The Golden Urn Ritual

The Golden Urn Ritual

Lot-drawing from a golden urn is a method used in Tibetan Buddhism to select the reincarnated soul of a deceased grand living Buddha. This method was formally introduced in 1792 under the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Since then, golden urn lot-drawing has become an established tradition and widely practiced religious ritual. An exception is the reincarnation of the Karmapa Chodrak Gyatso, living Buddha of the Kagyu sect, which is determined by his last words. In both cases, the final selection of a reincarnated soul is subject to approval by the central government. In accordance with the Rules Governing the Reincarnation of Tibetan Living Buddhas, the golden urn method has to be applied in the reincarnation of a living Buddha if his own selection as a living Buddha was determined by using this method. Applications to be exempt from such a procedure should be submitted via religious affairs offices at the provincial (or autonomous region) level to the State Administration for Religious Affairs, or in case of an important selection, to the State Council for approval. Ever since the golden urn method was mandated, the selection of reincarnations has always been subject to the supervision by the central government. Only under special circumstances and upon the approval of the central government can the ritual be dispensed with.

金瓶掣签

金瓶掣签是藏传佛教认定大活佛转世灵童的方式，是清王朝乾隆五十七年（1792年）正式设立的制度。按照历史定制和宗教仪轨，藏传佛教大活佛的转世灵童须经金瓶掣签认定并报中央政府批准，唯独噶玛噶举派的活佛噶玛巴例外，其转世灵童主要是由上一世噶玛巴的遗嘱来认定，但仍然必须经过中央政府的批准。《藏传佛教活佛转世管理办法》规定，历史上经金瓶掣签认定的活佛，其转世灵童认定实行金瓶掣签；请求免予金瓶掣签的，由省、自治区人民政府宗教事务部门报国家宗教事务局批准，有特别重大影响的，报国务院批准。金瓶掣签制度形成后，掣签权一直掌握在中央政府手中，少数情况特殊者也须报请中央政府批准后才可免于掣签。