lCang-skya Rol-pa'i-rdo-rje was the highest Buddhist priest at the Qing court during the Qianlong reign (1736-1795). In a period when Qing emperors were engaged in the problems concurrent with territorial expansion, he served as a mediator between the Sino-Manchu court and the Tibetan and Mongol people. His life and work is a window through which to explore the Manchu-Mongol-Tibetan relationships in the context of 18th century China.
Hailing from A-mdo (northeast of Tibet), he arrived in Peking at a young age by order of Emperor Yongzheng. The boy was summoned there because Qing forces had destroyed his monastery when suppressing a rebellion led by a Mongol prince and because his former incarnation had been favored by the Manchu emperors. Raised and educated in Chinese surroundings, he studied under Tibetan lamas and grew up to become a refined Buddhist scholar. As a court lama, he performed Buddhist rituals for the emperor and conveyed blessings to thousands of devotees. As a gifted scholar, he wrote several books on Buddhist theology and served as editor in chief of imperially decreed projects to compile Buddhist canonical texts in Mongolian and Manchu. As an indispensable advisor, he taught Buddhist philosophy and explained Tibetan and Mongol matters to the emperor. Furthermore, he consistently pushed for more favorable policies on behalf of Tibet, Mongolia, and Buddhism in general. His presence at court was crucial in building friendly relations between the Qing and Lamaist hierarchs in Tibet.
Moreover, his close relationship with the emperors illustrates the formation of Qing frontier and religious policies. The 18th century Qing empire featured not only the encounters between the Manchus and Chinese culture, but also Qing rulers' management when dealing with several other values and beliefs in new, vast territories. His life story illumines the Manchu emperors' interest in (and their use of) Tibetan Buddhism. From the Tibetan-Mongol point of view, lCang-skya and Qianlong were incarnations of 'Phags-pa Lama and Khubilai Khan, signifying a close alliance between Throne and Altar. The present study shows that the Manchu emperors absorbed not only Confucianism, but incorporated aspects of Tibetan Buddhism and Mongol rulership into Qing imperial policy. The study provides evidence and insight towards understanding the influence of Tibetan Buddhism at the Qing court.
