29-Article Ordinance for the More Effective Governing of Tibet

The 29-Article Ordinance for the More Effective Governing of Tibet (Chinese: 欽定藏內善後章程二十九條^[1]) was supposed to be an imperial decree published in 1793 by the Qianlong Emperor in the Qing dynasty, the last imperial dynasty of China.^[2][3] Article 1 states that the purpose of Golden Urn is to ensure prosperity of Gelug, and to eliminate cheating and corruption in the selection process.^[4] Article 12 states that relatives of the Dalai Lama or Panchen Lama must not hold government positions, or participate in political affairs.^[5]

29-Article Ordinance for the More Effective Governing of Tibet
Traditional Chinese	欽定藏內善後章程二十九條
Simplified Chinese	钦定藏内善後章程二十九条
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Qīndìng cáng nèi shànhòu zhāngchéng èrshíjiǔ tiáo

There were three versions in the Tibetan language, and the original was not found. The corresponding text in Chinese was not listed as 29 articles, but parts and parcels of it were seen in various Memorial to the throne and decrees.^[6][7]

In 1792, the Qianglong emperor published an article known as A Discourse on Lamas (Chinese: 喇嘛說) that described the history of lamas and the reincarnation system. In it he described how the Golden Urn system was invented and said it would be a more fair mechanism of selecting the Dalai Lama than choosing reincarnated lamas based on private designation, or based on one person's decision. Also, it's to eliminate greedy family with multiple reincarnated rinpoches, lamas.^[8][9]

See also

• Tibet under Qing rule
• 13-Article Ordinance for the More Effective Governing of Tibet

References

1. "欽定藏內善後章程/欽定藏內善後章程二十九條". zh.wikisource.org.
2. Xiaoming Zhang (2004). China's Tibet. China International Communication Center. pp. 42–. ISBN 978-7-5085-0608-1.
3. Jiawei Wang; Gyaincain Nyima (1997). The Historical Status of China's Tibet. China International Communication Center. pp. 69–. ISBN 978-7-80113-304-5.
4. 皇帝為了黃教的興隆，和不使護法弄假作弊
5. 達賴喇嘛和班禪額爾德尼周圍的隨從官員，過去都是他們的親屬，如達賴喇嘛的叔父和班禪額爾德尼的父親班丹團主，都是私人升任，又如達賴喇嘛之胞兄洛桑格登主巴，依仗勢力多行不法。今後應依西藏各階層及扎什倫布僧俗人民之願望，在達賴喇嘛和班禪額爾德尼在世時，其親屬人員不准參預政事。達賴、班禪圓寂後，如果還有親屬，可以根據他們的技能給予適當的職務。
6. [The compilation and versions of 29-Article Ordinance for the More Effective Governing of Tibet]. iqh.net.cn (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2021-02-23. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
7. "藏文《水牛年文书》和《新订章程二十九条》探析" [A Study of Tibetan Documents of the Water-Ox year and 29-Article Ordinance for the More Effective Governing of Tibet]. 西藏研究 (in Chinese) (3). 1993 – via tibet.cn.
8. "御制《喇嘛说》碑 - - 活佛转世数字馆". www.livingbuddha.cn.
9. "乾隆皇帝的《喇嘛说》碑文". www.douban.com.