Golden Urn

The Golden Urn is a method for selecting Tibetan reincarnations by drawing lots or tally sticks from a Golden Urn introduced by the Qing dynasty of China in 1793. After the Sino-Nepalese War, the Qianlong Emperor promulgated the 29-Article Ordinance for the More Effective Governing of Tibet, which included regulations on the selection of lamas. The Golden Urn was introduced ostensibly to prevent cheating and corruption in the selection process but also to position the Qianlong Emperor as a religious authority capable of adducing incarnation candidates. A number of lamas, such as the 8th and 9th Panchen Lamas and the 10th Dalai Lama, were confirmed using the Golden Urn. In cases where the Golden Urn was not used, the amban was consulted. Golden Urn was exempted for Lhamo Dhondup to become the 14th Dalai Lama in 1940.

Qing dynasty
The Golden Urn originated in a decree issued by the Qianlong Emperor in 1792, after the Qing victory in the Second Invasion of the Sino-Nepalese War. Article One of the decree, the 29-Article Ordinance for the More Effective Governing of Tibet, was designed to be used in the selection of rinpoches or lamas and other high offices within Tibetan Buddhism, including the Dalai Lamas, Panchen Lamas and Mongolian lamas. In Qianlong Emperor's article The Discourse of Lama (喇嘛说) which was published also in 1792, he explained the history of lamas and the reincarnation system, he inferred that the reincarnation system is only man-made, and creating rules is only to facilitate those monks, and to eliminate drawbacks associated with the man-made reincarnation.

The 29-Article Ordinance for the More Effective Governing of Tibet allows the Qing emperors of China to control the selection process, to prevent the Mongol and Tibetan nobles from taking advantage of the reincarnation process to seize religious power and to prevent the great lamas from combining with secular forces.

Two Golden Urns were issued by the Qianlong Emperor: one is enshrined in Jokhang Temple in Lhasa and is to be used for choosing Dalai and Panchen Lama reincarnations; the other is in Yonghe Temple in Beijing for choosing Mongolian Lama, known as Jebtsundamba Khutughtu, reincarnations.

The specific ritual to be followed when using the Golden Urn was written by the 8th Dalai Lama, Jamphel Gyatso. The names and dates of birth of each candidate were to be written in the Manchu, Han, and Tibetan languages on metal or ivory slips and placed in the golden urn. After prayers before the statue of the Jowo in the Jokhang temple in Lhasa, a slip was drawn. The 7th Panchen Lama, Palden Tenpai Nyima, used the Golden Urn for the first time in 1822 to choose the 10th Dalai Lama, Tsultrim Gyatso.

Republic of China
On 12 August 1927, the Central Government mandated that before the publication of new laws, all laws in history regarding Tibetan Buddhism should continue unless there were conflicts with new doctrine or new laws of the Central Government.

In August 1929, the Supreme Court of the Central Government stated that before the publication of new laws, laws in history regarding Tibet and regarding the reincarnation of rinpoches or lamas were applicable.

In 1935, the Ordinance of Lama Temple Management (管理喇嘛寺廟條例) was published by the Central Government of China. Article 2 states that reincarnated lamas are limited to those who were reincarnated previously in history, unless it was approved by the Central Government. Article 5 states that all monasteries/temples and lamas must be registered with Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission. Article 7 states that the methods for reincarnation, appointment, rewards and punishments, registration, etc. of lamas shall be drafted by the Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission and submitted to the Executive Yuan for approval.

In 1936, based on articles 2 and 7 of the Ordinance of Lama Temple Management (管理喇嘛寺廟條例), the Method of Reincarnation of Lamas (喇嘛轉世辦法) was published by the Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission of the Central Government.

Article 3 states that the death of lamas including the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama should be reported to Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission, soul boys should be found, reported to and checked by Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission, and a lot-drawing ceremony with the Golden Urn system should be held separately. Article 6 states that local governments should invite officials from the Central Government to take care of the sitting-in-the-bed ceremony. Article 7 states that soul boys should not be searched for from the current lama families.

The Method of Reincarnation of Lamas (喇嘛轉世辦法) was abolished in 2004.

People's Republic of China
In 2004, the Religious Affairs Regulations (宗教事务条例) was published by the Central Government. Article 36 states that the reincarnation system must follow religious rituals and historical customs, and be approved by the government.

In 2007, the State Religious Affairs Bureau Order No. 5 (国家宗教事务局令第5号) was published by the Central Government. Article 7 states that no group or individual may carry out activities related to searching for and identifying the reincarnated soul boy of the Living Buddha without authorization.

Article 8 states that a lot-drawing ceremony with the Golden Urn is applicable to those rinpoches, or lamas who were reincarnated previously in history. Requests for exemption are handled by State Administration for Religious Affairs, and for those exemptions that would have a significant impact, requests for exemption are handled by the State Council.

Panchen Lamas born after 1792

 * Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was appointed by the 14th Dalai Lama as the 11th Panchen Lama on May 14, 1995; this appointment was disputed by the Chinese Communist central government, which removed Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as Panchen Lama and instead held a ceremony later that year in which Gyaincain Norbu was appointed the 11th Panchen Lama. The legitimacy of this appointment has been disputed by a number of sources.

Mongol Lamas born after 1642

 * When the People's Republic of China annexed Tibet, Lozang Penden Tenpé Drönmé escaped to Taiwan. It has been reported that before his death in 1957 he had signed a pledge that he would not reincarnate until the Republic of China retook the mainland. However, the Dalai Lama recognised the current incarnation, Tendzin Dönyö Yéshé Gyatso, on 11 August 1998. He was born in 1980 in Tsongkha, was ordained at an early age and came to India as a refugee in 1998. He is now residing in the re-established Drepung Monastery, in India. Neither he nor two other claimants to be the current Changkya are recognised by either Taipei or Beijing.