government cherished both the seal of authority and the sheets of authority. They were preserved as the root of their power.<ref name="Wang尼玛坚赞1997_p62" />

The 8th Dalai Lama lived almost as long as the [[Seventh Dalai Lama|Seventh]], but was overshadowed by many contemporary lamas in terms of both religious and political accomplishment. According to Mullin, the [[14th Dalai Lama]] has pointed to certain indications that Jamphel Gyatso might have been the incarnation not of the [[7th Dalai Lama]] but of Jamyang Chojey, a disciple of [[Tsongkhapa]] and founder of Drepung monastery who was also reputed to be an incarnation of [[Avalokiteshvara]]. In any case, he lived a quiet and unassuming life as a devoted and studious monk, uninvolved in the kind of dramas that had surrounded his predecessors.<ref>Mullin 2001, pp. 323–7.</ref>

Nevertheless, Jamphel Gyatso was said to possess all the signs of being the true incarnation of the Seventh. This was claimed to have been confirmed by many portents clear to the Tibetans and so, in 1762, at age five, he was enthroned as the [[Eighth Dalai Lama]] at the [[Potala Palace]].<ref>Mullin 2001, pp. 328–332.</ref> At age 23 he was persuaded to assume the throne as ruler of Tibet with a regent to assist him and after three years of this, when the regent went to Beijing as ambassador in 1784, he ruled alone for four more years. But feeling unsuited to worldly affairs and unhappy in this role, he then retired from public office to concentrate on religious activities until his death in 1804.<ref>Mullin 2001, pp. 333–4.</ref> He is also credited with the construction of the [[Norbulingka]] "Summer Palace" started by his predecessor and with ordaining 10,000 monks in his efforts to foster monasticism.<ref>Mullin 2001 pp. 338–9.</ref>

=== 9th to 12th Dalai Lamas ===
Hugh Richardson's summary of the period covering the four short-lived, 19th-century Dalai Lamas:
{{blockquote|After him [the [[8th Dalai Lama]], Jamphel Gyatso], the [[9th Dalai Lama|9th]] and [[10th Dalai Lama]]s died before attaining their majority: one of them is credibly stated to have been murdered and strong suspicion attaches to the other. The [[11th Dalai Lama|11th]] and [[12th Dalai Lama|12th]] were each enthroned but died soon after being invested with power. For 113 years, therefore, supreme authority in Tibet was in the hands of a Lama Regent, except for about two years when a lay noble held office and for short periods of nominal rule by the 11th and 12th Dalai Lamas.{{NoteTag|According to Mullin, Smith and Shakabpa, however, the 12th Dalai Lama's Regent, Reting Rinpoche, was deposed in 1862 in a coup by Gyalpo Shetra and Tibet was ruled by despots or assemblies of abbots and ministers for the next eleven years, that is until 1873 when the 12th Dalai Lama assumed power.}}<br />It has sometimes been suggested that this state of affairs was brought about by the Ambans—the Imperial Residents in Tibet—because it would be easier to control the Tibet through a Regent than when a Dalai Lama, with his absolute power, was at the head of the government. That is not true. The regular ebb and flow of events followed its set course. The Imperial Residents in Tibet, after the first flush of zeal in 1750, grew less and less interested and efficient. Tibet was, to them, exile from the urbanity and culture of Peking; and so far from dominating the Regents, the Ambans allowed themselves to be dominated. It was the ambition and greed for power of Tibetans that led to five successive Dalai Lamas being subjected to continuous tutelage.{{sfn|Richardson|1984|pp=59–60}}}}

[[Thubten Jigme Norbu]], the elder brother of the 14th Dalai Lama, described these unfortunate events as follows, although there are few, if any, indications that any of the four were said to be 'Chinese-appointed imposters':
{{blockquote|It is perhaps more than a coincidence that between the seventh and the thirteenth holders of that office, only one reached his majority. The eighth, Gyampal Gyatso, died when he was in his thirties, Lungtog Gyatso when he was eleven, Tsultrim Gyatso at eighteen, Khadrup Gyatso when he was eighteen also, and Krinla Gyatso at about the same age. The circumstances are such that it is very likely that some, if not all, were poisoned, either by loyal Tibetans for being Chinese-appointed impostors, or by the Chinese for not being properly manageable. Many Tibetans think that this was done at the time when the young [Dalai Lama] made his ritual visit to the Lake Lhamtso. ... Each of the four [Dalai Lamas] to die young expired shortly after his visit to the lake. Many said it was because they were not the true reincarnations, but imposters imposed by the Chinese. Others tell stories of how the cooks of the retinue, which in those days included many Chinese, were bribed to put poison in the [Dalai Lama's] food. The 13th [Dalai Lama] did not visit Lhamtso until he was 25 years old. He was adequately prepared by spiritual exercise and he also had faithful cooks. The Chinese were disappointed when he did not die like his predecessors, and he was to live long enough to give them much more cause for regret.{{sfn|Norbu|Turnbull|1968|pp=311–312}}{{NoteTag|According to their biographies, the [[8th Dalai Lama|Eighth, Jamphel Gyatso]] lived to 46 years old, the [[9th Dalai Lama|Ninth, Lungtok Gyatso]] to 9 years, the [[10th Dalai Lama|Tenth, Tsultrim Gyatso]] to 21, the [[Khedrup Gyatso|Eleventh, Khedrup Gyatso]] to 17 and the [[Trinley Gyatso|Twelfth, Trinley Gyatso]] to 18.}}}}

According to Mullin, on the other hand, it is improbable that the [[Manchus]] would have murdered any of these four for being 'unmanageable' since it would have been in their best interests to have strong Dalai Lamas ruling in Lhasa, he argues, agreeing with [[Hugh Edward Richardson|Richardson]] that it was rather "the ambition and greed for power of Tibetans" that might have caused the Lamas' early deaths.{{NoteTag|Considering what occurred in Lhasa after the Chinese ''ambans'' murdered [[Gyurme Namgyal]] in 1750, however, the Manchus would have been particularly reluctant to murder a Dalai Lama.}} Further, if Tibetan nobles murdered any of them, it would more likely have been in order to protect or enhance their family interests rather than out of suspicion that the Dalai Lamas were seen as Chinese-appointed imposters as suggested by Norbu. They could also have died from illnesses, possibly contracted from diseases to which they had no immunity, carried to Lhasa by the multitudes of pilgrims visiting from nearby countries for blessings. Finally, from the Buddhist point of view, Mullin says, "Simply stated, these four Dalai Lamas died young because the world did not have enough good karma to deserve their presence".<ref>Mullin 2001, pp. 343–6.</ref>

In his history ''The Water-Bird and Other Years'', based on the Tibetan minister Surkhang Sawang Chenmo's historical manuscripts,<ref>Dhondup 1986, p. iv.</ref> Tibetan historian K. Dhondup disagrees with Mullin's opinion that having strong Dalai Lamas in power in Tibet would have been in China's best interests. He notes that many historians are compelled to suspect Manchu foul play in these serial early deaths because the Ambans had such latitude to interfere; the Manchu, he says, "to perpetuate their domination over Tibetan affairs, did not desire a Dalai Lama who will ascend the throne and become a strong and capable ruler over his own country and people". By upholding ''de facto'' Tibetan independence from China from 1912 to 1950, the 13th Dalai Lama is the living proof of this, Dhondup argues.<ref>Dhondup 1986, p. 3.</ref> This account also corresponds with TJ Norbu's observations above.

Finally, while acknowledging the possibility, the [[14th Dalai Lama]] himself doubts they were poisoned. He ascribes the probable cause of these early deaths to negligence, foolishness and lack of proper medical knowledge and attention. "Even today", he has said, "when people get sick, some [Tibetans] will say: 'Just do your prayers, you don't need medical treatment.'"<ref>Laird 2006, p. 197.</ref>

==== 9th Dalai Lama ====
{{Main|9th Dalai Lama}}

Born in Kham in 1805–6 amidst the usual miraculous signs the [[9th Dalai Lama|Ninth Dalai Lama, Lungtok Gyatso]] was appointed by the [[7th Panchen Lama]]'s search team at the age of two and enthroned in the Potala in 1808 at an impressive ceremony attended by representatives from China, Mongolia, Nepal and Bhutan. Exemption from using [[Golden Urn]] was approved by the Emperor.<ref>Mullin 2001, pp. 346–8.</ref><ref>Shakabpa 1984, p. 172.</ref> Tibetan historian Nyima Gyaincain and Wang Jiawei point out that the 9th Dalai Lama was allowed to use the seal of authority given to the late 8th Dalai Lama by the Emperor of China<ref name="Wang尼玛坚赞1997_p71">{{cite book |first1 = Jiawei |last1 = Wang |author2 = 尼玛坚赞 |title = The Historical Status of China's Tibet |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ak3SQTVS7acC&pg=PA71 |year = 1997 |publisher=五洲传播出版社 |isbn = 978-7-80113-304-5 |pages=71– }}</ref>

His second Regent Demo Tulku was the biographer of the 8th and 9th Dalai Lamas and though the 9th died at the age of 9, his biography is as lengthy as those of many of the early Dalai Lamas.<ref>Mullin 2001, p. 348.</ref> In 1793 under Manchu pressure, Tibet had closed its borders to foreigners.<ref>Shakabpa 1984, p. 173.</ref><ref>Richardson 1984, p. 71.</ref> In 1811, a British Sinologist, [[Thomas Manning (sinologist)|Thomas Manning]] became the first Englishman to visit Lhasa. Considered to be 'the first Chinese scholar in Europe'<ref>{{acad|id=MNN790T|name=Manning, Thomas}}</ref> he stayed five months and gave enthusiastic accounts in his journal of his regular meetings with the Ninth Dalai Lama whom he found fascinating: "beautiful, elegant, refined, intelligent, and entirely self-possessed, even at the age of six".<ref>Mullin 2001, 349–351.</ref> Three years later in March 1815 the young Lungtok Gyatso caught a severe cold and, leaving the [[Potala Palace]] to preside over the [[Monlam Prayer Festival]], he contracted pneumonia from which he soon died.<ref>Shakabpa 1984, p. 174.</ref><ref>Mullin 2001, p. 352.</ref>

