Study Of The Tibetan Local Regent System

From 1757 to 1950, there were 15 regents taking office in Tibet, and the total regency last about 150 years. During the same period, Dalai Lamas were in power less than 50 years. Regents played an important role in different affairs in local Tibet.The regency system was established by the Central Government of the Qing Dynasty, which served as a supplement and extension of the integration system of the state and religion(Chos-srid gryis-lden) with local Tibetan characteristic. Meanwhile, the regency helped to maintain and improve the unique system. About the study on the regency system, we not only need to study the development history of the integration system of the state and religion, but also need to make an investigation of the relative history before, which will help us to understand the establishment, development and change of the system from a wider view.Before the establishment of the integration system of the state and religion, Tibet was under the rule of Khans, Kalons (Cabinet ministers) and local kings successively. As an imperfect process, history may be regarded as an exploring process with limited chances of choosing which cannot be cloned. The special system is the outcome of the above-mentioned process. In order to ensure the stability and prevention from conflicts among local forces, the Central Government of the Qing Dynasty established the integration system. In the process, based on the stability of situation, the Central Government reformed the social system of local Tibet and appointed Dalai Lama as the leader of the integration of the state and religion.After the death of one Dalai Lama, a regent acted as the political and religious leader before the successive Dalai Lama was enthroned. Regent,just as its name implies, was in charge of the rule of local Tibet instead of Dalai Lama. However, it doesn't indicate that the power of the regent was provided and authorized by Dalai Lama. In contrast, the regent was appointed to be in charge of the power of Dalai Lama by the Central Government. In the early period of the establishment of the regent system, at times, Emperors directly appointed some regents. Both Dalai Lamas and regents are local political and religious leaders recognized by the Central Government, and the integration system itself was founded by the Central authority, too. According to the system, the Central Government not only used Dalai & regents but also Ambans and Dalai to lead the Kashag consisting four Kalons, which did good to keep the balance of the power in local Tibet.After the establishment, the integration system of the state and religion became basically perfect, and the political system of local Tibet entered a long-term stability. During that period, a large number of historical events happened in local Tibet, such as the invasion of Gurkha, the stealing and robbing of imperialist and internal political conflicts, and so on. As a result, the system was saved, but many different changes took place and the regent system went in a way against the original will of the Central Government.