The picture shows Huang Musong, deputy head of the General Staff Headquarters of the National Government and envoy of the 13th Dalai Lama who went to Tibet to pay homage to the 13th Dalai Lama (courtesy of Hi Rao Nyima)
At the end of 1933, the 13th Dalai Lama in Tibet passed away. Since the Qing Dynasty, the Dalai Lama has passed away, and all localities in Tibet have needed to report to the central government in a timely manner. On December 20, 1933, the Tibetan Kashag telegraphed the news of the death of the 13th Dalai Lama to the beijing representative, requesting that it be immediately reported to the Central Committee.
In his early years, the 13th Dalai Lama led the Tibetan monks and laypeople to persist in the struggle against the British and did his best to safeguard the unity and territorial integrity of the motherland; although he was threatened and tempted by British imperialism, he did some things that made his relatives and enemies happy, but he never betrayed the motherland; in particular, in his later years, he woke up in time, "devoted himself to introversion," and made contributions to improving the relations between the Localities in Tibet and the central government. Looking at what he has done in his lifetime, he is still a masterpiece of a generation.
Upon learning of this news, the Executive Yuan of the National Government attached great importance to it, that is, it proceeded to the matter of commendation in accordance with the customs of the Qing Dynasty. Chiang Kai-shek, Lin Sen, and other important government officials called the Kashag to express their deep condolences. The Nationalist government "remembered his years, preached Buddhism, and guaranteed the merits of the Western Province" and named him "the Master of Protecting the Country and Promoting Puci Yuanjue".
On January 12, 1934, in order to better publicize its policy toward Tibet, the central government, starting with emotional contacts and investigations into Tibet affairs, specially dispatched Huang Musong, then deputy chief of the General Staff Headquarters and director of the Border Affairs Group, as "a special envoy to the Dalai Lama, the master of the Puci Yuanjue."
Since the Xinhai Dynasty, due to the obstruction of British imperialism, the chief of the office in Tibet and other central representatives have not succeeded in entering Tibet. In 1919 and 1930, although Zhu Xiu, Gong Juezhongni, Liu Manqing, and others successively entered Tibet on behalf of the central government, it was still difficult to negotiate the cases that had been outstanding in previous years. The entry of a large member of the Central Committee into Tibet this time is naturally of great significance. Huang Musong, who paid tribute to the 13th Dalai Lama, entered Tibet this time and has the unshirkable mission of directly exchanging views with the Local Government of Tibet on how to resolve the Tibet issue. However, the monks and lay officials of the local government of Tibet, headed by the Fifth Rezhen Living Buddha, were also very eager to deepen relations with the central government under the circumstances of the Dalai Lama's death and unstable situation, so they expressed unprecedented enthusiasm for Huang Musong's entry into Tibet.
On 26 April, Envoy Huang Musong, Liu Puchen, Senator Chen Jingxiu, Lin Donghai, and others, as well as two groups of radio stations and photographers, left Nanjing and traveled to Tibet via the Chuankang area in order to learn about the Tibetan settlement areas and the disputes between Kang and Tibet along the way. Jiang Zhiyu, Wu Mingyuan, secretary Wang Liangkun, and others entered Tibet first through the sea route. Huang Musong and his party traveled through Kurama Lawton, Sichuan, and finally arrived in Lhasa on August 28.
Officials sent by the local government of Tibet greeted Kazong in advance at the Mozhu Gong Kazong, and a solemn welcoming ceremony was held outside Lhasa in accordance with the specifications of greeting the Qing Dynasty minister in Tibet. Officials of more than five pins, including Kalon Langxiong and Peng Xue, wore dresses, dressed neatly, and waited according to the rank of official, and the Tibetan army paraded military music and marched in salute. The people of Lhasa poured out of the city, and the welcoming crowd actually made the way "blocked".
Pictured here is Huang Musong (right) and the Tibetan local regent V Rezhen Living Buddha in Lhasa (courtesy of Hi Rao Nyima)
After Huang Musong stayed at the Jide compound on the south side of Bakor Street, several Kalons of the Kashag immediately went to visit. They expressed their heartfelt thanks to the central representatives for their arrival and asked the central government chiefs to be well. Huang Musong expressed satisfaction with the warm reception received by the local government of Tibet and explained in detail the purpose of his visit to Tibet and the central government's policy toward Tibet. The Kalons were overjoyed. According to the custom of the Qing Dynasty, Huang Musong, a servant of the wind and dust, went to the Jokhang Temple in the evening of the same day. The next day, after arriving at the Potala Palace, he held sincere talks with the Fifth Rezhen Living Buddha. After that, he went to Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, and Ganden Monastery to make pilgrimages. During this period, Huang Musong and his entourage had extensive contacts with the upper echelons of Tibetan monks and laymen, proclaimed the Republic of China's ideas on the "republic of the five ethnic groups", and presented gifts to them, and the atmosphere was very harmonious. This has led to a certain change in some people who are confused or even hostile to the situation in the hinterland, and have laid a good foundation for the work to be carried out in the future. At the same time, the Anglo-Indian government was very angry that the Chinese central government had sent personnel into Tibet, and sent White and others to Lhasa to monitor and do everything in their power to destroy it.
Pictured is Li Dan, member of the Control Yuan of the National Government and president of the Qinghai Tibetan Language Research Society (courtesy of Hi Rao Nyima)
At the same time that Huang Musong's special envoy was stationed in Tibet, the central government also sent Li Dan, a member of the Control Yuan and president of the Qinghai Tibetan Language Research Society, to lead the "Qinghai Tour Group" to Tibet to cooperate with the activities of Huang Musong and others in Tibet. On September 20, more than 30 members of the regiment arrived in Lhasa.