==== 10th Dalai Lama ====
{{Main|10th Dalai Lama}}

Like the [[Seventh Dalai Lama]], the [[10th Dalai Lama|Tenth, Tsultrim Gyatso]], was born in [[Litang County|Lithang]], Kham, where the Third Dalai Lama had built a monastery. It was 1816 and Regent Demo Tulku and the [[Seventh Panchen Lama]] followed indications from [[Nechung]], the 'state oracle' which led them to appoint him at the age of two. He passed all the tests and was brought to Lhasa but official recognition was delayed until 1822 when he was enthroned and ordained by the Seventh Panchen Lama. There are conflicting reports about whether the Chinese '[[Golden Urn]]' was utilised by drawing lots to choose him, but lot-drawing result was reported and approved by emperor.<ref name="S138">Smith 1996, p. 138.</ref> The 10th Dalai Lama mentioned in his biography that he was allowed to use the golden seal of authority based on the convention set up by the late Dalai Lama. At the investiture, decree of the Emperor of China was issued and read out.<ref name="陈庆英2005_p85">{{cite book |author = 陈庆英 (Chen Qingying) |title = 达赖喇嘛转世及历史定制英 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=haMIsdC3iZwC&pg=PA85 |year=2005 |publisher=五洲传播出版社 |isbn=978-7-5085-0745-3 |pages=85– }}</ref>

After 15 years of intensive studies and failing health he died, in 1837, at the age of 20 or 21.<ref>Mullin 2001, pp. 353–360.</ref><ref>Shakabpa 1984, pp. 174–6.</ref> He identified with ordinary people rather than the court officials and often sat on his verandah in the sunshine with the office clerks. Intending to empower the common people he planned to institute political and economic reforms to share the nation's wealth more equitably. Over this period his health had deteriorated, the implication being that he may have suffered from slow poisoning by Tibetan aristocrats whose interests these reforms were threatening.<ref>Mullin 2001, 360.</ref> He was also dissatisfied with his Regent and the [[Kashag]] and scolded them for not alleviating the condition of the common people, who had suffered much in small ongoing regional civil wars waged in [[Qinghai|Kokonor]] between Mongols, local Tibetans and the government over territory, and in [[Kham]] to extract unpaid taxes from rebellious Tibetan communities.<ref name="S138" /><ref>Shakabpa 1984, pp. 175–6.</ref>

==== 11th Dalai Lama ====
{{Main|11th Dalai Lama}}

Born in Gathar, [[Kham]] in 1838 and soon discovered by the official search committee with the help of the [[Nechung Oracle]], the [[11th Dalai Lama|Eleventh Dalai Lama]] was brought to Lhasa in 1841 and recognised, enthroned and named [[Khedrup Gyatso]] by the [[Panchen Lama]] on April 16, 1842, seal of authority and golden sheets were granted on the same date.<ref>{{cite web |title=道光皇帝册封十一世达赖喇嘛之金册 |url=http://www.tibetology.ac.cn/2021-10/28/content_41720536.htm |website=[[China Tibetology Research Center]]}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=December 2025}}{{Independent source inline|date=December 2025}} [[Sitting-in-the-bed]] ceremony was held in July 1844.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=haMIsdC3iZwC&pg=PA80 | title=The System of the Dalai Lama Reincarnation | isbn=9787508507453 | author1=陈庆英 | date=30 October 2023 | publisher=五洲传播出版社 }}</ref> After that he was immersed in religious studies under the Panchen Lama, amongst other great masters. Meanwhile, there were court intrigues and ongoing power struggles taking place between the various Lhasa factions, the Regent, the [[Kashag]], the powerful nobles and the abbots and monks of the three great monasteries. The Tsemonling Regent<ref>{{cite web |url = http://treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/Trichen-73-Ngawang-Jampel-Tsultrim-Gyatso/6979 |title = The Second Tsemonling, Ngawang Jampel Tsultrim Gyatso |website = The Treasury of Lives |access-date = 23 July 2015 |archive-date = 23 July 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150723222940/http://treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/Trichen-73-Ngawang-Jampel-Tsultrim-Gyatso/6979 |url-status = live }}</ref> became mistrusted and was forcibly deposed, there were machinations, plots, beatings and kidnappings of ministers and so forth, resulting at last in the Panchen Lama being appointed as interim Regent to keep the peace.

Eventually the Third Reting Rinpoche was made Regent, and in 1855, Khedrup Gyatso, appearing to be an extremely promising prospect, was requested to take the reins of power at the age of 17. He was enthroned as ruler of Tibet in 1855,<ref name=M361-7>Mullin 2001, pp. 361–7.</ref><ref name=S176-81>Shakabpa 1984, pp. 176–181.</ref> on orders of the [[Xianfeng Emperor]].<ref name="陈庆英2005_p91">{{cite book |author=陈庆英 (Chen Qingying) |title = 达赖喇嘛转世及历史定制英 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=haMIsdC3iZwC&pg=PA91 |year = 2005 |publisher=五洲传播出版社 |isbn = 978-7-5085-0745-3 |pages = 91– }}</ref> He died after just 11 months, no reason for his sudden and premature death being given in these accounts, Shakabpa and Mullin's histories both being based on untranslated Tibetan chronicles. The respected Reting Rinpoche was recalled once again to act as Regent and requested to lead the search for the next incarnation, the twelfth.<ref name="M361-7" /><ref name="S176-81" />

==== 12th Dalai Lama ====
{{Main|12th Dalai Lama}}

In 1856, a child was born in south [[central Tibet]] with all the usual extraordinary signs. He came to the notice of the search team, was investigated, passed the traditional tests and was recognised as the [[12th Dalai Lama]] in 1858. The use of the Chinese [[Golden Urn]] at the insistence of the regent, who was later accused of being a Chinese lackey, confirmed this choice to everyone's satisfaction. He was renamed [[Trinley Gyatso]] and enthroned on July 3, 1860, after the emperor's edict from [[Amban]] was announced.<ref>{{cite web |title=【活佛转世】陈庆英等：认定十一世、十二世达赖喇嘛的经过 |url=http://www.tibetology.ac.cn/2022-08/29/content_42086423.htm |website=[[China Tibetology Research Center]]}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=December 2025}}{{Independent source inline|date=December 2025}} He underwent 13 years of intensive tutelage and training before becoming Tibet's ruler at age 17.<ref name="M367">Mullin 2001, pp. 367–373.</ref>

His minority seems to have been a time of even deeper Lhasan political intrigue and power struggles than his predecessor's. In 1862 Wangchuk Shetra, a minister the regent had banished for conspiring against him, led a coup. Shetra contrived to return, deposed the regent, who fled to China, and seized power, appointing himself "Desi", or Prime Minister.<ref name="M367" /> He then ruled with "absolute power" for three years,<ref name="S188">Shakabpa 1984, pp. 188–9.</ref> quelling a major rebellion in northern Kham in 1863 and reestablishing Tibetan control over significant [[Qing]]-held territory there.<ref name=Sm140>Smith 1997, p. 140.</ref> Shetra died in 1864 and the [[Kashag]] reassumed power. The retired 76th [[Ganden Tripa]], Khyenrab Wangchuk, was appointed regent but his role was limited to supervising and mentoring Trinley Gyatso.<ref name="M367" /><ref name="S188" />

In 1868 Shetra's coup organiser, a semi-literate [[Ganden]] monk named Palden Dondrup, seized power in another coup and ruled as a cruel despot for three years, putting opponents to death by having them "sewn into fresh animal skins and thrown in the river".<ref name="S188" /> In 1871, at the request of officials outraged after Dondrup had done that to one minister and imprisoned several others, he was ousted and committed suicide after a counter-coup coordinated by the supposedly powerless regent Khyenrab Wangchuk.<ref name="S188" /> As a result, Tibetans fondly remember Khyenrab Wangchuk, who died the next year, as saviour of the Dalai Lama and the nation. The Kashag and the Tsongdu or National Assembly were reinstated, and, presided over by a Dalai Lama or his regent, ruled without further interruption until 1959.<ref name="M367" />

But according to Smith, during Trinley Gyatso's minority, an alliance of monks and officials called ''Gandre Drungche'' (Ganden and Drepung Monks Assembly) deposed the regent in 1862 for abuse of authority and closeness with China; this body then ruled Tibet for ten years until it dissolved when a National Assembly of monks and officials called the ''Tsongdu'' was created and took over. Smith makes no mention of Shetra or Dondrup acting as usurpers and despots in this period.<ref name="Sm140" />

In any case, Trinley Gyatso died within three years of assuming power. In 1873, at age 20, "he suddenly became ill and passed away".<ref name="M367" /> Accounts of his cause of death diverge. Mullin relates an interesting theory, based on Tibetan sources: out of concern for the monastic tradition, Trinley Gyatso chose to die and reincarnate as the [[13th Dalai Lama]] rather than marry a woman called Rigma Tsomo from Kokonor and leaving an heir to "oversee Tibet's future".<ref>Mullin 2001, pp. 373–375.</ref> On the other hand, without citing sources, Shakabpa notes that Trinley Gyatso was influenced and manipulated by two close acquaintances who were subsequently accused of having a hand in his fatal illness and imprisoned, tortured, and exiled as a result.<ref>Shakabpa 1984, p. 191.</ref>

=== 13th Dalai Lama ===
{{Main|13th Dalai Lama}}

[[File:Throne awaiting Dalai Lama's return. Summer residence Nechung. 1993.JPG|upright|thumb|Throne awaiting Dalai Lama's return. Summer residence of 14th Dalai Lama, [[Nechung]], Tibet.]]

