The Fifth Dalai Lama and Shunzhi Emperor of China

[Namdrol]

The Fifth Dalai Lama established warm relations with the Shunzhi Emperor of China, the second Manchu emperor of the Qing Dynasty, during a state visit to Beijing in 1652 after several earlier invitations (see pic). He set out accompanied by 3,000 men and stayed at the Yellow Palace which had been specially constructed by the Manchu emperor to house him. The emperor met the Dalai Lama in January 1653 when he was only 14 (15 by Western reckoning). The Dalai Lama stayed in Beijing for two months and was honoured with two grand imperial receptions. The Emperor subsequently granted him the honorific title Dalai Lama, Overseer of the Buddhist Faith on Earth Under the Great Benevolent Self-subsisting Buddha of the Western Paradise, and presented him a golden seal (see pic).

[DharmaSpace]

The Great Fifth is great in so many ways.

He was the one who installed established Trode Khangsar for Dorje Shugden after learning that Dorje Shugden was not a mere wrathful spirit.

No Buddhist leader will set up a shrine to appease a spirit.

He brought peace to Tibet after Tibet went into civil war, peace is required for spiritual growth and the Gaden Phodrang brought peace to the land for at least a couple of hundred of years.

The fact that he had an audience with the Chinese Emperor meant the Chinese are wary of the Great Fifth. 

I also feel the Regent of the 5th Dalai Lama Desi Sangye Gyatso has so much courage to preserve the knowledge that the Dalai Lama had passed away 15 years back, that he faced so much difficulties to carry out his Dalai Lama's instructions despite in the end being executed by the Lhazang Khan.

[Barzin]

This is interesting information.  From the life story on how Dorje Shugden arises despite the misleading controversial, we can see Dorje Shugden has always had a close relationship with HHDL.  Now hearing the the great Fifth also had a close relationship with Shunzhi the Emperor of China, educating the emperor about the practice and study of dharma, it made total sense that HHDL has always been promoting Dorje Shugden. 

Today, even things seem to contradict that HHDL is against Dorje Shugden and HHDL is not as welcoming in China.  But it doesn't stop HHDL's compassion to bring dharma to China once again.  By "reviving" Dorje Shugden in China maybe is to revive the history that in fact during the Qing dynasty in China, emperor Shunzi had already certified the great existence of Dorje Shugden and his practice.  It was actually a part of the Chinese culture and history.  Perhaps the Chinese should really revisit the history and find out the truth.

China has always known for its great practice of Buddhism and I am not surprise at all that Tibetan Buddhism has branch out into parts of the world earlier than we know.  I can't imagine when the time has come to lift the ban, Buddhism in China will once again be the well known just like its everlasting culture and inventions.

[hope rainbow]

The relationship between the Great Dalai Lamas and China has been there always, and His Holiness throughout his lives has nurtured this relationship with the great "Kingdom of the Middle".
It may not appear to many, but the current Dalai Lama is still helping out China through the means that can be applied with the result of making the practice of Dorje Shugden grow, and by extension the practice of the teachings of Lama Tsongkhapa, the knowledge and practices of the 4 Noble Truths, of Sutra and Tantra, of the 50 verses of Guru devotion, of the LAMRIM.
There is no difference between the practice of the Lamrim and the practice of Dorje Shugden.
By skillful means, the whole of China is practicing the lamrim, we must see that clearly! This is not about a Buddha against another Buddha, this is about the practice of the Lamrim GROWING, this is about reaching as many sentient beings as possible, using their karma to lead them to the Holy Teachings of Buddha and Nagarjuna and giving them the means to end the causes of suffering. The whole play in place is promoting the LAMRIM, let us see this and realize this!
For centuries, both His Holiness and Dorje Shugden have created the causes for China to become a country to carry Vajrayana Buddhisme for the future generations, China INCLUDING Tibet (!), let this fortune not be lost, may this fortune be used for all to gain enlightenment.

