Rituals and Authority: Qianlong's Portraits and the Reform of “zhanli” and the Golden Urn Lottery System

Abstract

Abstract:

The Qing Court had presented two portraits, depicting Emperor Qianlong dressed as Bodhisattva Manjusri, to the Potala Palace of the Dalai Lama and the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery of Panchen Erdeni during the reign of Qianlong. However, in different linguistic historical materials, there are many different accounts on the issues of when and why these two portraits were sent to Tibet. Based on relevant Manchu and Tibetan documents, this paper will analyze the process of the portrait's entry into Tibet, and the relationship between Qianlong’s portraits and the reform of zhanli and the Golden Urn Lottery System, to show the political discourse conveyed by these portraits and how the Tibetan Buddhists perceived and responded to the Emperor's authority.

Key words: Emperor Qianlong, Bodhisattva Manjusri, Golden Urn Lottery System, zhanli, Tibetan Buddhism

摘要：

乾隆年间，清廷曾分别向达赖喇嘛的布达拉宫、班禅额尔德尼的扎什伦布寺赠送了两幅描绘乾隆帝身着佛装、扮演文殊菩萨形象的画像。但在不同的语言文献中，关于这两幅画像于何时、因何事由被送到西藏的问题，竟然出现了完全迥异的记载。本文根据与画像有关的满文档案和藏语文献，梳理乾隆帝画像入藏的经过以及画像与瞻礼、金瓶掣签制度改革的关系，进而分析清廷试图透过画像所传达的政治话语以及藏传佛教世界的成员如何感知、回应皇帝的权威。

关键词: 乾隆帝, 文殊菩萨, 金瓶掣签, 瞻礼, 藏传佛教

HUI Nan. Rituals and Authority: Qianlong's Portraits and the Reform of “zhanli” and the Golden Urn Lottery System[J]. Studies in Qing History.

惠男. 礼仪与权威认知：乾隆帝画像与瞻礼、金瓶掣签制度的改革[J]. 清史研究.

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