In 1877, request to exempt Lobu Zangtab Kaijia Mucuo ({{lang-zh|罗布藏塔布开甲木措}}) from using lot-drawing process [[Golden Urn]] to become the [[13th Dalai Lama]] was approved by the Central Government.<ref name="Guangxu 1877">{{citation |script-title=zh:光绪三年（一八七七年），由八世班禅丹白旺秀和摄政王公德林呼图克图、三大寺和扎什伦布寺的全体僧俗官员，联名要求驻藏大臣转奏朝廷，以只选定了一名灵童，且经各方公认，请免予金瓶制签。当年三月，光绪帝谕旨:"贡噶仁钦之子罗布藏塔布开甲木措，即作为达赖喇嘛之呼毕勒罕，毋庸制签，钦此。" |trans-title=In the third year of Guangxu (1877), the eighth Panchen Lama Danbai Wangxiu and the regent Delin Hutuktu, all monks and lay officials from the Three Great Temples and Tashilhunpo Monastery jointly asked the Minister in Tibet to transfer to the court. Since only one soul boy has been selected, and it has been recognized by all parties, please be exempt from signing the golden bottle. In March of that year, Emperor Guangxu issued a decree: "Lob Zangtab, son of Gongga Rinqin, opened Jiamucuo, that is, as the call of the Dalai Lama, Bielehan, there is no need to make a lottery."}}</ref> The [[13th Dalai Lama]] assumed ruling power from the monasteries, which previously had great influence on the Regent, in 1895. Due to his two periods of exile in 1904–1909 to escape the British invasion of 1904, and from 1910–1912 to escape a Chinese invasion, he became well aware of the complexities of international politics and was the first Dalai Lama to become aware of the importance of foreign relations. After his return from exile in India and [[Sikkim]] during January 1913, he assumed control of foreign relations and dealt directly with the [[Maharaja]], with the British Political officer in Sikkim and with the king of [[Nepal]] – rather than letting the Kashag or parliament do it.{{sfn|Sheel|1989|pp=24, 29}}

The Great Thirteenth Thubten Gyatso then published the Tibetan Declaration of Independence for the entirety of Tibet in 1913.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.darjeeling-unlimited.com/declaration.html|title=Darjeeling Unlimited :: Tibetan Declaration of Independence|access-date=24 March 2022|archive-date=26 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026171012/http://www.darjeeling-unlimited.com/declaration.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Tibet's independence was never recognized by the Chinese (who claimed all land ever administered by the Manchus) but was recognized by the Kingdom of Nepal, who would use Tibet as one of its first references regarding its independent status when submitting an application to join the UN in 1949.<ref>{{citation|url=https://sites.google.com/site/legalmaterialsontibet/home/nepal-un-app|title=Nepal UN App - Legal Materials on Tibet|access-date=24 March 2022|archive-date=9 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220509122054/https://sites.google.com/site/legalmaterialsontibet/home/nepal-un-app|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=August 2024}} According to a Tibetan website, Nepal listed Tibet as a country just as independent and sovereign, with no mention of Chinese 'suzerainty'. Its relations with Tibet were apparently second in significance only to its relations with Britain, and even more significant than its relations with the USA or even India.<ref>{{citation|url=https://bodrigpunda.org/the-forgotten-history-of-tibets-role-in-nepals-1949-un-application/|title=The Forgotten History of Tibet's Role in Nepal's 1949 UN Application &#124; Bodrigpunda Association|date=4 September 2013 |access-date=24 March 2022|archive-date=10 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410220253/https://bodrigpunda.org/the-forgotten-history-of-tibets-role-in-nepals-1949-un-application/|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Third-party inline|date=August 2024|reason=An editorial from a Tibetan newspaper is not RS.}} Nepal established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China in 1955 and recognized Tibet as a part of China.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nepal's Cautious Approach to the Tibetan Question |url=https://thediplomat.com/2021/07/nepals-cautious-approach-to-the-tibetan-question/ |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=thediplomat.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

Furthermore, Tibet and Mongolia both signed the [[Treaty of friendship and alliance between the Government of Mongolia and Tibet]]. Neither countries' independence statuses were ever recognized by the KMT government in China, who would continue to completely claim both as Chinese territory. He expelled the [[amban]]s and all Chinese civilians in the country and instituted many measures to modernize Tibet. These included provisions to curb excessive demands on peasants for provisions by the monasteries and tax evasion by the nobles, setting up an independent police force, the abolition of the death penalty, extension of secular education, and the provision of electricity throughout the city of Lhasa in the 1920s.{{sfn|Norbu|Turnbull|1968|pp=317–318}} He died in 1933.

=== 14th Dalai Lama ===
{{Main|14th Dalai Lama}}

[[File:His Holiness giving teachings at Sissu, Lahaul.jpg|thumb|The Dalai Lama giving teachings at [[Sissu]], Lahaul]]
The 14th Dalai Lama was born on 6 July 1935 on a straw mat in a cowshed to a farmer's family in a remote part of Tibet.<ref>Laird 2006, p. 261.</ref> According to most Western journalistic sources<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sturcke|first1=James|title=Dalai Lama defies China over successor|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/nov/27/china.jamessturcke|access-date=29 June 2017|work=The Guardian|archive-date=3 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803130607/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/nov/27/china.jamessturcke|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Nagle|first1=Jeanne|title=The Dalai Lama: Spiritual Leader of the Tibetan People|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9I0gBAAAQBAJ&q=dalai+lama+family+humble+origins&pg=PT9|access-date=29 June 2017|isbn=9781622754410|date=15 July 2014|publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica |archive-date=10 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410220310/https://books.google.com/books?id=9I0gBAAAQBAJ&q=dalai+lama+family+humble+origins&pg=PT9|url-status=live}}</ref> he was born into a humble family of farmers as one of 16 children, and one of the three reincarnated rinpoches in the same family.<ref name="Committee2008">{{cite book|author=Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Foreign Affairs Committee|title=Human Rights Annual Report 2007: Ninth Report of Session 2007–08, Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b7dJbld9PzQC&pg=PA124|date=20 July 2008|publisher=The Stationery Office|isbn=978-0-215-52193-4|pages=124–}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=統一論壇|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ymhKAQAAIAAJ|year=2008|publisher=統一論壇雜誌社}} |quote=据统计,民主改革前,十四世达赖喇嘛家族在西藏占有 27 座庄园、 30 个牧场,拥有农
牧奴 6000 多人</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=十四世达赖喇嘛|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=etOVRV2Lr6oC&pg=PA23|year=1977|isbn = 9787801132987|author1 = 司仁|author2 = 格旺| publisher=五洲传播出版社 }} |quote=拉萨西北50公里处的堆龙德庆县色村，民主改革前是十四世达赖喇嘛家的庄园。当时庄囩里20户差巴(农奴)。</ref> On 5 February 1940, the Central Government approved the request to exempt Lhamo Thondup ({{lang-zh|拉木登珠}}) from the lot-drawing process to become the 14th Dalai Lama.<ref>{{citation |script-title=zh:1940年2月5日，国民政府正式颁发命令："青海灵童拉木登珠，慧性湛深，灵异特著，查系第十三辈达赖喇嘛转世，应即免予抽签，特准继任为第十四辈达赖喇嘛。此令。" |trans-title=On February 5, 1940, the National Government formally issued an order: "The Qinghai soul boy, Lamu Dengzhu, has profound wisdom, and a special book. The reincarnation of the 13th generation of the Dalai Lama should be exempted from drawing lots and succeeded to the 14th generation of Dalai Lama. By order."}}</ref><ref name=yuan>{{cite web |url=http://www.livingbuddha.us.com/view-a4a452dadc42426184aa073f08dd26fb.html |publisher=Museum of Tibetan Culture of China Tibetology Research Center |title=Executive Yuan's Report to the National Government Regarding the Request to Approve Lhamo Thondup to Succeed the Fourteenth Dalai lama and to Appropriate Expenditure for His Enthronement |website=The Reincarnation of Living Buddhas |date=1940 |access-date=19 August 2021 |archive-date=30 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930211113/http://www.livingbuddha.us.com/view-a4a452dadc42426184aa073f08dd26fb.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The 14th Dalai Lama was not formally enthroned until 17 November 1950, during the [[Battle of Chamdo]] with the People's Republic of China. On 18 April 1959, he issued a statement<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.archieve.claudearpi.net/maintenance/uploaded_pics/590418_Tezpur_Statement.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111232212/http://www.archieve.claudearpi.net/maintenance/uploaded_pics/590418_Tezpur_Statement.pdf |archive-date=2021-01-11 |url-status=live |title=Statement issued at Tezpur |date=18 April 1959 |work=The Dalai Lama's Press Statements}}</ref> that in 1951, the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government were pressured into accepting the [[Seventeen Point Agreement for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet]] by which it became formally incorporated into the People's Republic of China.<ref>Powers, John. ''History as Propaganda: Tibetan Exiles versus the People's Republic of China'' (2004) Oxford University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-19-517426-7}}</ref> The United States informed the Dalai Lama in 1951 that in order to receive its assistance and support he must leave Tibet and publicly disavow "agreements concluded under duress" between Tibetan and Chinese representatives.<ref name="Goldstein2007">{{cite book|author=Melvyn C. Goldstein|title=A History of Modern Tibet, Volume 2: The Calm Before the Storm: 1951–1955|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wg6RXkS_3M0C&pg=PA232|date=August 2007|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-24941-7|pages=232–|quote=Your Holiness will understand, of course, that the readiness of the United States to render you the assistance and support outlined above is conditional upon your departure from Tibet, upon your public disavowal of agreements concluded under duress between the representatives of Tibet and those of the Chinese Communist aggression.|access-date=19 August 2021|archive-date=6 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606092602/https://books.google.com/books?id=wg6RXkS_3M0C&pg=PA232%2F|url-status=live}}</ref> Fearing for his life in the wake of a [[1959 Tibetan uprising|revolt in Tibet in 1959]], the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India, where he led a [[Tibetan government in exile|government in exile]].<ref>[http://tibet.net/en/index.php?id=9 ''Tibet in Exile''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222005721/http://tibet.net/en/index.php?id=9 |date=22 December 2010 }}, CTA Official website. Retrieved 15 December 2010.</ref><ref>[http://www.metrolic.com/dalai-lama-intends-to-retire-as-head-of-tibetan-state-in-exile-148540/ ''Dalai Lama Intends To Retire As Head of Tibetan State In Exile''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727135808/http://www.metrolic.com/dalai-lama-intends-to-retire-as-head-of-tibetan-state-in-exile-148540/ |date=27 July 2013 }} by Mihai-Silviu Chirila (23 November 2010), Metrolic. Retrieved 2010-12-15.</ref>

