Golden Urn
The drawing lot from the golden urn (Chinese金瓶掣签, Pinyin Jinping chèqiān; skrug Tib gser bum pa) denotes a fixed ply by the Qing government system for determining the reincarnation of Living Buddhas of Tibetan Buddhism great in the Tibetan and Mongolian regions of China. To prevent Mongolian and Tibetan aristocrats reincarnation of Living Buddhas large manipulated, the Qing government in certain 57th year of Qianlong era (1792 ) set up two golden urns: one in Beijing Lama Temple ( Yonghe gong ), the other in the Jokhang Monastery in Lhasa. In the reincarnation of every Mongolian and Tibetan large Living Buddha - as Changkya Khutukhtu, Jetsun Dampa Khutukhtu, Dalai or Panchen - had to order both in Yonghe Temple and in the Jokhang Monastery, the " soul child ", whose name was written on the Elfenbeinlos, be determined by drawing of lot from the urn. The process was monitored by shangshu officials of Lifanyuan ( the Ministry of Minorities Affairs ) or the High Commissioner stationed in Tibet. From the time of the Qing dynasty to the time of the Republic of China more than seventy Living Buddhas were alone in the field of Tibet from thirty-nine reincarnation systems determined by the method of drawing lot from the golden urn for Living Buddhas of the three schools Gelug, Kagyu and Nyingma. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the central government followed this ritual, on 29 November 1995, the 11th Panchen was (* 1990) before Shakyamuni - portrait of the Jokhang Monastery in Lhasa by drawing lots from the golden urn as the soul boy of the reincarnation of the 10. Panchen Erdeni (1938-1989) determined. From representatives of the Chinese State Council, he was awarded as the 11th Panchen Erdini in Trashilhünpo monastery the gilded letter of appointment and the gold seal.
The golden urn is 34 cm high, with lotus - petal, Ruyi and branch pattern decorated and provided with a colored coverlet of brocade and five ivory chopsticks.
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Quote: Qinding Zang nei shanhou Zhangcheng, Article 1 ( of 29)
„關於尋找活佛及呼圖克圖的靈童問題，依照藏人例俗，確認靈童必問卜於四大護法，這樣就難免發生弊端。大皇帝為求黃教得到興隆，特賜一金瓶，今後遇到尋認靈童時，邀集四大護法，將靈童的名字及出生年月，用滿漢藏三種文字寫於籤牌上，放進瓶內，選派真正有學問的活佛，祈禱七日，然後由各呼圖克圖和駐藏大臣在大昭寺釋迦佛像前正式認定。假若找到的靈童僅只一名，亦須將一個有靈童名字的籤牌，和一個沒有名字的籤牌，共同放進瓶內，假若抽出沒有名字的籤牌，就不能認定已尋得的兒童，而要另外尋找。達賴喇嘛和班禪額爾德尼像父子一樣，認定他們的靈童時，亦須將他們的名字用滿漢藏三種文字寫在籤牌上，同樣進行，這些都是大皇帝為了黃教的興隆，和不使護法弄假作弊。這個金瓶常放在宗喀巴佛像前，需要保護淨潔，並進行供養。“
"As far as the search for the soul child ( Lingtong ) of living Buddhas ( huofo ) and Hotogtus ( hutuketu ), require customs of the Tibetans that the four major religious guards ( HUFA of the four monasteries of Nechung Monastery, Lamo Monastery, Gadong - Monastery and Samye Monastery ) be questioned. Abuses are inevitable. In order to help the Yellow Hat sect to recovery, the Great Emperor sends a gold urn ( jinping ) and submit for processes of future reincarnations determined: To determine the reincarnation of the four major religious protectors are invited. They should put the Ivory lots ( qianpan ) with the names and dates of birth of candidates in Manchu, Chinese and Tibetan script in the golden urn, select highly educated Living Buddhas ( huofo ) for the seven-day prayer and soul child under supervision of all Hotogtus and High Commissioners ( zhu Zang Capping ) in Tibet before the Sakyamuni statue in the Jokhang Monastery officially determined by the drawing of a lot from the golden urn. If there is only one candidate is a Elfenbeinlos with his name in Manchu, Chinese and Tibetan script and also a Elfenbeinlos without names are placed into the golden urn. Subtracting the Elfenbeinlos without a name, the soul boy can not be determined, and you should look further. The Dalai Lama and the Panchen have to lay in determining their child's soul also ivory lots with the names of the candidates in Manchu, Chinese and Tibetan script in the golden urn, as if they were father and son. This will the Great Emperor of the Yellow Hat sect help to rise and prevent fraud and cheating by religion protectors. The golden urn is situated in front of the statue of Tsongkapa. You should be constantly cleaned and one should offer sacrifices to her regularly. "