During a press conference held in May this year, a spokesman for the State Council Bureau of Religious Affairs explained the traditions and rules related to the search for and identification of the soul boy incarnate of the Dalai and Bainqen lamas. He pointed out the fact that the 14th Dalai Lama was installed in 1940 with the approval of the central government. His remarks apparently touched a sore spot of the Dalai Lama. Within a short time, a spokesman for the Dalai group hastily provided an explanation stating that the search for the 14th Dalai Lama had not been subject to the approval of the then Kuomintang government, and its representative Wu Zhongxin played no special role and instead simply attended the installation ceremony as a distinguished guest.

This article will help our readers gain a better understanding of the true facts of history by introducing the overall process involving the search, identification and installation of the soul boy incarnate of the 13th Dalai Lama.

The 13th Living Buddha Tubdain Gyaco passed away in December 1993 Based on a report concerning his death submitted by the Commission for Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs, the Kuomintang government decided to posthumously confer the title of Dalai Lama to the deceased Living Buddha, and issued an order to all provinces requiring that they hold grand memorial ceremonies in his honor.

In 1934, the Gaxag government of Tibet sent representatives in three directions to search for the reincarnated soul boy of the 13th Dalai. During an extensive search lasting over two years, they found 14 possible candidates, including Lhamo Toinzhub, the fourth son of Qiqu Cering, a farmer in Qijiachuan, an area located to the east of the Tar Monastery in Aduo (today's Huangzhong County),Qinghai Province. The young soul boy later became the 14th Dalai Lama Dainzin Gyaco.

In September 1938, the representative office of the Tibet local government in Beijing sent a telegram to the Commission for Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs reporting that soul boys had been located and the true reincarnate would be identified by drawing lots. The telegram read, "With regard to the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, searches made by representatives of the people's assembly have yielded two unusually intelligent young boys in Tibet, and one exceptionally intelligent boy living near the Tar Monastery in Xining. In accordance with Tibetan religious rituals, said boys should proceed to Tibet, where the ceremony of drawing lots from the golden urn should be held to determine the true reincarnate of the Dalai. The time for holding the ceremony is drawing near, and we hereby apply to the central government for permission to allow the abbot of the Tar Monastery to arrange for the selected boy in his locality to proceed to Tibet to attend the ceremony. Please issue a pass for the convenience of his journey."

The central government exhibited its special concern, and soul boy Lhamo Toinzhub left his home in Qinghai and arrived in Tibet safely.

On December 12, 1938, Prince Regent Razheng sent a telegram to the Commission for Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs informing the latter that a telegram had been sent to the Qinghai provincial government urging that Living Buddha Jicang act with haste to send the selected soul boy to Lhasa. The telegram read in part," Discussions with the Gaxag government have been completed concerning the method of attendance of all representatives of the central government. The ceremony of drawing lots from the golden urn will be held shortly after the arrival of the three soul boys. The central government should dispatch its representatives to attend the ceremony in order to exhibit its trust and please the public both far and wide." The Kuomintang government issued the following order on December 28: "The government will dispatch Wu Zhongxin, minister of the Commission for Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs, to preside over the installation ceremony for the 14th Dalai Lama jointly with Prince Regent Hotogtu Razheng." In April 1939, The Gaxag government of Tibet sent a telegram, via the local government representative office in Beijing, to the Commission for Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs announcing that Tibet warmly welcomed Minister Wu to visit Lhasa.

Shortly after receiving the central government appointment, Wu Zhongxin submitted a report to the Executive Yuan of the Kuomintang government noting that his mission during the trip to Tibet was to preside over the installation ceremony for the 14th Dalai Lama, as well as to confer a title of nobility on Razheng and present decorations of merit to Silung and Gaxag officials.

In October 1939, Wu Zhongxin and members of the field headquarters of the Commission for Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs left Chongqing for Lhasa. Following a three-month journey via Hong Kong, Rangoon and Calcutta, the party entered Tibet at Yadong and arrived in Lhasa in January 1940.