With the aim of launching [[CIA Tibetan program|guerrilla operations against the Chinese]], the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] funded the Dalai Lama's administration with US$1.7&nbsp;million a year in the 1960s.<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/02/world/world-news-briefs-dalai-lama-group-says-it-got-money-from-cia.html|title= Dalai Lama Group Says It Got Money From C.I.A.|work= The New York Times|date= 2 October 1998|access-date= 15 February 2017|archive-date= 14 October 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171014181454/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/02/world/world-news-briefs-dalai-lama-group-says-it-got-money-from-cia.html|url-status= live}}</ref> In 2001, the 14th Dalai Lama ceded his partial power over the government to an elected parliament of Tibetan exiles. His original goal was [[Tibetan independence movement|full independence for Tibet]], but by the late 1980s he sought high-level autonomy instead.<ref>{{Cite news|url= http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/JK27Ad01.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081204114944/http://atimes.com/atimes/China/JK27Ad01.html|url-status= unfit|archive-date= 4 December 2008|title= Tibetans stick to the 'middle way'|first= Denis|last= Burke|date= 27 November 2008|access-date= 7 August 2010|work= [[Asia Times]]}}</ref> He continued to seek greater autonomy from China, but Dolma Gyari, deputy speaker of the parliament-in-exile, said: "If the middle path fails in the short term, we will be forced to opt for complete independence or self-determination as per the UN charter".<ref>{{Cite news |url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/The-burden-of-being-Dalai-Lama/articleshow/5183939.cms |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121103054830/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-10-31/india/28072137_1_tawang-14th-dalai-lama-lhasa |url-status = live |archive-date = 3 November 2012 |title = The burden of being Dalai Lama |first = Shobhan |last = Saxena |work = [[The Times of India]] |date = 31 October 2009 |access-date = 6 August 2010 |quote = If the middle path fails in the short term, we will be forced to opt for complete independence or self-determination as per the UN charter }}</ref>

The 14th Dalai Lama became one of the two most popular world leaders by 2013 (tied with [[Barack Obama]]), according to a poll by [[Harris Insights & Analytics|Harris Interactive]] of New York, which sampled public opinion in the U.S. and six major European countries.<ref name=Harrispoll>{{cite web |author1=Regina A. Corso |title=The Dalai Lama, President Obama and Pope Francis at Highest Levels of Popularity in U.S. and Five Largest European Countries |url=http://www.theharrispoll.com/politics/The_Dalai_Lama__President_Obama_and_Pope_Francis_at_Highest_Levels_of_Popularity_in_U_S__and_Five_Largest_European_Countries.html|publisher=Harris, A Nielsen Company |location=New York |date=29 May 2013 |access-date=9 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910040958/http://www.theharrispoll.com/politics/The_Dalai_Lama__President_Obama_and_Pope_Francis_at_Highest_Levels_of_Popularity_in_U_S__and_Five_Largest_European_Countries.html|archive-date=10 September 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2014 and 2016, he said that Tibet wants to be part of China but China should let Tibet preserve its culture and script.<ref>{{cite web| title = Dalai Lama says Tibet wants to remain part of China| date = 4 February 2014| url = http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/dalai-lama-says-tibet-wants-to-remain-part-of-china/1/341687.html| access-date = 14 March 2017| archive-date = 15 March 2017| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170315000855/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/dalai-lama-says-tibet-wants-to-remain-part-of-china/1/341687.html| url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = We want to stay within China: His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet | url = http://www.thetibetpost.com/en/news/international/5282-we-want-to-stay-within-china-his-holiness-the-dalai-lama-of-tibet | date = 19 November 2016 | access-date = 14 March 2017 | archive-date = 15 March 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170315003852/http://www.thetibetpost.com/en/news/international/5282-we-want-to-stay-within-china-his-holiness-the-dalai-lama-of-tibet | url-status = live }}</ref>

In 2018, he said that "Europe belongs to the Europeans" and that Europe has a moral obligation to aid refugees whose lives are in peril. He added that Europe should receive, help, and educate refugees but that they should ultimately return to develop their home countries.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20180912-dalai-lama-says-europe-belongs-europeans|title=Dalai Lama says 'Europe belongs to Europeans'|date=12 September 2018|publisher=France 24|access-date=14 September 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=14 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314054736/https://www.france24.com/en/20180912-dalai-lama-says-europe-belongs-europeans|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date= 14 September 2018 |title= Dalai Lama says 'Europe belongs to the Europeans' and suggests refugees return to native countries |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/dalai-lama-europe-refugee-crisis-immigration-eu-racism-tibet-buddhist-a8537221.html |access-date= 10 April 2023 |work= [[The Independent]] |archive-date= 19 March 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230319203152/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/dalai-lama-europe-refugee-crisis-immigration-eu-racism-tibet-buddhist-a8537221.html |url-status= live }}</ref> He made similar comments in an interview the next year. He also said that a female Dalai Lama "should be more attractive" because if she looked a certain way people would "prefer not see … that face".<ref>{{cite news |date= 27 July 2019 |title= The Dalai Lama just said some (more) controversial things about women and migrants |url= https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/27/world/dalai-lama-female-successor-europe-trump-bbc-trnd/index.html |access-date= 10 April 2023 |publisher= [[CNN]] |archive-date= 5 December 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20221205171137/http://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/27/world/dalai-lama-female-successor-europe-trump-bbc-trnd/index.html |url-status= live }}</ref>

In 2019, the Dalai Lama spoke out about his successor, saying that after his death he is likely to be reincarnated in India. He also warned that any Chinese interference in succession should be considered invalid.<ref>{{cite web |title=Exclusive: Dalai Lama contemplates Chinese gambit after his death |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-tibet-dalai-lama-exclusive/exclusive-dalai-lama-contemplates-chinese-gambit-after-his-death-idUSKCN1QZ1NS |work=Reuters |language=en |date=19 March 2019 |access-date=20 May 2020 |archive-date=5 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605104633/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-tibet-dalai-lama-exclusive/exclusive-dalai-lama-contemplates-chinese-gambit-after-his-death-idUSKCN1QZ1NS |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/dalai-lama-contemplates-chinese-gambit-after-his-death/articleshow/68475487.cms|title=Dalai Lama contemplates Chinese gambit after his death|website=The Times of India|access-date=19 March 2019|archive-date=19 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190319124837/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/dalai-lama-contemplates-chinese-gambit-after-his-death/articleshow/68475487.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> The Dalai Lama's succession also involves Mongolia, given its strong Tibetan Buddhist ties.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weekly |first=Mongolia |date=2024-12-15 |title=Mongolia, the Next Dalai Lama, and the Shadow of Global Politics |url=https://www.mongoliaweekly.org/post/mongolia-the-next-dalai-lama-and-the-shadow-of-global-politics |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=Mongolia Weekly |language=en}}</ref> The Jebtsundamba Khutuktu, the latest one chosen from Mongolia, is the third most important figure in the Tibetan Buddhist hierarchy, and plays a significant role in the recognition of the next Dalai Lama.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adiya |first=Amar |date=2023-04-04 |title=China's Grip on Mongolia's Quest for Buddhism Leadership |url=https://www.mongoliaweekly.org/post/china-influence-tibetan-buddhism |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=Mongolia Weekly |language=en}}</ref>

In 2020, the Dalai Lama said he did not support Tibetan independence and hoped to visit China as a Nobel Prize winner. He said "I prefer the concept of a 'republic' in the People's Republic of China. In the concept of a republic, ethnic minorities are like Tibetans, Mongols, Manchus, and Xinjiang Uyghurs. We can live in harmony".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Xia |first1=Xiaohua | title= The Dalai Lama emphasizes that he does not support Tibetan independence and hopes to visit China as a Nobel Prize winner |url= https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shaoshuminzu/hx1-10022020091411.html |access-date=2 October 2020|website= RFA |date=2 October 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201002230324/https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shaoshuminzu/hx1-10022020091411.html | archive-date=2 October 2020}}</ref>

