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Art. VI.—Illustrations of the Lamaist System in Tibet, drawn from Chinese Sources.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 March 2011
Extract
In the following paper some illustrations of the method by which the Lamaist succession in Tibet is perpetuated, are drawn from a work published within the last few years by a Chinese officer of high rank. Its author, Meng Pao, was chief of the two Imperial Commissioners or Residents stationed in Tibet in 1840–44, and on his return to Peking printed, for private circulation, a small volume containing his official correspondence with the Emperor Tao Kwang in the course of some five or six transactions connected with the administration of Tibetan affairs.
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References
page 284 note 1 See Appendix A.
page 285 note 1 These syllables represent the name or names, and possibly the title also, in Tibetan, of a functionary who appears from later memorials to have occupied the post of Vicar General or Chancellor in the establishment of the Dalai Lama. The translator assumes (without feeling absolutely certain) lhat the characters sounded Bakhshi, with which the unwieldy string of vocables ends, represent the Mongol word which is thus pronounced, with the signification of “Teacher.” The title “Chancellor” will henceforward be substituted for the name in question wherever it occurs.
page 285 note 2 The title of one of the grades of official rank among the Tibetan priesthood. K'an-pu in Tibetan=elder.
page 286 note 1 Lit., the chanting of religious formulas.
page 286 note 2 Kwan Yin, the Sanskrit Avalokiteśvara, is not only one of the most honoured deities of the Buddhist pantheon in China and Tihet, but is also believed to be incarnate in the person of the successive Dalai Lamas (See Appendix A). The invocation Na-mo O-mi-to Fo (Amita Buddha) is familiarly known as the ceaseless ejaculation of every devout Tibetan.
page 287 note 1 In order not to prolong unnecessarily the translation, two only, out of the four reports, have been translated. Nos. 2 and 3, omitted, differ in no respect from the characteristics of those presented here.
page 288 note 1 See Appendix B.
page 289 note 1 See Appendix D.
page 290 note 1 The mountain upon which the vast assemhlage of cloisters forming the Dalai Lama's Residence is situated is thus designated, not, as Hue ignorantly states, with reference to the name of Buddha, but, as Koeppen clearly points out (vol. ii. p. 341, note), from the Sanskrit word meaning “Port,” and particularly signifying the port in the Delta of the Indus known as Pattala to the ancients, which tradition assigi s as the original seat of the ancestors of Sakyamuni Buddha.
page 290 note 2 The Emperor Kien Lung died 1796, who, since his final subjugation of Tibet in 1746, has continued to receive homage even posthumously as sovereign of the country.
page 291 note 1 See Appendix A.
page 292 note 1 i.e. to his residence at Tashi-lumbo, distant some eight days' journey from Lassa.
page 292 note 2 The 'hàta is a handkerchief or scarf of silk, the gift of which is considered indispensable to the investiture of a Lama.
page 293 note 1 The Chinese liang, called tael by Europeans, equals about 6s. 4d. in value. The above sura is therefore equal to about 3,000l.
page 293 note 2 The direction of Peking.
page 295 note 1 The Memorial here referred to is not given.
page 295 note 2 This is the title of the highest dignitary of the Lamaist hierarchy at Peking, where he exercises the functions of a Metropolitan. He appears to have been deputed to attend the present ceremony. See Appendix D.
page 298 note 1 See infrà.
page 298 note 2 See Appendix C. The title Pan-ti-ta appears to be identical with the Indian Pandit.
page 299 note 1 i.e. died. The above term is invariably applied to the decease of members of the Buddhist hierarchy.
page 303 note 1 Koeppen, p. 108, footnote: S. die chronologischen Tafeln bei A. Csoma, 1. c. 186, und Klaproth, ' Fragmens Bouddhiques,' p. 9. Die Angabe des Hiero'liaconus Hilarion in den Arbeiten der russischen Mission, I. 315, dass bTsongkhapa
page 304 note 1 Beside being the reembodiment of Tsungk'aba's second disciple, the Panshen Erdeui is popularly held to be an incarnation of the Bodhistittwa Manjusri.