Modern History Of Tibet, Lhasa, The Three Major Monasteries

The main three monasteries of Gelugpa((?) dGe lugs pa), Sera((?)), Drepung((?)), Ganden((?))were called the Three Great Monasteries, or the Three Seats ((?)). As the representatives of Gelugpa monastic segment, they became the most important powerful and political part in Tibetan society. In the modern times when China transfoRMed from an Empire to a modern nation-state and due to the invasion of the Western powers, especially Britain, there has been arisen an estrangement between the Chinese central government and the local Tibetan rulers. Anti-aggression and anti-secession were the main themes in modern history of Tibet. As the core power of the theocratic political system of Tibet, the Three Great Monasteries had participated in the local political affairs in directly or indirectly ways, which affected the relationship between the Tibet local government and the Chinese central government, and the relationship between Tibet and Britain. Meanwhile, as the representatives of the theocratic regime and the feudal serfdom society, the Three Seats played a role of the conservative power in Tibet which impeded the progress of Tibetan society.Six chapters are included in this paper. Chapter â…  IntroductionA summary on the history and organization of the Three Great Monasteries and their education system. After a brief introduction of three political events which took place in the Tibetan ruling circles in the latter half of19th century, the role of Three Seats in these events is also mentioned. Their different reaction and influence to the riot of Lhasa in1912will also be illustrated in this Chapter.Chapter â…¡ Two Ways of Participation in the PoliticsMonks in the Three Seats had two main ways to participate in the politics. Firstly, as monk officials they could participate in the administration of the government affairs, so there developed a dual system, namely the secular and religious official system. Secondly, abbots and other representatives from the Three Seats could take part in the Tibetan Monk-Lay Meeting ((?)), and express monastery's opinion on local political issues to effect on the government's policy decision.Chapter â…¢ The Relationship with Lay AristocracyFocusd on the'patron-priest'((?) mchod yon) relationship, and sons from lay aristocracy families as monk officials, the traditional relationship between lay aristocracy and monastery will be examined. While encountering with Western imperial force in the modern time, the businessmen and an Anglophile military group developed in Tibet. Based on the example of Pandatsang family and Tsarong â…¡, the relationship between these new powers and the conventional power represented by the Three Seats in Tibetan society will be discussed in this chapter.Chapter â…£ The Role of Three Seats' in the Relationship between the Tibet Local Government and the Chinese Central GovernmentHigh-ranking monks of the Three Seats were dispatched as the abbot of Gelugpa monasteries in Beijing and Wu Tai Shan who had both religious and political influence based on double-identity, and the representatives of office of Tibet in Nanking and Chongqing also play as important intermediaries between the Tibet local government and the Chinese central government. Simultaneously, the officers sent by the government of the Republic of China to Tibet, maintained contact with the Three Seats constantly. Both of these reflected the important role of Three Seats in the relationship between Chinese central government and Tibet.Chapter V The Three Seats' Actions against BritainThe Three Seats tried to maintain their traditional religion and political interests, therefore they were against all kinds of way of British intrusion into Tibet politically, economically or culturally. Chapter â…¥ The Three Seats Rivaled the local government of TibetFocused on the Drebung Loseling((?));)incident of1921, the Reting ((?))incident and Sera Che((?))war of1947, the role of the Three Seats in the modern history of Tibet will be discussed in this chapter.Drawing on the declassified Chinese archival materials and Tibetan eyewitness'written accounts of past history, this dissertation will examine the political activities of the Three Seats, its role and influence in modern political history of Tibet. The research has profound significance in studying the modern Tibetan history. Moreover it may provide us a more comprehensive understanding about the role of religion in Tibetan social history.