Date: Mon, 9 Oct 1995 21:07:06 -0400
Sender: H-Net list for Asian History and Culture <H-ASIA@msu.edu>
From: Steve Leibo <LEIBO@cnsvax.albany.edu>
Subject: H-ASIA: Tibetan Golden Urn Lottery
To: Multiple recipients of list H-ASIA <H-ASIA@msu.edu>
H-ASIA
Date: October 2, 1995
1)****
Subj:Tibet and the Golden Urn lottery system
From: Michael J Sullivan <sull@csd.uwm.edu>
Tibet and the Golden Urn lottery system
By Michael J. Sullivan, ASIA-L list, 9 October 1995
In the recent dispute over the selection of the new Panchen Lama between
the Beijing government and the Dalai Lama, Beijing has been arguing that
the lottery process known as Shaking the Golden Urn
must be used in the
selection process. Beijing argues that it should be given the final say
in the selection process since this lottery process has historical
precedents in China. Tibetans reportedly asked the KMT in 1940 for
permission to dispense with this supposedly arcane lottery process when
choosing the current Dalai Lama. The Golden Urn lottery process is now
toted by the CCP as the official means to select senior lamas.
Tibetans refute this argument, arguing that the 1940 historical event was publicly discounted by a senior Tibetan leader in China several years ago.
The source that describe this dispute didn't offer an explanation on what the Golden Urn lottery process encompassed.
What is the origin and history of the Golden Urn lottery system? Is there any truth to the CCP and Tibetan interpretations of the event in 1940? I would appreciate any insights.
michael sullivan
uw-milwaukee