In 2021, he praised India as a role model for religious harmony in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 19, 2021 |title=What Dalai Lama Said On India's Role In World's Religious Harmony |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/dalai-lama-dalai-lama-news-what-dalai-lama-said-on-indias-role-in-religious-harmony-in-the-world-2659307 |website=[[NDTV]] |access-date=12 March 2023 |archive-date=12 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312233226/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/dalai-lama-dalai-lama-news-what-dalai-lama-said-on-indias-role-in-religious-harmony-in-the-world-2659307 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-20 |title=India role model for religious harmony in the world, says Dalai Lama |url=https://en.trend.az/world/other/3529518.html |website=[[Trend News Agency]] |language=en |access-date=12 March 2023 |archive-date=12 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312233228/https://en.trend.az/world/other/3529518.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2023, a video showed the Dalai Lama in the city of [[Dharamshala]], India, asking a boy for a kiss on the lips, and then to suck his tongue.<ref>{{cite AV media |date= 10 April 2023 |title= Dalai Lama apologizes for video of him kissing boy |url= https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2023/04/10/dalai-lama-kiss-young-boy-apology-vedika-sud-ovn-intl-ldn-vpx.cnn |access-date= 10 April 2023 |publisher= [[CNN]] |archive-date= 10 April 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230410085420/https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2023/04/10/dalai-lama-kiss-young-boy-apology-vedika-sud-ovn-intl-ldn-vpx.cnn |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Dalai Lama apologises after video asking boy to suck his tongue|website=[[Reuters]]|date=10 April 2023 |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/india/dalai-lama-apologises-after-video-asking-boy-suck-my-tongue-2023-04-10/|access-date=10 April 2023|archive-date=10 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410094340/https://www.reuters.com/world/india/dalai-lama-apologises-after-video-asking-boy-suck-my-tongue-2023-04-10/|url-status=live}}</ref> He later apologized and expressed regret through a statement that claimed he "often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras" and "regrets the incident".<ref>{{cite news |date= 10 April 2023 |title= Dalai Lama apologizes after video asking child to 'suck' his tongue sparks outcry |url= https://edition.cnn.com/2023/04/10/india/dalai-lama-apology-kissing-boy-video-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date= 10 April 2023 |publisher= [[CNN]] |archive-date= 10 April 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230410083241/https://edition.cnn.com/2023/04/10/india/dalai-lama-apology-kissing-boy-video-intl-hnk/index.html |url-status= live }}</ref>

The Dalai Lama celebrated his 90th birthday on 6 July 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=2025-07-06 |title=Dalai Lama, a global symbol of Tibetan culture and resistance, turns 90 |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/07/06/nx-s1-5458378/dalai-lama-90-tibet |access-date=2025-07-07 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref> Before the celebration, he confirmed that the Gaden Phodrang Trust will supervise the [[Succession of the 14th Dalai Lama|process of appointing a successor]] after his death, in accordance with tradition. The Chinese government has disputed this practice and argues it has sole authority to select a future Dalai Lama.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Macrae |first=Penelope |date=2025-07-02 |title=Dalai Lama defies China to say successor will be chosen by Tibetan tradition |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/02/dalai-lama-says-there-will-be-search-for-his-successor-ending-years-of-speculation |access-date=2025-07-06 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

== Residences ==
The first Dalai Lama was based at [[Tashi Lhunpo Monastery]], which he founded. The Second to the Fifth Dalai Lamas were mainly based at Drepung Monastery outside Lhasa. In 1645, after the unification of Tibet, the Fifth moved to the ruins of a royal fortress or residence on top of ''Marpori'' ('Red Mountain') in Lhasa and decided to build a palace on the same site. This ruined palace, called Tritse Marpo, was originally built around A.D. 636 by the founder of the [[Tibetan Empire]], [[Songtsen Gampo]], for his Nepalese wife.<ref>Shakabpa 1984, pp. 112–113.</ref> Amongst the ruins there was just a small temple left where [[Tsongkhapa]] had given a teaching when he arrived in Lhasa in the 1380s.<ref name="Laird 2006, p. 177">Laird 2006, p. 177.</ref>

The Fifth Dalai Lama began construction of the [[Potala Palace]] on this site in 1645,<ref name="Laird 2006, p. 177"/> carefully incorporating what was left of his predecessor's palace into its structure.<ref name=mull201 /> From then on and until today, unless on tour or in exile the Dalai Lamas have always spent their winters at the Potala Palace and their summers at the [[Norbulingka]] palace and park. Both palaces are in Lhasa and approximately 3&nbsp;km apart.

Following the failed [[1959 Tibetan uprising]], the 14th Dalai Lama sought refuge in India. Indian Prime Minister [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] allowed in the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government officials. The Dalai Lama has since lived in exile in [[McLeod Ganj]], in the Kangra district of [[Himachal Pradesh]] in northern India, where the [[Central Tibetan Administration]] is established. His residence on the Temple Road in McLeod Ganj is called the [[Namgyal Monastery|Dalai Lama Temple]] and is visited by people from across the globe. Tibetan refugees have constructed and opened many schools and Buddhist temples in Dharamshala.<ref>[http://www.brooklynrail.org/2008/04/express/dispatches-from-the-tibetan-front-dharamsala-india "Dispatches from the Tibetan Front: Dharamshala, India,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080423072304/http://www.brooklynrail.org/2008/04/express/dispatches-from-the-tibetan-front-dharamsala-india |date=23 April 2008 }} Litia Perta, ''The Brooklyn Rail'', 4 April 2008</ref>

<gallery class="center" heights="220px" widths="220px">
File:Potala.jpg|[[Potala Palace]]
File:Norbulinka. August, 1993.JPG|[[Norbulingka]]
</gallery>

== Searching for the reincarnation ==
{{Main|Panchen Lama}}

[[File:DLHaus.jpg|thumb|The search for the 14th Dalai Lama took the High Lamas to [[Taktser]] in [[Amdo]].]]
[[File:Palden Lhamo, Tawang Monastery.jpg|upright|thumb|[[Palden Lhamo]], the female guardian spirit of the [[sacred lake]], [[Lhamo La-tso]], who promised Gendun Drup, the 1st Dalai Lama, in one of his visions that "she would protect the 'reincarnation' lineage of the Dalai Lamas"]]

By the Himalayan tradition, ''[[phowa]]'' is the discipline that is believed to transfer the mindstream to the intended body. Upon the death of the Dalai Lama and consultation with the [[Nechung Oracle]], a search for the Lama's ''yangsi'', or [[reincarnation]], is conducted.<ref name="sdpcnw">{{cite web|title=The Dalai Lama|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/people/dalailama_1.shtml|publisher=BBC|access-date=17 May 2008|date=21 September 2006|archive-date=4 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104192733/http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/people/dalailama_1.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> The government of the People's Republic of China has stated its intention to be the ultimate authority on the selection of the next Dalai Lama.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[The New York Times]]|title=China's Tensions With Dalai Lama Spill into the Afterlife|author=Buckley, Chris|date=11 March 2015|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/12/world/asia/chinas-tensions-with-dalai-lama-spill-into-the-afterlife.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/12/world/asia/chinas-tensions-with-dalai-lama-spill-into-the-afterlife.html |archive-date=2022-01-01 |url-access=limited}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

High Lamas may also claim to have a vision by a dream or if the Dalai Lama was cremated, they will often monitor the direction of the smoke as an 'indication' of the direction of the expected rebirth.<ref name="sdpcnw" />

If there is only one boy found, the High Lamas will invite Living Buddhas of the three great monasteries, together with secular clergy and monk officials, to 'confirm their findings' and then report to the Central Government through the Minister of Tibet. Later, a group consisting of the three major servants of Dalai Lama, eminent officials,{{who|date=May 2013}} and troops{{which|date=May 2013}} will collect the boy and his family and travel to Lhasa, where the boy would be taken, usually to Drepung Monastery, to study the Buddhist sutra in preparation for assuming the role of spiritual leader of Tibet.<ref name="sdpcnw" />

If there are several possible claimed reincarnations, regents, eminent officials, monks at the [[Jokhang]] in Lhasa, and the Minister to Tibet have historically made the choice by putting the boys' names inside an urn and drawing one in public.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dalai Lama's confirmation of reincarnation|url=http://www.tibettravel.info/tibetan-buddhism/confirmation-of-reincarnation.html|publisher=Tibet Travel info|access-date=17 May 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080331073155/http://www.tibettravel.info/tibetan-buddhism/confirmation-of-reincarnation.html|archive-date=31 March 2008}}</ref>

In his autobiography, ''[[Freedom in Exile]]'', the 14th Dalai Lama wrote that after he dies, it is possible that his people will no longer want a Dalai Lama, in which case there would be no search for the Lama's reincarnation. "So, I might take rebirth as an insect, or an animal—whatever would be of most value to the largest number of sentient beings". But shortly before his 90th birthday, he released a statement saying, "I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue." He added that members of the Gaden Phodrang Trust would have exclusive responsibility for recognizing the next Dalai Lama and that "no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter."<ref>{{cite web |author1=Dalai Lama |author1-link=14th Dalai Lama |title=Statement Affirming the Continuation of the Institution of Dalai Lama |url=https://tibet.net/statement-affirming-the-continuation-of-the-institution-of-dalai-lama/ |website=[[Central Tibetan Administration]] |access-date=2025-08-03 |date=2 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Pandey |first1=Geeta |last2=Hussain |first2=Samira |title=Dalai Lama confirms he will have a successor after his death |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpvjjd7xw8go |website=[[BBC]].com |access-date=2025-08-03 |date=2 July 2025}}</ref>


The Dalai Lama is thought to be a type of "living [Buddhist] god".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-08-25 |title=Tibet profile |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-16689779 |access-date=2024-05-01 |work=[[BBC News]] |language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== List of Dalai Lamas ===
{{Main|List of Dalai Lamas}}

