Amban

Amban was the name given to a Chinese imperial envoy to Lhasa. Its legal status can most likely be viewed by residents of a protecting power than the. With this Office, mostly Manchu were entrusted, rare Mongolian or Chinese.

The first Amban and his deputy were installed in 1727 by an imperial military intervention in Tibet. They were asked the Tibetan government to the side. Their powers were expanded in 1751 after a national crisis. They could directly intervene in Tibetan politics, because important personnel decisions were only effective with their consent. Also, the deputy was able to make independent decisions, especially on inspection trips. They were involved in the determination of each Dalai Lama. The government could not even send letters without the consent of Ambane. Communications of the Tibetan government to the imperial government had to be submitted to the Amban. He could refuse to transmit. Attempts to circumvent the Amban were considered as a kind of high treason and could lead to dismissal and punishment of those responsible. A protest of the 13th Dalai Lama Thubten Gyatso against the ban to turn directly to the Imperial Court, was rejected even in 1909, two years before the Chinese Revolution brought down the Empire.