Shortly after Wu's arrival,Prince Regent Razheng made the following request, "Since the soul boy from Qinghai is exceptionally smart, all monks and laymen in Tibet sincerely believe he is the true reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama. Therefore, the people's assembly has decided not to draw lots. We hereby apply to the central government to follow the precedent of the 13th Dalai Lama and grant an exemption to procedures requiring the drawing of lots." Wu responded by saying, "This matter must be submitted to the central government for appraisal and approval. I am committed to pass your request to the central government and cannot make the decision on my own." Razheng repeatedly sent representatives asking Wu for an exemption of drawing lots. Wu rejected the requests, reasoning that "the reincarnated soul boy concerns the future of the politics and religion in Tibet, and no hasty action should be taken with regard to such an important issue". Later, following repeated discussions between officials of the two sides, a decision was made that exemption of the procedure should be based on two preconditions: First, Wu Zhongxin should personally "verify the fact that the soul boy is exceptionally intelligent"; and second, Razheng should submit a formal application to the central government, with the final decision concerning either the approval or disapproval of an exemption of the procedure resting solely in the hands of the central government.

In January 1940, based on the report filed by Wu Zhongxin and the letter submitted by Razheng, Chiang Kai-shek, chairman of the Executive Yuan, submitted a detailed report to the Kuomintang government requesting the issuance of an order approving the installation of Lhamo Toinzhub as the 14th Dalai Lama, and the allocation of the funds for the installation ceremony. Based on an ensuing report of the Executive Yuan, the Kuomintang government issued an order saying, "Soul boy Lhamo Toinzhub from Qinghai, who is exceptionally bright and quick-witted, has been identified as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama. The procedure for drawing lots should thereby be exempted. Special permission to install this soul boy as the 14th Dalai Lama is granted herein."

In February 1940, Prince Regent Razheng sent a telegram to Lin Sen, president of the national government, expressing his gratitude to the central government for granting special permission of exempting Lhamo Toinzhub from the procedure of drawing lots, and for installing him as the 14th Dalai Lama. The prince also expressed his gratitude for the appropriation of funds for the installation ceremony and for granting a gold seal and medals.

On February 22 that same year, the installation ceremony for the 14th Dalai Lama was held according to schedule. The field headquarters of the minister of the Commission for Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs sent the following telegram from Lhasa to the Central News Agency: "The installation ceremony for the 14th Dalai Lama, presided over by Minister Wu Zhongxin, began at six o'clock this morning in the Potala Palace and was attended by more than 500 central government and Tibetan officials. Minister Wu sat on the left side of the Dalai facing south, while other officials from the central government were seated facing west. Hotogtu Razheng and various other eminent monks sat facing east, with Galoin and other local government officials facing north. The exquisitely grand and solemn ceremony ended at nine o'clock. The spectacular Lhasa ceremony was followed by horse races, dances by sorcerers, wrestling and other recreational activities, enveloping the city with an exceptionally warm atmosphere."

The etiquette of the installation ceremony followed the old system of the Qing Dynasty and relevant religious rituals. In line with the protocol granted to former high commissioners of the Qing court, Wu Zhongxin sat beside the Dalai Lama facing south, with the only difference being the height of their cushions.

The aforementioned facts indicate the local Tibetan government carried out procedures involving the search, identification and installation of the 14th Dalai Lama in an orderly manner in accordance with historical precedents and religious rituals, with reports submitted to the national government on each work step and key issues. Throughout the process, particularly with regard to key issues, the national government strove to mediate between the parties involved, provided financial assistance and helped resolve various conflicts. The concerted efforts of all concerned parties ensured the satisfactory completion of the work. The national government recognition and approval of the soul boy of the 14th Dalai Lama, as well as its permission for exempting the procedure for drawing lots and the holding of the installation ceremony legally confirmed the status of the Dalai. The national government act of dispatching Wu Zhongxin, minister of the Commission for Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs, to preside over the installation ceremony clearly manifested the authority of the central government and its jurisdiction over the sovereignty of Tibet. Details of all historical events, which have been recorded in numerous volumes carefully preserved in the regional archives, bear witness to true historical facts.

(This article on page 10, No. 37, 1995)