{{Contains special characters|Indic}}

There have been 14 recognised incarnations of the Dalai Lama:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! !! Name !! Picture !! Lifespan !! Recognised !! Enthronement !! Seal of Authority from Central Government !! Approval from Central Government !! [[Standard Tibetan|Tibetan]]/[[Wylie transliteration|Wylie]] !! [[Tibetan pinyin]]/[[Chinese language|Chinese]] !! Alternative spellings
|-
|align="right"| 1 || [[1st Dalai Lama|Gendun Drup]] || [[File:1st Dalai Lama.jpg|60px]] || 1391–1474 || – || N/A<ref name="posthumous">The title "Dalai Lama" was conferred posthumously to the 1st and 2nd Dalai Lamas.</ref> || N/A || N/A || {{Bo-textonly|དགེ་འདུན་འགྲུབ་}}<br />''dge 'dun 'grub'' || Gêdün Chub<br />根敦朱巴|| Gedun Drub<br />Gedün Drup<br />
|-
|align="right"| 2 || [[2nd Dalai Lama|Gendun Gyatso]] ||[[File:Second Dalai Lama.jpg|60px]] || 1475–1542 || 1483 || N/A<ref name="posthumous" /> || N/A || N/A || {{Bo-textonly|དགེ་འདུན་རྒྱ་མཚོ་}}<br />''dge 'dun rgya mtsho'' || Gêdün Gyaco<br />根敦嘉措|| Gedün Gyatso<br />Gendün Gyatso
|-
|align="right"| 3 || [[3rd Dalai Lama|Sonam Gyatso]] || [[File:Цыбиков Далай-лама III.png|60px]] || 1543–1588 || 1546 || 1578 || Yes<ref name="ReferenceA">《明实录》又载："万历十五年（1587）十月丁卯......番僧答赖（即达赖）准升'朵儿只唱名号，仍给敕命、图书......"</ref> || || {{Bo-textonly|བསོད་ནམས་རྒྱ་མཚོ་}}<br />''bsod nams rgya mtsho'' || Soinam Gyaco<br />索南嘉措|| Sönam Gyatso
|-
|align="right"| 4 || [[4th Dalai Lama|Yonten Gyatso]] || [[File:4DalaiLama cropped.jpg|60px]] || 1589–1617 || 1601 || 1603 || Yes<ref name="Biography of the 4th Dalai Lama"/> || ||  {{Bo-textonly|ཡོན་ཏན་རྒྱ་མཚོ་}}<br />''yon tan rgya mtsho'' || Yoindain Gyaco<br />雲丹嘉措|| Yontan Gyatso, Yönden Gyatso
|-
|align="right"| 5 || [[5th Dalai Lama|Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso]] || [[File:5th Dalai Lama.jpg|60px]] || 1617–1682 || 1618 || 1622 || Yes<ref name="K309"/> || || {{Bo-textonly|བློ་བཟང་རྒྱ་མཚོ་}}<br />''blo bzang rgya mtsho'' || Lobsang Gyaco<br />羅桑嘉措|| Lobzang Gyatso<br />Lopsang Gyatso
|-
|align="right"| 6 || [[6th Dalai Lama|Tsangyang Gyatso]] || [[File:VI Dalai Lama.JPG|60px]] || 1683–1706 || 1688 || 1697 || No || Yes, in 1721 after death  || {{Bo-textonly|ཚངས་དབྱངས་རྒྱ་མཚོ་}}<br />''tshang dbyangs rgya mtsho'' || Cangyang Gyaco<br />倉央嘉措|| Tsañyang Gyatso<br />
|-
|align="right"| 7 || [[7th Dalai Lama|Kelzang Gyatso]] || [[File:7DalaiLama.jpg|60px]] || 1707–1757 || 1712 || 1720 || Yes || || {{Bo-textonly|བསྐལ་བཟང་རྒྱ་མཚོ་}}<br />''bskal bzang rgya mtsho'' || Gaisang Gyaco<br />格桑嘉措|| Kelsang Gyatso<br />Kalsang Gyatso
|-
|align="right"| 8 || [[8th Dalai Lama|Jamphel Gyatso]] || [[File:Jamphel Gyatso, 8th Dalai Lama - AMNH - DSC06244.JPG|60px]] || 1758–1804 || 1760 || 1762 || Yes<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.antiquekeeper.ca/?p=109828 | title=趟徉历史的长廊： 净心之旅 西行漫记 奔向世界屋脊西藏（6-2）布达拉宫和藏传佛教 – &#91;临渊阁&#93;天地一家春 | date=October 2023 }} 乾隆皇帝颁给八世达赖喇嘛的金印 གོང་མ་གནམ་སྐྱོང་གིས་ཏཱ་ལའི་བླ་མ་སྐུ་ཕྲེང་བརྒྱད་པར་གནང་བའི་གསེར་ཐམ། Golden seal conferred upon the Eighth Dalai Lama by Emperor Qianlong 金汉、藏、满、蒙文约清乾隆四十六年（1781）10.5×10厘米民族文化宫博物馆藏</ref> || || {{Bo-textonly|བྱམས་སྤེལ་རྒྱ་མཚོ་}}<br />''byams spel rgya mtsho'' || Qambê Gyaco<br />強白嘉措|| Jampel Gyatso<br />Jampal Gyatso
|-
|align="right"| 9 || [[9th Dalai Lama|Lungtok Gyatso]] || [[File:Lungtok Gyatso.jpg|60px]] || 1805–1815 ||1807 || 1808 || Yes<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ak3SQTVS7acC&pg=PA71 | title=The Historical Status of China's Tibet | isbn=978-7-80113-304-5 | last1=Wang | first1=Jiawei | author2=尼玛坚赞 | date=1997 | publisher=五洲传播出版社 }} The 9th Dalai Lama was allowed to use the seal of authority given to the late 8th Dalai Lama by the Emperor of China</ref> || Yes<ref name="ChenQingying">{{cite book|author=ChenQingying|title=The System of the Dalai Lama Reincarnation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=haMIsdC3iZwC&pg=PA80|year=2005|publisher=五洲传播出版社|isbn=978-7-5085-0745-3|pages=80–}}</ref> || {{Bo-textonly|ལུང་རྟོགས་རྒྱ་མཚོ་}}<br />''lung rtogs rgya mtsho'' || Lungdog Gyaco<br />隆朵嘉措|| Lungtog Gyatso
|-
| 10 || [[10th Dalai Lama|Tsultrim Gyatso]] |||| 1816–1837 || 1822 || 1822 || || Yes || {{Bo-textonly|ཚུལ་ཁྲིམས་རྒྱ་མཚོ་}}<br />''tshul khrim rgya mtsho'' || Cüchim Gyaco<br />楚臣嘉措|| Tshültrim Gyatso
|-
| 11 || [[11th Dalai Lama|Khendrup Gyatso]] ||[[File:The 11th Dalai Lama, mural in the Utse in Samye.jpg|85x85px]]|| 1838–1856 || 1841 || 1842 || Yes<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=haMIsdC3iZwC&pg=PA89 | title=The System of the Dalai Lama Reincarnation | isbn=978-7-5085-0745-3 | author1=陈庆英 | last2=Chen | first2=Qingying | date=2005 | publisher=五洲传播出版社 }} The soul boy worshipped to the east on bended knees on a cushion, accepted the golden sheets of confirmation and golden seal of authority awarded by the Emperor, reverently listened to the decree, and exchanged hada scarves with the High Commissioners.</ref> || Yes || {{Bo-textonly|མཁས་གྲུབ་རྒྱ་མཚོ་}}<br />''mkhas grub rgya mtsho'' || Kaichub Gyaco<br />凱珠嘉措|| Kedrub Gyatso
|-
| 12 || [[12th Dalai Lama|Trinley Gyatso]] ||[[File:Twelfth_Dalai_Lama,_Trinle_Gyatso.jpg|60px]]|| 1857–1875 || 1858 || 1860 || || Yes<ref>Biography of the 12th Dalai Lama</ref> || {{Bo-textonly|འཕྲིན་ལས་རྒྱ་མཚོ་}}<br />'''phrin las rgya mtsho'' || Chinlai Gyaco<br />成烈嘉措|| Trinle Gyatso
|-
| 13 || [[13th Dalai Lama|Thubten Gyatso]] || [[File:13th_Dalai_Lama_Thubten_Gyatso.jpg|60px]] || 1876–1933 || 1878 || 1879 || || Yes<ref name="Guangxu 1877"/> || {{Bo-textonly|ཐུབ་བསྟན་རྒྱ་མཚོ་}}<br />''thub bstan rgya mtsho'' || Tubdain Gyaco<br />土登嘉措|| Thubtan Gyatso<br />Thupten Gyatso
|-
| 14 || [[14th Dalai Lama|Tenzin Gyatso]] || [[File:Dalai Lama at WhiteHouse (cropped).jpg|60px]] || born 1935 || 1939<ref name=ohhdl>{{cite web|title=Chronology of Events|url=http://www.dalailama.com/biography/chronology-of-events|website=His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet|publisher=Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama|access-date=18 April 2015|archive-date=1 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401120625/http://dalailama.com/biography/chronology-of-events|url-status=live}}</ref> || 1940<ref name=ohhdl /><br />(in exile since 1959)|| || No, as Goldstein writes that Tibet did everything to keep the Central Government out of this process. They were asked to show respect and "not permission"{{sfn|Goldstein|2023|p=328–}}|| {{Bo-textonly|བསྟན་འཛིན་རྒྱ་མཚོ་}}<br />''bstan 'dzin rgya mtsho'' || Dainzin Gyaco<br />丹增嘉措|| Tenzin Gyatso
|}
There was also a non-recognised Dalai Lama, [[Yeshe Gyatso|Ngawang Yeshe Gyatso]], declared 28 June 1707, when he was 25 years old, by [[Lha-bzang Khan]] as the "true" 6th Dalai Lama. He was never accepted as such by the majority of the population.<ref name="Stein 1972, p. 85" /><ref>[[F. Spencer Chapman|Chapman, F. Spencer]]. (1940). ''Lhasa: The Holy City'', p. 127. Readers Union Ltd. London.</ref><ref name="Mullin276">Mullin 2001, p. 276.</ref>

