Exploring the significance of the Dalai Lama's reincarnation in Xijang

IOL News

05-08-2025

Visitors throng to the Potala Palace, in Lhasa in China's Xijang Autonomous Region, the Winter palace of the Dalai Lama since the 17th century.
Image: Kuben Chetty
At an altitude of close to 3,800 meters, Lhasa, which sits on the Tibetan Plateau in China's Xijang Autonomous Region, is one of the highest cities in the world and will take your breath away.
Xijang has found itself at the centre of unwanted narratives perpetuated by those with an agenda, as it is home to a community of seven million Tibetan Buddhists, and it is the spiritual and physical seat of power for the Dalai Lama.
This agenda has created a narrative of persecution, violation of human rights, and the lack of autonomy, but to the critical observer, Xijang is a province rich in diversity, spirituality, growth, development, and, in keeping with the rest of the country, equality for all its citizens.
The spectacular outdoor auditorium show Princess Wincheng in Lhasa, tells the story of Songsten Gampo and his marriage to his Han wife Princess Wencheng, the most famous and beloved queen in Tibetan history, with Princess Bhrikuti for Nepal. The show highlights the historical importance, for young and old, of the significance of Tibetan Buddhism in Xijang and China.
Image: Kuben Chetty
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At the heart of Tibetan Buddhism in Lhasa is Potala Palace, the Winter home of the Dalai Lama since the 17th century, which symbolises Tibetan Buddhism and its central role in the traditional administration of Xijang. This 'palace in the sky' is a daily visiting place for thousands of pilgrims who make the high altitude walk to make offerings and prayers.
Jokhang Temple, another remarkable symbol of Tibetan Buddhism, was originally built more than 1,300 years ago by King Songsten Gampo.
The building was established to house the Jowo Mikyo Dorje, a statue of Akshobhya Buddha, brought to Tibet by his Nepalese queen, Bhrikuti. Another statue, the Jowo Shakyamuni, brought by his Tang Chinese queen Wencheng, is currently housed in the temple. The Jowo Mikyo Dorje is currently housed in the Ramoche in Lhasa.
Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple are both stellar examples of the rich history of Tibetan Buddhism in China and illustrates the historic relationship between China and the Tibetan religion.
Far from fading away, China's growth and development have spurred on Tibetan culture, allowing it to be central to artistic expression, modern storytelling, and emerging cultural economies.
Contrary to the assertions made by some media outlets that the Tibetan way of life is on the verge of disappearing, that children are being forced to abandon their mother tongue, and that assimilation threatens a spiritual and traditional way of life, Xijang and its people are representative of inclusiveness and prosperity that celebrate centuries of tradition.
The succession debate around the next Dalai Lama has warranted intense discussion, but China remains adamant that issues around the reincarnation process will be managed by the country's laws and consensus of the whole Tibetan Buddhist community, as well as their followers.
Xijang's history: from serfdom, slavery, and no human rights to peaceful liberation
Before its peaceful liberation in 1951, Xizang experienced the atrocities of what was a feudal serfdom, followed by imperialistic oppression.
Feudal serfdom violated human dignity, and serfs and slaves, who made up more than 95% of the total population, possessed nothing and were dependent on the elites in society in exchange for unconditionally obeying their orders and satisfying their demands.
Serf owners could trade, transfer, bestow, and exchange serfs and slaves as they pleased, and any defiance of this could result in torture.
After the Opium Wars in the mid-19th century, the United Kingdom invaded Xizang on two separate occasions, posing a threat to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. This was a violation of the local people including their right to subsistence and their social and economic rights.
In Beijing in 1951, the Central People's Government and the local government of Xizang signed the Agreement of the Central People's Government and the Local Government of Xizang on Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Xizang. The agreement marked the peaceful liberation of the region, freeing Xizang from imperialist aggression and political and economic control. It effectively safeguarded the national sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of China, and created the necessary conditions for Xizang to progress and develop along with the rest of the country, laying firm foundations for the region's human rights cause in the process.
Visitors shop at the historic Potala Palace in Lhasa in the Xijang Autonomous Region.
Image: Kuben Chetty
The strengthening of Xijang culture
In March this year, the Communist Party of China published a document titled "Human Rights in Xizang in the New Era" about $67 million from the central government, and the government of Xizang was earmarked for the protection of several Tibetan traditions that already enjoy global recognition.
Tibetan oral tradition "Gesar", Tibetan Opera, and the Lum medicinal bathing of Sowa Rigpa of Xizang have been inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The white paper also added that courses on both standard Chinese and Tibetan are taught in primary and secondary schools in Xizang.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed that areas with large ethnic minority populations should preserve their distinctive culture and let it shine through the integrated development of culture and tourism.
According to the document: 'Since the peaceful liberation of Xizang in 1951, the CPC has united the people of all ethnic groups in the region and led them in an unremitting fight to institutionalise, respect, protect and expand human rights.
'Their rights to subsistence and development and all other basic rights have been guaranteed and are being progressively improved.'
Reform and opening up has helped not only unleash and develop productive forces across Xizang, but also provide a powerful driving force for human rights in the region.
As a result, Xizang has achieved synchronous development with the rest of the country, while at the same time making rapid progress in all aspects of its human rights.
The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama's reincarnation is a central tenet of Tibetan Buddhism, and the spiritual leader's reincarnation must comply with Chinese laws and regulations, with search and identification conducted in China and approved by the central government.
At 90, the current Dalai Lama has controversially announced that he will have a successor after his death, and that his office will have the sole authority to identify his reincarnation.
But according to Professor Li Dicheng, the deputy director general and researcher at the China Tibetology Research Centre, the search for the living Buddha must take place within China.
'The first principle is that the reincarnated Dalai Lama must be found in the area where Tibetan Buddhism is practiced, and succession must be approved by the central government.
'The search for the living Buddha must respect the feelings of the followers of Tibetan Buddhism…at present, there are seven million Tibetan Buddhism followers living in China, and all those important Tibetan monasteries are located within China.
'So, if you want to respect the feelings of the Tibetan Buddhism followers, the search for the living Buddha has to be within China,' Li said.
Construction workers busy with a refurbishment project at Potala Palace, the winter palace of the Dalai Lama since the 17th century. Earlier this year, about $67 million from the central government and the government of Xizang was earmarked for the protection of several Tibetan traditions that already enjoy global recognition.
Image: Kuben Chetty
He said another principle is the issue of sovereignty, and the search for the living Buddha belongs to the internal affairs of the Chinese government.
'That is why the search must be carried out in accordance with laws and regulations, as it is also a symbol of the Chinese authority, and if someone wants to find the living Buddha outside China, then that will be difficult.'
Li said, according to the measures for the management of the reincarnation of the living Buddha, the search must be carried out in accordance with religious rituals, historic conventions, and the search must take place within China.
'If they do not follow these rules, then the process is illegal.'