The Dalai Lama — A Lay Ruler or a Religious Hierarch? Political Aspects of the Tibetan Buddhism
https://doi.org/10.22394/2073-7203-2022-40-2-41-62
Abstract
The article examines the political aspects of Tibetan Buddhism built around the institution of the Dalai Lamas of Tibet. The author analyzes the traditional political concepts that existed in the Qing empire, such as: “the world of China and barbarians (huayi)”, “Buddhist master and secular patron (mchodyon)”, “unity of religion and politics (chos srid zung ‘brel)” and “our great Qing (manu yeke cing).” The author then ex‑ amines the status of the Dalai Lamas of Tibet in the context of their re‑ lationship with China. The political fragmentation of Tibet, connected with the natural background of the Tibetan plateau, prevented the cre‑ ation of a centralized secular state in Tibet, and only an external force such as the Khoshut Mongols or Manchus could change the balance of power in favor of the Gelukpa religious school, headed by the Dalai La‑ mas. The creation of the concept of “unity of religion and politics” by the Fifth Dalai Lama in the 17th century and the existence of the de facto independent Tibetan state under the leadership of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama in the early 20th century contributed to the formation of Tibetan nationalism centered around the institution of Dalai Lamas.
About the Author
I. Garri
Institute for Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Irina Garri — Senior Research Fellow
Ulan- Ude
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Review
For citations:
Garri I. The Dalai Lama — A Lay Ruler or a Religious Hierarch? Political Aspects of the Tibetan Buddhism. State, Religion and Church in Russia and Worldwide. 2022;40(2):41-62. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.22394/2073-7203-2022-40-2-41-62
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