“The Bronze Tripod” of Qing Power in Tibet and the position of the 5th Panchen Lama

Chinese historiography, concerning the period of Qing administration’s strengthening in the Tibetan region, shows the concept 三足鼎立 (sānzú dĭnglì), which literally means “to establish a bronze tripod” or figuratively “tripartite balance of power”. The Panchen Lama incarnation lineage become one of the three pillars of Qing power in Tibet by the middle of the XVIII century. The 5th Panchen Lama Lobsang Yeshe got many privileges from Kangxi and Yongzheng emperors, was invited to Beijing and even considered to be the regent for the Dalai Lama VII. Lobsang Yeshe played a mediating role in a number of internal and external conflicts, recognized the incarnations of the three Dalai Lamas, enhance the government in Tashilhunpo, and generally played a prominent role in the history of Tibeto-Qing relations.