[triesa]

I also found this on another website, just to supplement further on what Namdrol has posted :

Meeting Between Shunzhi and the Dalai Lama

Toward the end of 1652, or the ninth year of the reign of Emperor Shunzhi, the fifth Dalai Lama reached Beijing, where he was given a rousing welcome by Emperor Shunzhi and court officials. The Qing court built the Huangsi Monastery especially for him to live in during his two-month stay, and Emperor Shunzhi hosted a feast for him in the Hall of Grand Harmony in the Forbidden City. In the spring of 1653, when the fifth Dalai Lama left for Tibet, Emperor Shunzhi gave him handsome gifts, including 550 taels of gold, 12,000 taels of silver and 100 bolts of silk. The empress dowager gave him 100 taels of gold, 1,000 taels of silver and 1,000 bolts of silk. The emperor also granted him an honorific title, a golden certificate of appointment and a golden seal of authority. This established a precedent for the Dalai Lama of later generations to receive their post offically from the imperial court. [1]

The text of the golden certificate of appointment which Emperor Shunzhi gave to the fifth Dalai Lama read in part:

    "I was told one who has good luck strives to do things in favor of others while one who suffers from frustration pays more attention to self-cultivation. They do things in a different way. Whether one takes official post or enters monkhood takes the same road. You, the Dalai Lama, are broad-minded and boast boundless beneficence, striving to cultivate both samadhi and mati. Casting away sunya, you concentrate yourself on spreading Buddhist teachings among ignorant populace. So, Buddhism flourishes in the west and enjoys good fame in the east. Emperor Taizong was so glad to know all these that he sent a special envoy to invite you to the court. Reading the mind of the Heaven, you promised to come in 1652. When I came to power upon the will of the Heaven, you did come. Your performance here shows you have attained the realm of prajna. I appreciate your efforts to enlighten people, which should be taken as the steps leading to the top of the mountain and the boat that carries people across the sea. I hereby grant you the golden certificate of appointment and the golden seal of authority, making you the Dalai Lama, Overseer of the Buddhist Faith on Earth Under the Great Benevolent Self-Subsisting Buddha of Western Paradise." (The Records of Qing Dynasty Emperor Shizong, Vol. 74, 18)

The text of the golden seal of authority which Emperor Shunzhi issued to the fifth Dalai Lama reads: "The Dalai Lama, Overseer of the Buddhist Faith on Earth Under the Great Benevolent Self-Subsisting Buddha of Western Paradise." (The Records of Qing Emperor Shizong, Vol. 74, 18)

It seems that there had always been a long standing relationship between the emperors of China and the Dalai Lama since the Great fifth. Buddhism had flourished and I agreed with what HopeRainbow has just mentioned, even HH the 14th Dalai Lama is promoting Buddhism in China, contrary to what people may think otheriwse. Irrespective with the current political wind which does not seem to be in favour for the Dalai Lama to spread Buddhism in China personally, the Dorje Shugden ban initiated by the Dalai Lama has indirectly working its effect in China, Dorje Shugden's practice is spreading as can be seen by many DS monasteries built in China.

[yontenjamyang]

The Institution of the Dalai Lamas have had very strong affinity to China historically. However since the turn of the 20th century ie around the time of the end of the Ching Dynasty, China has been in turmoil. During the 1900s to the 1950s the Chinese diaspora have been forced to migrate around the world resulting in the saying "there is now country that has no Chinatown".

A parallel can be drawn with the turmoil in Tibet during the unification of Tibet and the subsequent fleeing of the Dalai Lama from Tibet in 1959. Tibetan Buddhism has since spread far and wide resulting in it being one of the fastest growing religion in the world.

This affinity and similarity is further enhanced with the fact that Tibetan Buddhism is one of the fastest growing religion in China today. And Dorje Shugden is in the forefront.
 
I truly believe there in no "Buddha against Buddha" here. It cannot be possible. It can only be bestowing of blessings to karmically linked "friends". A friend in need is a friend indeed!

[kurava]

Yes , the Emperors of the Qing Dynasty were devoted followers of Vajrayana Buddhism.

During a recent study by a group of university students on architecture of ancient buildings of China, holy scriptures in Tibetan were found hidden underneath the roof trusses of palaces in the Forbidden City. It shows how much the Qing Emperors valued the lineage and dharma as well as the long history between the Tibetan Lamas and Chinese Emperors.

[Positive Change]

Yes , the Emperors of the Qing Dynasty were devoted followers of Vajrayana Buddhism.

During a recent study by a group of university students on architecture of ancient buildings of China, holy scriptures in Tibetan were found hidden underneath the roof trusses of palaces in the Forbidden City. It shows how much the Qing Emperors valued the lineage and dharma as well as the long history between the Tibetan Lamas and Chinese Emperors.

How truly remarkable. I did some research and I found this interesting read. Ties between China and Tibet has been an age long connection of sorts.

China, Mongolia and Tibet

The Chinese showed little interest in Tibet until the beginning in the Tang dynasty in 7th century. During the Tang dynasty Tibet and China fought for two centuries before establishing a treaty in 821 that established “a great era when the Tibetans shall be happy in Tibet and Chinese shall be happy in China.” Since then an "uneasy relationship" between Tibet and China has been marked by "marriages of convenience and Chinese invasions."