== Future of the position ==
{{Main|Succession of the 14th Dalai Lama}}

[[File:Dalai lama teaching room.jpg|thumb|The main teaching room of the Dalai Lama in [[Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh|Dharamshala]], India]]
[[File:DalaiLama0054 tiny.jpg|thumb|14th Dalai Lama in 2003]]

{{blockquote|In the mid-1970s, Tenzin Gyatso told a Polish newspaper that he thought he would be the last Dalai Lama. In a later interview published in the English language press he stated, "The Dalai Lama office was an institution created to benefit others. It is possible that it will soon have outlived its usefulness."<ref>[[Glenn H. Mullin]], "Faces of the Dalai Lama: Reflections on the Man and the Tradition," ''Quest'', vol. 6, no. 3, Autumn 1993, p. 80.</ref> These statements caused a furore amongst Tibetans in India. Many could not believe that such an option could even be considered. It was further felt that it was not the Dalai Lama's decision to reincarnate. Rather, they felt that since the Dalai Lama is a national institution it was up to the people of Tibet to decide whether the Dalai Lama should reincarnate.<ref>Verhaegen 2002, p. 5.</ref>|sign=|source=}}

The government of the [[People's Republic of China]] (PRC) has claimed the power to approve the naming of "high" reincarnations in Tibet, based on a precedent set by the [[Qianlong Emperor]] of the [[Qing dynasty]].<ref>{{cite magazine|title=China Says It Will Decide Who the Dalai Lama Shall Be Reincarnated As|url=https://time.com/3743742/dalai-lama-china-reincarnation-tibet-buddhism/|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=13 March 2015|access-date=17 December 2015|archive-date=18 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151218233702/http://time.com/3743742/dalai-lama-china-reincarnation-tibet-buddhism/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Qianlong Emperor instituted a system of selecting the Dalai Lama and the [[Panchen Lama]] by a lottery that used a [[Golden Urn]] with names wrapped in clumps of barley. This method was used a few times for both positions during the 19th century, but eventually fell into disuse.<ref>{{cite web|title=Murder in Tibet's High Places|url=http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/murder-in-tibets-high-places-62805827|work=[[Smithsonian (magazine)|Smithsonian]]|date=10 April 2012|access-date=15 December 2015|archive-date=23 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223010656/http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/murder-in-tibets-high-places-62805827/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Reincarnation|url=http://www.dalailama.com/messages/statement-of-his-holiness-the-fourteenth-dalai-lama-tenzin-gyatso-on-the-issue-of-his-reincarnation|publisher=[[14th Dalai Lama]]|date=24 September 2011|access-date=17 December 2015|archive-date=14 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514084334/http://www.dalailama.com/messages/statement-of-his-holiness-the-fourteenth-dalai-lama-tenzin-gyatso-on-the-issue-of-his-reincarnation|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1995, the Dalai Lama chose to proceed with the selection of the [[11th Panchen Lama|11th reincarnation of the Panchen Lama]] without the use of the Golden Urn, while the Chinese government insisted that it must be used.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Ellis-Petersen |first1=Hannah |date=2021-07-31 |title=Tibet and China clash over next reincarnation of the Dalai Lama |language=en-GB |work=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/31/tibet-and-china-clash-over-next-reincarnation-of-the-dalai-lama |access-date=2023-12-22 |issn=0029-7712}}</ref> This has led to two rival Panchen Lamas: [[Gyaincain Norbu]] as chosen by the Chinese government's process, and [[Gedhun Choekyi Nyima]] as chosen by the Dalai Lama. However, Nyima was abducted by the Chinese government shortly after being chosen as the Panchen Lama and has not been seen in public since 1995.<ref>{{cite web |title=China says boy picked by Dalai Lama now a college graduate |url=https://apnews.com/79313edf55b390fb26ce1652bc9fb1d5 |website=AP NEWS |date=19 May 2020 |access-date=20 May 2020 |archive-date=20 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200520084828/https://apnews.com/79313edf55b390fb26ce1652bc9fb1d5 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In September 2007, the Chinese government said [[State Religious Affairs Bureau Order No. 5|all high monks must be approved by the government]], which would include the selection of the [[15th Dalai Lama]] after the death of [[14th Dalai Lama|Tenzin Gyatso]].<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news |last1=Ramesh |first1=Randeep |last2=Watts |first2=Jonathan |date=28 November 2007 |title=Dalai Lama challenges China – with a referendum on reincarnation |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/nov/28/china.religion |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312083314/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/nov/28/china.religion |archive-date=12 March 2018 |access-date=11 March 2018 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> Since by tradition, the Panchen Lama must approve the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, that is another possible method of control. Consequently, the Dalai Lama has alluded to the possibility of a referendum to determine the 15th Dalai Lama.<ref name="Guardian"/>

In response to this scenario, [[Tashi Wangdi]], the representative of the [[14th Dalai Lama]], replied that the Chinese government's selection would be meaningless. "You can't impose an [[Imam]], an [[Archbishop]], saints, any religion...you can't politically impose these things on people", said Wangdi. "It has to be a decision of the followers of that tradition. The Chinese can use their political power: force. Again, it's meaningless. Like their Panchen Lama. And they can't keep their Panchen Lama in Tibet. They tried to bring him to his monastery many times but people would not see him. How can you have a religious leader like that?"<ref>[[n:Dalai Lama's representative talks about China, Tibet, Shugden and the next Dalai Lama|Interview with Tashi Wangdi]], David Shankbone, ''[[Wikinews]]'', 14 November 2007.</ref>

The 14th Dalai Lama said as early as 1969 that it was for the Tibetans to decide whether the institution of the Dalai Lama "should continue or not".<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.tibet.com/DL/next-reincarnation.html |publisher=Government of Tibet in Exile |title=Dalai's reincarnation will not be found under Chinese control |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090712112849/http://www.tibet.com/DL/next-reincarnation.html |archive-date=12 July 2009 }}</ref> He has given reference to a possible vote occurring in the future for all Tibetan Buddhists to decide whether they wish to recognize his rebirth.<ref>[http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22838048-25837,00.html Dalai Lama may forgo death before reincarnation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201142125/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22838048-25837,00.html |date=1 December 2007 }}, Jeremy Page, ''[[The Australian]]'', 29 November 2007.</ref> In response to the possibility that the PRC might attempt to choose his successor, the Dalai Lama said he would not be reborn in a country controlled by the People's Republic of China or any other country which is not free.<ref name="sdpcnw" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tibet.com/DL/next-reincarnation.html |publisher=Government of Tibet in Exile ex Indian Express 6 July 1999 |title=Dalai's reincarnation will not be found under Chinese control |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090712112849/http://www.tibet.com/DL/next-reincarnation.html |archive-date=12 July 2009 }}</ref> According to [[Robert D. Kaplan]], this could mean that "the next Dalai Lama might come from the Tibetan cultural belt that stretches across Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, [[Nepal]], and [[Bhutan]], presumably making him even more pro-Indian and hence anti-Chinese".<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/china/2010-05-01/geography-chinese-power |url-access=subscription |title=The Geography of Chinese Power |magazine=Foreign Affairs |first=Robert D. |last=Kaplan |date=May–June 2010 |access-date=2 June 2018 |archive-date=9 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909001817/https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/china/2010-05-01/geography-chinese-power |url-status=live }}</ref>

The 14th Dalai Lama supported the possibility that his next incarnation could be a woman.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Haas|first1=Michaela|title=Why is there no female Dalai Lama?|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/why-is-there-no-female-dalai-lama/2013/03/18/75ac132c-8fee-11e2-9cfd-36d6c9b5d7ad_story.html|access-date=7 February 2017|date=18 March 2013|archive-date=28 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228090157/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/why-is-there-no-female-dalai-lama/2013/03/18/75ac132c-8fee-11e2-9cfd-36d6c9b5d7ad_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As an "engaged Buddhist" the Dalai Lama has an appeal straddling cultures and political systems making him one of the most recognized and respected moral voices today.<ref>Puri, Bharati (2006) "Engaged Buddhism – The Dalai Lama's Worldview" New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2006</ref> "Despite the complex historical, religious and political factors surrounding the selection of incarnate masters in the exiled Tibetan tradition, the Dalai Lama is open to change", author [[Michaela Haas]] writes.<ref>Haas, Michaela (2013). "Dakini Power: Twelve Extraordinary Women Shaping the Transmission of Tibetan Buddhism in the West." Shambhala Publications. {{ISBN|1559394072}}</ref>

Despite the tradition of selecting young children, the 14th Dalai Lama can also name an adult as his next incarnation. Doing so would have the advantage that the successor would not need to spend decades studying Buddhism and could immediately be taken seriously as a leader by the [[Tibetan diaspora]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-23 |title=Ethnic minorities expert on China's treatment of Uygurs, and Han chauvinism |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3279375/why-minority-languages-are-disappearing-some-classrooms-xinjiang-not-tibet |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref> The Dalai Lama has said that he will reveal a plan for deciding on his successor on his 90th birthday, July 6, 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mashal |first=Mujib |last2=Kumar |first2=Hari |last3=Loke |first3=Atul |date=2025-06-12 |title=As the Dalai Lama Turns 90, His Exiled Nation Faces a Moment of Truth |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/12/world/asia/dalai-lama-age-birthday-tibet.html |access-date=2025-06-24 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

