DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.649#0188
152 THE TIBETAN PB1ESTH00D.
Hierarchical system.
The first organisation of the Tibetan clergy dates
from King Thisrong de tsan (728—86 a.d.), of whom the
Bodhimor says that "he gave the clergy a firm consti-
tution and divided it into classes."* But the development
of the present hierarchical system, which was independent
of these ancient institutions, dates from the fifteenth
century. In 1417 the famous Lama Tsonkhapa founded
the Galdan monastery at Lhassa, and became its superior;
the great authority and reputation he had enjoyed,
devo/ved upon his successors in the abbotship of this
monastery, who, down to the present day, are believed
to have been men of particular sanctity. But these
abbots were soon superseded in influence by the Dalai
Lama2 at Lhassa (now the highest in rank of the Ti-
betan priesthood), and by the Panchen Binpoche at
Tashilhunpo,3 who are both considered to be of divine
et sa religion," p. 299. Wilson, "Buddha and Buddhism," p. 251. The
principal cave temples were prohably excavated in the period from the
commencement of the Christian era to the fifth century after it. It needs
hardly be added that the sacred books which represent Sakyamuni himself
to have felt the necessity of instituting head priests are interpolated.
1 Schmidt, "Ssanang Ssetsen," p. 356; comp. p. 67.
2 Dalai Lama is the title which the Mongolians give to him; Dalai is a
Mongolian word meaning ocean, Lama or correctly Mama, is the Tibetan
word for a superior. Schott, " Ueber den Buddhaismus in Hochasien," p. 32.
The Europeans became familiar with this term from the works of Georgi,
I'allas and Klaproth.
3 Tashilhunpo, or in exact transliteration: "tkhra shis lhun po," is the
neighbouring city of chiefly ecclesiastical establishments, about a mile to the
south east of Digarchi, "the four-housed (top ?)" (in Tibetan written ftzhi-ka-rtse,
in Nevari zhi-kha-chhen), the capital of the province Tsang, of Chinese Tibet.
Sec the map of Turner, "Embassy;" Hooker, "Himalayan Journals," Vol.11.,
pp. 125, 171. Hodgson. "Aborigines of the Nilgiris." Journ. As, Soc. Beng.,
Vol. XXV., p. 504.
Hierarchical system.
The first organisation of the Tibetan clergy dates
from King Thisrong de tsan (728—86 a.d.), of whom the
Bodhimor says that "he gave the clergy a firm consti-
tution and divided it into classes."* But the development
of the present hierarchical system, which was independent
of these ancient institutions, dates from the fifteenth
century. In 1417 the famous Lama Tsonkhapa founded
the Galdan monastery at Lhassa, and became its superior;
the great authority and reputation he had enjoyed,
devo/ved upon his successors in the abbotship of this
monastery, who, down to the present day, are believed
to have been men of particular sanctity. But these
abbots were soon superseded in influence by the Dalai
Lama2 at Lhassa (now the highest in rank of the Ti-
betan priesthood), and by the Panchen Binpoche at
Tashilhunpo,3 who are both considered to be of divine
et sa religion," p. 299. Wilson, "Buddha and Buddhism," p. 251. The
principal cave temples were prohably excavated in the period from the
commencement of the Christian era to the fifth century after it. It needs
hardly be added that the sacred books which represent Sakyamuni himself
to have felt the necessity of instituting head priests are interpolated.
1 Schmidt, "Ssanang Ssetsen," p. 356; comp. p. 67.
2 Dalai Lama is the title which the Mongolians give to him; Dalai is a
Mongolian word meaning ocean, Lama or correctly Mama, is the Tibetan
word for a superior. Schott, " Ueber den Buddhaismus in Hochasien," p. 32.
The Europeans became familiar with this term from the works of Georgi,
I'allas and Klaproth.
3 Tashilhunpo, or in exact transliteration: "tkhra shis lhun po," is the
neighbouring city of chiefly ecclesiastical establishments, about a mile to the
south east of Digarchi, "the four-housed (top ?)" (in Tibetan written ftzhi-ka-rtse,
in Nevari zhi-kha-chhen), the capital of the province Tsang, of Chinese Tibet.
Sec the map of Turner, "Embassy;" Hooker, "Himalayan Journals," Vol.11.,
pp. 125, 171. Hodgson. "Aborigines of the Nilgiris." Journ. As, Soc. Beng.,
Vol. XXV., p. 504.