Many Chinese emperors were believers in Tibetan Buddhism. In the Yuan (1280-1368) and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties an intimate political-religious relationship was established between Tibet and the imperial Chinese court that helped Tibet Buddhism spread to Mongolia and the plains of China. In the imperial Chinese era, representatives of the Chinese Emperor traditionally kowtowed before the Dalai Lama as a sign of respect when the representatives came to Tibet.

The Yuan (Mongol) Dynasty had close ties with Tibet and were followers of Tibetan Buddhism. The Yongle emperor (1403-1424)--a Ming ruler--was a devout follower of Tibetan Buddhism. The Chinese government today uses ties between the Yuan Dynasty and the Tibetans as the basis for their its on Tibet but the relationship was established by the Mongols before they conquered China and ended when the Yuan dynasty was ousted.

In 1578, in the midst of a military campaign, Abtai Khan—the powerful Kalkha Mongol lord and unifer of Mongolia—became fascinated with Tibetan Buddhism and converted to the religion. He became a devout believer and bestowed the title of Dalai Lama for the first time on the spiritual leader of Tibet (the 3rd Dalai Lama) while the Dalai Lama visited the Khan's court in the 16th century. Dalai is the Mongolian word for “ocean.”

Links between Mongolia and Tibet have remained strong. The 4th Dalai Lama was a Mongolian and many Jebtzun Damba (Mongolian rulers) were born in Tibet. Mongolians have traditionally provided the Dalai Lama with military support and gave him sanctuary in 1903 when Britain invaded Tibet. Even today many Mongolians aspire to make a pilgrimage to Lhasa as Muslims do to Mecca.


Qing Dynasty and Tibet


To strengthen the relations between China and Mongolia and Tibet, the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) established Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in Beijing, Shenyang and Jehol and had Tibetan shrines built in the Forbidden City.

In 1705, the Mongols ousted the Dalai Lama. In 1720, the seventh Dalai Lama asked the Qing (Manchu) emperor help and the imperial Chinese army arrived in Lhasa and expelled the Mongols. In 1792, China helped the Tibetans repel an invasion from Nepal. In return for Chinese help, the Qing emperor demanded a say in selecting Tibet's two highest lamas: the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama.

From the 18th century to the early 20th century, Tibet was a protectorate of China with Chinese regents in some cases having as much power ruling over Tibet as the Dalai Lamas. A new system was introduced in which the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama were selected by drawing lots from the Golden Urn in Lhasa. Many Tibetans supported the process because they saw it as a way to discourage the squabbling that often took place between rival factions.

For the Qing dynasty, Tibet was mainly useful as a buffer state. Qing imperial administrators were stationed in Lhasa, but overall China had very little control in Tibet and Tibetans maintained authority over their own affairs. Chinese armies were occasionally sent to Tibet but they were there to maintain peace not impose Chinese culture and political aims. When the Qing did take action in Tibet they tended to react too little, too late, allowing crises to develop and then used heavy handed methods to solve them.

[shugdenpromoter]

Actually, in the reign of the 5th Dalai Lama there were a few historical incidents which strongly influenced the development of Buddhism in China ie the death Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen, the 5th Dalai Lama with Shunzhi Emperor of China, there were also many temples built during the time of the 5th Dalai Lama in China. One of them which is the Gaden Sumtseling Monastery in Shangrila. There is even a Dorje Shugden Chapel in it. It is the MINI POTALA of China and has an average 6,000 tourist visiting it on a daily basis.

What the 5th Dalai Lama did was to begin the Shugden "saga" and now the 14th Dalai Lama is continuing it. And the result is Shugden becomes influential. Amazing how HIGH LAMA operates on that level.

[dsiluvu]

Not only does the Dalai Lamas have a warm close relationship history the Chinese Emperor... our beloved protector was also said to have the same mind stream as the great Emperor Kangxi which was well discussed on this thread http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=1537.0

Kangxi Emperor

The Kangxi Emperor was the third emperor of the Manchu-led Qing Dynasty and the second Qing emperor to rule over China proper, from 1661 to 1722. His reign of 61 years makes him the longest-reigning Chinese emperor in history (although his grandson Qianlong had the longest period of de facto power) and one of the longest-reigning rulers in the world. However, having ascended the throne aged seven, he was not the effective ruler until later, that role being fulfilled by his four guardians and his grandmother, the Grand Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang.
 
