Research On The Relationship Between The Karmapa And The Central Government Of The Yuan, Ming And Qing Dynasties

The relationship development between the Karmapa and the central government in Yuan Ming and Qing Dynasties,affiliated to the study scope of the relationship history between the Tibetan local and central government in China,reflects a profile of the relationship development between the Tibetan local and the central government,not all of the study of relationship history,but as well is worthy of our attention and consideration,and has a certain research value and practical significance in maintaining the ethnic relations and national unity.Tracing back to history,Yuan Dynasty,Tibet has gone through four Karmapa:Düsum Khyenpa----Karma Pakshi----Rangjung DorjeRolpe Dorje.Looking at the relationship between the four Karmapa and the central government,it is not difficult for us to see that this is a gradual deepening process.At this stage,Düsum Khyenpa founded the karma Kagyu sect and handed down with good learning and pragmatic character,which had far-reaching influence and great significance,built solid foundation for the relationship development between the future Karmapa and the central government.Following this,through the efforts of Karma Pakshi,the most basic relational model in the relationship development between the Karmapa and the central government is further built:national reunification,national unity and politics and religion demarcation,thus making the development of relations between the Karmapa and the central government reach a new stage.Rangjung Dorje and Rolpe Dorje are the active promoter of the development of relationship with the central government in the Yuan Dynasty,the former went to Beijing twice to be presented to the Emperor,and was conferred the "The Empty Buddha Karmapa Integrated with Various Doctrines",and the latter,after the emperor Yuan Shun had clearly put forward the grant to confer him a new political role,still politely declined.We think that,to a certain extent,the karma Kagyu sect at that time was not in the pursuit of secular power,but upheld a relatively detached political attitude,this attitude is not to give up the relationship development with the central government.They chose the religion as the breakthrough point,and developed the relationship interaction with the central government,not to reflect or to avoid the reflection of seeking a secular political power.This was also exactly a sign that the Karmapa lineage political style was basically formed,and mode of interaction with the central government gradually grew mature.The formation of the Tibetan policy of the central government in the Ming began in the early Ming dynasty.In a nutshell,"mild and tolerant"are the general characteristics of Ming Dynasty's governance policies on Tibet,"according to the customs" is guiding ideology of the Tibetan policy.The central government of the Ming Dynasty carried out the policy of "multiple reconstruction" to the various sects of Tibetan Buddhism,in the hope of strengthening the connection and management of the various sects in Tibet.The Karmapa V Deshin Shekpa was once called to Beijing and long-term stayed in the mainland in the Ming Dynasty.He kept a frequent interaction with the central government,and a deep bond with the Royal family,which fully inherited the past Karmapa's political style and the relation mode with the central government.Besides,his own knowledgeable character was highly valued by the government in Ming Dynasty,an exemplary role,model in the relationship development with the central government development,and formed a complete model of the relationship between Karmapa and the central government:to maintain a pragmatic tradition style,to inherit excellent learning style;to actively move closer to the central government but also be clear about the division of politics and religion,not to the pursue the theocratic power mode;to safeguard national unity and promote national unification.As for the Karma Kagyu sect,a relatively complete model was formed during the Karmapa V Deshin Shekpa period,which gives up the pursuit in the secular power but does not mean the refusal of the active interaction with the central government.It is a pity that,since the Karmapa V Deshin Shekpa,a series of problems appeared in the karma Kagyu sect,the important reason is just the gradual deviation from what the past Karmapa established,the core content of the relationship mode with the central government.Karma Kagyu sects did not ignore the central government,but ignored the need to maintain a close relationship with the central government through positive interaction.So after the end of Ming Dynasty,the gradual deviation of the relationship with the central government lead to the Karmapa eventually lost the renowned status between different sects of Tibetan Buddhism.There were a total of six Karmapa during the nearly three hundred years of the Qing Dynasty,respectively being Choying Dorje,Yeshe Dorje,Changchub Dorje,Dudul Dorje,Thekchok Dorje,Khakyab Dorje.On the one hand,their relations with the central government showed smooth performance,since Choying Dorje,All six Karmapa could respect the Qing government,not to appear arrogant,in Changchub Dorje period,a spectacular event even appeared that two living Buddha of Karma Kagyu sects were called to the capital at the same time,which can be called a new round of climax in the history of the relation development between the Karmapa and central government.But on the other hand,it is still very difficult for the karma Kagyu sect to restrieve the trend of marginalization.If looking for the reasons,as far as the historical materials we can grasp concerns,we can not exactly say the six Karmapa didn't actively move closer to the central government of the Qing Dynasty,but we can,at least,say with certainty,that the self development of karma Kagyu sect has been far from what the central government of Qing Dynasty need to conduct jurisdiction over Tibet.In the Tibetan local political and religion relation development at that time,the importance of Tibetan Buddhism had completely replaced other denominations in Yuan,Ming Dynasties,the karma Kagyu sect is of no exception,which resulted in,within the Tibetan local relation development with the central government,the constant development and expansion of Tibetan Buddhism,comparatively,the positon of karma Kagyu sect was more marginalized.Summarize the history to provide reference for the future.The relationship model between the Karmapa lineage and the central government,is a theory summary the article attempts to put forward in the process of history narration,we also tried to explain the reasons of its deviation from the central government based on this,which can more accurately reflect the history,we continue to put forward the issue should be in-depth studied in binary mode:The first mode,among the Tibetan society,the unity and opposition between the regionalization and secularization;The second mode,under the central and local relation model,the harmony and complementation of ethnic relations.i.e.:in Yuan Dynasty,the Tibetan political and religious relation development under the binary mode,not only includes the contradictory movement between Tibetan local secular power and religious power,but also contains the existence of the central government and its influence.Finally,we propose a thinking about the equilibrium point,which is the critical point of interest in optimization of the relationship between the local and central governments.In a nutshell,in the historical background of maintaining central government jurisdiction ethnic relations,religious forces should be clear about the division between politics and religion,promote religious development but not pursue theocracy,the secular forces also should not the pursue the hereditary system,while the central government should devote to political security and basic needs of the national regional development.All in all,when we think of the relations between each later Karmapa and the central government,it is not difficult to find out in the Tibetan political and religious relation under the binary pattern,many Kagyu leaders in various historical periods have failed to accurately the grasp the balance point,which had a negative impact on relationship development with the central government,worth the thinking and vigilance of latecomers.Although the socialist new China had stepped out of modern darkness and decay of the historical haze,bathed in life-giving spring breeze and rain of the reform and opening up,but the development and progress of border areas is still an important component of the national governance system.Like the old saying " To govern a nation,one must govern its border;and to govern its border,one must stabilize Tibet",the long-term stability of Tibetan society has major significance,shoulders heavy responsibilities,and is an important task of the construction of the socialist country.In order to better complete the development goals of the country,we need to summarize history and learn valuable experience,to guide our practical work.