The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-05


petty principahties and its history il for
many centuries obscure Lamnism, how
ever, fourished at the expense of tho body
polite. and in 1895 Atisha or 10 -pal-den
again reformed the rell gion OF the country.
In 1909 A. d. Tibet was conquered by tho
Tartars, and in 1870 Kublai Khan recognized
the supremacy Of the head Lama OF the
Sakya monastery as ttular ruler OF the
Tihetan people, an arrangement which
lasted until the foundation Of the Yellow or
Gclupka sect by Tsongknpa in the ffteenth
century, and the final esta blishment OF the
reincarnate head Of the hierarchy at Lhasa
200 years later. Before that moment
Gus event, however, the first European
traveller had already entered Tibet. Friar
Oderic or Oderious Of Pordenone, a Minorite
fr1ar appears to have visited the country
about the year 1925 d. He was returning
from the east coast of China by way OF
Shens hoping eventually to strike the main
European caravan route through Asia. Mr..
Landon deems II certain that he never
reached Lhasa. He has been called the
prince of liars" but some of his notes are
pronounced good and interesting de
reported of the capital Of Tibet that its wa lis
were black and white; that its streets were
well paved; that the Buddhist prohibition
against the taking Of life was strictly op-
served there and that the Tibetans OF the
rural districts lived. as they live now, in
black yak-hair tents. The title of the Grand
Lama of Sakya he gives as Abassi. in which
d reflection of the Latin title of the CHIEF OF
a monastery is seemingly recognizable
From that time there Ia blank OF many
wears. at the end Of which. as we have said,
tho present regime was established by
Tsong-kapa. a monk from the then popu-
lous region of Koko-nor, far to the north
east Of Lhasa. His reformations are said
10 have been sweeping in their scope, and
though at this day the various sects OF
Iamaism are divided rather by tradition,
ritual and costume than by any vital dog
matte schi-m the superior striotness OF
the moral code Of the Gelukpas. or Yellow
Caps. Tsong -knpas sect. is still noticeable
Before the next European visit TO Lhasa
the Gelupkas had consolidated their RUE
and in 1924 Antonio Andrada, OF the Society
of Jesus. found the chief power IN their
hands AZ Tash-lhumpo This missionary
was the author Of the most widely known
description Of Tibet until the travels OF
Turner we're published at the close OF the
eighteenth century Our author Is con-
vins,i. however. that his acquaintance
with the country was limited to the western
and nor; ern parts. and that Lhasa still
remained unvisited. The doctrine OF
political reincarnation had now been fully
accepted In Tibet The first reincarna-
ton Of Arntabha. or Manjusri, the Bodisat-
the Indian synonyms are here used Tor the
chief parsonage of the Great Vehicle OF
Buddhism was Gedun-tubpa. Grand
Lama Of Tashi- lhumpo in whom lsong-
kappa recognized the personality Of Padma
Sambhava Gedun-tubpa thus founded
series Of reincarnations near Shitagse IA
town on the Tsangpo or Brahmaputra River,
almost due west from Lhasa) OF which
the successive holders made such efec-
tive use that toward the middle Of the
seventeenth century Nawang-lob-sang
made himself master Of Tibet He then
transferred, however his capital to Lhasa,
accepted the title Of Dalai Lama from the
Emperor OF China. built the Potaa Palace
and. most important Of all his achievements,
discovered that besides being as Grand
Lama of Tashi-lhumpo a reincarnation
OF Amitabha. he was also reappearance
Of Avalokiteswara Our author points
out that thlH alleged discovery EI'hhNFh
a curious result for Avalokite7wara was
himself an emanation of Amitabha, and
therefore inferior to his father" as touch
ing his potential manhood Thus, though
the entire political power has been absorbed
by the Dalai or Grand Lama of Lhasa, the
Tashi Lama-as the Grand Lama Of Tashi-
lhumpo is commonly called re mains In
theory his senior and superior in spiritual
matters A government similar in most
respects to that which Is now established
was afterward inaugurated. the forcible
introduction by the Chinese Emperor Of
two Ambans or viceroys, with n strong
guard being the result Of the Dzungarian
raid and the occupation Of Lhasa in i7i7.
Chinese suzerainty may be said to date
from 1920.
That part Of Mr. Landon's initial chapter
which traces the successive attempts Of
foreign nations to enter into communica-
ton with the hermit country need not de-
tain us inasmuch the substance OF it
has been condensed in a notice Of oorre-
spondiu. ofion Of Mr.. Gambler, hook.