On July 2, 2025, the Dalai Lama released a statement saying, "I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue." He also wrote that members of the Gaden Phodrang Trust have exclusive responsibility for recognizing his successor.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Dalai Lama |author1-link=14th Dalai Lama |title=Statement Affirming the Continuation of the Institution of Dalai Lama |url=https://tibet.net/statement-affirming-the-continuation-of-the-institution-of-dalai-lama/ |website=[[Central Tibetan Administration]] |access-date=2025-08-03 |date=2 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Pandey |first1=Geeta |last2=Hussain |first2=Samira |title=Dalai Lama confirms he will have a successor after his death |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpvjjd7xw8go |website=[[BBC]].com |access-date=2025-08-03 |date=2 July 2025}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Buddhism|China|India|Asia
}}
* [[Golden Urn]]
* [[29-Article Ordinance for the More Effective Governing of Tibet]]
* [[CIA Tibetan program]]
* [[Index of Buddhism-related articles]]
* [[Tibetan Buddhism]]
** [[Gelug]]
*** [[List of Dalai Lamas]]
*** [[Panchen Lama]]
* [[History of Tibet]]
** [[List of rulers of Tibet]]
** [[14th Dalai Lama]]
* [[Engaged spirituality]]
* [[Patron and priest relationship]]

== Notes ==
{{NoteFoot}}

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin|}}
* Bell, Sir Charles (1946). ''Portrait of the Dalai Lama'' Wm. Collins, London. 1st edition. (1987) Wisdom Publications, London. {{ISBN|086171055X|}}.
* {{cite book |editor1-last=Buswell |editor1-first=Robert E. |editor2-last=Lopez |editor2-first=Donald S. Jr. |title=Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism. |year=2014 |publisher=Princeton University Press |location=Princeton, NJ |isbn=978-0-691-15786-3}}
*{{cite book |last1=Cantwell |first1=C. |last2=Kawanami |first2=H. |title=Religions in the Modern World: Traditions and Transformations |chapter=Buddhism |date=2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9780415858816 |editor-first1=L. |editor-last1=Woodhead |editor-first2=C. |editor-last2=Partridge |editor-first3=H. |editor-last3=Kawanami}}
* [[Alexandra David-Neel|David-Neel, A.]] (1965). ''Magic & Mystery in Tibet''. Corgi Books.London. {{ISBN|0-552-08745-9|}}.
* {{cite book |last=Dhondup |first=K. |title=The Water-Horse and Other Years |year=1984 |publisher=Library of Tibetan Works and Archives |location=Dharamsala}}
* {{cite book |last=Dhondup |first=K. |title=The Water-Bird and Other Years |year=1986 |publisher=Rangwang Publishers |location=New Delhi}}
* {{cite book |last=Dowman |first=Keith |title=The power-places of Central Tibet : the pilgrim's guide |date=1988 |publisher=Routledge & Kegan Paul |location=London |isbn=0-7102-1370-0}}
* Kapstein, Matthew (2006). ''The Tibetans''. Malden, MA, USA. Blackwell Publishing. {{ISBN|9780631225744|}}.
* {{cite book |translator-first=Samten G. |translator-last=Karmay |translator-link=Samten Karmay |year=2014 |title=The Illusive Play: The Autobiography of the Fifth Dalai Lama [aka 'Dukula'] |publisher=Serindia Publications. Chicago |isbn=978-1-932476-67-5}}
* {{cite book |last=Laird |first=Thomas |title=The Story of Tibet : Conversations with the Dalai Lama |url=https://archive.org/details/storyoftibetconv00lair |url-access=registration |year=2006 |publisher=Grove Press |location=New York |isbn=978-0-8021-1827-1 |edition=1st}}
* {{cite book |last=McKay, A. |title=History of Tibet |year=2003 |publisher=RoutledgeCurzon |isbn=978-0-7007-1508-4}}
* Mullin, Glenn H. (1982). ''Selected Works of the Dalai Lama VII: Songs of Spiritual Change'' (2nd ed., 1985). Snow Lion Publications, Inc. New York. {{ISBN|0-937938-30-0|}}.
* Mullin, Glenn H. (1983). ''Selected Works of the Dalai Lama III: Essence of Refined Gold'' (2nd ed., 1985). Snow Lion Publications, Inc. New York. {{ISBN|0-937938-29-7|}}.
* Mullin, Glenn H. (2001). ''The Fourteen Dalai Lamas: A Sacred Legacy of Reincarnation''. Clear Light Publishers. Santa Fe, NM. {{ISBN|1-57416-092-3|}}.
* {{cite book |last1=Norbu |first1=Thubten Jigme |last2=Turnbull |first2=Colin M. |title=Tibet |url=https://archive.org/details/tibet0000thub |url-access=registration |year=1968 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |location=New York |isbn=0-671-20559-5}}
* {{cite book |last=Richardson |first=Hugh E. |title=Tibet and its history |year=1984 |publisher=Shambhala |location=Boston |isbn=978-0-87773-376-8 |edition=2nd ed., rev. and updated.}}
* Van Schaik, Sam (2011), ''Tibet. A History''. New Haven & London: Yale University Press.
* {{cite book |last=Schulemann |first=Günther |title=Die Geschichte der Dalai Lamas |year=1958 |publisher=Veb Otto Harrassowitz |location=Leipzig |isbn=978-3-530-50001-1}}
* {{cite book |first=Peter |last=Schwieger |title=The Dalai Lama and the Emperor of China: A Political History of the Tibetan Institution of Reincarnation |location=New York |publisher=[[Columbia University Press]] |year=2014 |oclc=905914446 |isbn=978-0-231-53860-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dHoyBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA33}}
* Shakabpa, Tsepon W.D. (1967), ''Tibet: A Political History''. New York: Yale University Press, and (1984), Singapore: Potala Publications. {{ISBN|0961147415|}}.
* {{cite book |last=[[Shakabpa]] |first=Tsepon W.D. |title=One Hundred Thousand Moons. An Advanced Political History of Tibet (2 vols) |year=2010 |publisher=Brill's Tibetan Studies Library |location=Leiden (Netherlands), Boston (USA) |isbn=9789004177321}}
* {{cite journal |last=Sheel |first=R N Rahul |title=The Institution of the Dalai Lama |journal=The Tibet Journal |year=1989 |volume=14 |issue=3}}
* {{cite book |last=Smith |first=Warren W. |title=Tibetan Nation; A History of Tibetan Nationalism and Sino-Tibetan Relations. |date=1997 |publisher=HarperCollins |location=New Delhi |isbn=0-8133-3155-2}}
* {{cite book |author1=Snellgrove, David |author2=Richardson, Hugh |title=A Cultural History of Tibet |year=1986 |publisher=Shambala Publications, Inc. |location=Boston & London |isbn=0-87773-354-6}}
* {{cite book |last=Stein |first=R. A. |title=Tibetan civilization |year=1972 |publisher=Stanford Univ. Press |location=Stanford, Calif. |isbn=0-8047-0901-7 |edition=[English ed.].}}
* {{cite book |author=Diki Tsering |title=Dalai Lama, my son : a mother's story |url=https://archive.org/details/dalailamamyson00diki |url-access=registration |year=2001 |publisher=Virgin |location=London |isbn=0-7535-0571-1}}
* {{cite book |last=Veraegen |first=Ardy |title=The Dalai Lamas : the Institution and its history |year=2002 |publisher=D.K. Printworld |location=New Delhi |isbn=978-8124602027}}
* {{cite book |last=Ya |first=Hanzhang |title=The Biographies of the Dalai Lamas |year=1991 |publisher=Foreign Language Press |location=Beijing |isbn=978-7119012674 |url=https://archive.org/details/biodalailamasyahanzhang |edition=1st}}
{{refend}}

== Further reading ==
{{Library resources box}}
* [https://www.shambhala.com/his-holiness-the-fourteenth-dalai-lama A Reader's Guide to the Works of the Dalai Lama (Shambhala Publications)]
* Dalai Lama. (1991) ''Freedom in Exile: The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama.'' San Francisco, CA.
* Goodman, Michael H. (1986). ''The Last Dalai Lama''. Shambhala Publications. Boston, MA.
* [[Heinrich Harrer|Harrer, Heinrich]] (1951) ''[[Seven Years in Tibet]]: My Life Before, During and After''
* [[Samten Karmay|Karmay, Samten G.]] (Translator) (1988). ''Secret visions of the Fifth Dalai Lama.'' Serindia Publications, London. {{ISBN|0 906026 20 2}}.
* {{cite book |last1 = Silver |first1 = Murray |title = When Elvis Meets the Dalai Lama |date = 2005 |publisher = Bonaventture |location = Savannah, GA |isbn = 978-0-9724224-4-4 |edition = 1st }}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Dalai Lamas}}
{{wikiquote}}
* [https://treasuryoflives.org/incarnation/Dalai-Lama Dalai Lama biographies and associated data on The Treasury of Lives]
* {{Official website|https://www.dalailama.com/}}

{{Clear}}
{{Dalai Lamas}}
{{TibetanBuddhism}}
{{Buddhism topics}}
{{Tibet topics}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lama, Dalai}}
[[Category:Dalai Lamas| ]]
[[Category:Gelug tulkus]]
[[Category:Lamas]]
[[Category:People from Lhasa]]
[[Category:Politics of Tibet]]
[[Category:Tibetan Buddhist titles]]
[[Category:Deified men]]
[[Category:Bodhisattvas]]
[[Category:Avalokiteśvara]]