The Kangxi Emperor is considered one of China’s greatest emperors. He defeated the revolt of the Three Feudatories, forced the Zheng Jing government in Taiwan to submit to Qing rule, blocked Tzarist Russia on the Amur River and expanded the empire in the northwest. He also accomplished such literary feats as the compilation of the Kangxi Dictionary... http://dorjeshugden.com/wp/?p=5762

So it is not a surprise that we are uncovering peeling the rich history China which unveils the connection of Tibetan Buddhist masters which was a huge impact on Chinese Royalties and how it was infused in to China's cultural heritage which we can witness up until today. And of these places is the infamous Wu Tai San where Manjushri resides and one of the places we invoke Dorje Shugden to come forth!

We always find some interesting updates and news that enlightens us here on dorjeshugden.com. Thanks yall

[Big Uncle]

Tibetans have always has a high regard of Chinese in terms of culture, culinary arts and aesthetics. They have also considered the Emperors of China emanations of Manjushri and the fact that the 5 peaks called Wu Tai Shan is traditionally known to be the earthly abode of Manjushri. Therefore, Dorje Shugden does reside there and Emperor Kangxi is considered the emanation of Dorje Shugden.

I think it is great to see the connection between the Dalai Lama, Dorje Shugden, Manjushri have with China. The more important thing is for the Chinese people to see this themselves and to embrace Dorje Shugden as their own. This would be extremely beneficial for Buddhadharma to prevail into the future.

[beggar]

I have seen this photo before and would like to add that not only did this image depict the good relations between the Dalai Lama and China, it was painted in the Potala Palace itself, painted as an offering to Chinese emperors. Unfortunately, much as we may hate to concede to this fact, China did have a considerable influence and authority throughout both the Chinese and Tibetan regions.

For many centuries, the word of the Chinese emperors reigned supreme. It was largely because of the Chinese emperors that the Gelugpa lineage spread as far as it did within China. By their worship of Lama Tsongkhapa and adherance to Gelugpa Lamas, the rest of the country too adopted the religion and practices. Remnants of this are still strong throughout China with many prominent pilgrimage sites that are still supported and maintained by the government - the five mountains of Manjushri ("Wu Tai Shan") and Kumbum Monastery where Lama Tsongkhapa was born are clear examples.

So here's another angle: for the Dalai Lama to say that Shugden practice is wrong, he is inevitably also going against the word and practices of the emperors. It is to say that both the Emperors and his entire nation (which included the provinces of Tibet) were all wrong.

But wait, it gets more interesting doesn't it, when you consider that some of the emperors (such as Kang Xi) were said to be emanations of Buddhas, like Manjushri.

A divine play.....!

[Tenzin Gyatso]

Without the line of 14 Dalai Lamas Tibetan Buddhism would not have developed into such an advanced 'science' as it did. Gelugs would have never penetrated into China. Tibetan Buddhism would not be worldwide today. It is mostly the hard work, knowledge, charisma and commitment of the HHDL Tibetan Buddhism has become mainstream and accepted as a genuine religion.

We owe alot to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama Jetsun Tenzin Gyatso!

[hope rainbow]

Without the line of 14 Dalai Lamas Tibetan Buddhism would not have developed into such an advanced 'science' as it did. Gelugs would have never penetrated into China. Tibetan Buddhism would not be worldwide today. It is mostly the hard work, knowledge, charisma and commitment of the HHDL Tibetan Buddhism has become mainstream and accepted as a genuine religion.

We owe alot to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama Jetsun Tenzin Gyatso!

 
I rejoice in your post.
May His Holiness live long, may He remain with us, and may He continue to turn the wheel of Dharma.
With folded hands and an immense gratitude to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

[Tenzin Gyatso]

Without the line of 14 Dalai Lamas Tibetan Buddhism would not have developed into such an advanced 'science' as it did. Gelugs would have never penetrated into China. Tibetan Buddhism would not be worldwide today. It is mostly the hard work, knowledge, charisma and commitment of the HHDL Tibetan Buddhism has become mainstream and accepted as a genuine religion.

We owe alot to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama Jetsun Tenzin Gyatso!

I rejoice in your post.
May His Holiness live long, may He remain with us, and may He continue to turn the wheel of Dharma.
With folded hands and an immense gratitude to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

Thank you for your expression of gratitude. You practice Dhogyal I suppose, yet you can see what HHDL has done and express appreciation. You are a new and undiscovered breed of practitioners. You worship Shugden and do not say negative things against HHDL. that is wonderful. I guess your practice is very strong.