One of the main tasks of Huang Musong's trip was to canonize the 13th Dalai Lama in order to show the central government "the will of the wise men of the distant future." However, the local government of Tibet believes that the canonization is a great joy and should not be held during the funeral of the 13th Dalai Lama, hoping to postpone it until after the reincarnation of the 14th Dalai Lama. Huang Musong solemnly proposed to the Kashag that the central government sent personnel to Tibet in recognition of the merits of the 13th Dalai Lama, and that if the canonization ceremony was not held first, it would not only violate the original intention of the central authorities to send personnel into Tibet, but would also affect the Great Cause of the Dalai Lama in safeguarding the Western Region and maintaining local politics and religion in Tibet. In fact, at the behest of the Kashag, a small number of people at that time, under the direction of the British, wanted to first negotiate with the central representatives on the Tibet issue to come up with an opinion favorable to them, and then act on the opportunity, otherwise they refused to add the ceremony. Huang Musong and others saw through this conspiracy, and by making friends and explaining their sincerity in entering the Tibetan register and offering sacrifices, they won the approval of the local government of Tibet and the monks of the three major monasteries.
At 8:00 a.m. on September 23, the canonization ceremony of the 13th Dalai Lama was held in the main hall of the Potala Palace. Huang Musong led all the officials of the special envoy office to go wearing the dress prescribed by the central government. The local government of Tibet sent officials and Tibetan troops to greet them. Hundreds of monks and lay officials below the local government of Tibet gathered at the Potala Palace in the latest Tibetan dresses. At 9 o'clock, the canonization ceremony began, and the seal was received by Kichiak Khenpo, "the whole hall was silent and the etiquette was solemn", and ended at 11:30. On the same day, Nanjing Municipality and various central organs also raised flags to pay tribute. The successful conclusion of the canonization ceremony shows that the local government of Tibet is very supportive of the central government's canonization, and also fully shows that the central government's decision to send a large number of officials to Tibet is correct.
This was followed by the offering of sacrifices, which the local government of Tibet attached great importance to, considering it to be an extraordinary ceremony. Therefore, according to traditional customs, auspicious days were repeatedly chosen, and finally decided to be held at the Potala Palace on October 1. On this day, the ceremony to pay homage to the 13th Dalai Lama was solemnly held. At this point, Huang Musong's mission to Tibet has been completely completed in form.
During his stay in Lhasa, Huang Musong had many discussions with the Kashag. The Kashag said that "Tibet abroad is China's territory," but still insisted on some specific issues. For example, it was proposed that the central government should not garrison troops in Tibet; it was promptly resolved the remaining problems in the Dispute between Kang and Tibet, and that the counties of Derge and Zhanhua (present-day Xinlong County, Sichuan Province) on the east bank of the Jinhe River should be handed over to the local administration of Tibet. Because many problems could not be solved overnight, and because Tibet had entered October, fearing that the mountains would be closed by heavy snow and transportation would be inconvenient, Huang Musong would prepare to return to Beijing after he sent a telegram to the central authorities for approval.
Huang Musong met frankly with the Lhasa authorities this time, which was very popular with The Tibetan officials and people. On November 9, Zhu Kalunqi went to the special envoy station to keep Huang Musong and others for a few more days to discuss the Tibet issue. Huang Musong once again reiterated that Tibet is China's territory and must be consistent with the outside world. Internally, Tibet's local autonomy is allowed, and the current system in Tibet is not changed, but the appointment and dismissal of foreign affairs, national defense, communications, and important officials must be handled by the central authorities as a whole. Tibet may send personnel to Nanjing, and at the same time explain that the central authorities should naturally send personnel to Tibet to carry out state administration and supervise local autonomy on behalf of the central authorities. The Kashag submitted this comment to a meeting of monks and lay officials for discussion and sent a reply letter on November 16. Letter "There is considerable understanding of territorial sovereignty,...... A slightly gentle attitude may lead to peaceful negotiations, but it is not possible in a short period of time." Therefore, Huang Musong and his party obeyed the orders of the central authorities, and despite the Kashag's repeated retention, decided to leave Tibet.
On November 25, Huang Musong and others first went to the Potala Palace to "Chaoshan", and then met with the Regent V Rezhen Living Buddha and Syllen Lang Dun Gongga Wangqiu to resign, and informed that Liu Puchen, the general counselor of the Special Envoy Office, and Jiang Zhiyu, were in Tibet, and that "all matters can be replaced by Liu General Counselor Chen." The Fifth Rezhen Living Buddha was very satisfied with the presence of the central envoys stationed in Tibet. He had worried that the departure of the senior officials from Tibet would cause the Tibetan people to be dissatisfied with the Kashag, and the presence of Liu Puchen, the current General Counselor, could ease people's hearts and maintain contacts. When talking about the Ninth Panchen Lama, who was preparing to return to Tibet in the interior, Huang Musong pointed out that the Panchen Lama could not take the sea route, and as for the number of guards, it could be reduced, and the local government of Tibet should earnestly ensure safety through Qinghai and Xikang, and must "do everything as usual" and "do our best to give preferential treatment." The Fifth Rezhen Living Buddha and Syllen Langdun Gongga Wangqiu "salty and agreed to the responsibility of protection", and later Kalon and others also agreed.
On November 28, 1934, the central government sent a special envoy, Huang Musong, and his party to leave Lhasa and return to Nanjing from India, and the Kashag held a grand farewell ceremony in the western suburbs of Lhasa. The second group left Lhasa on December 6. In Tibet in March, Huang Musong completed the canonization, sacrifice, and many meetings with the Tibetan localities, although the progress was not great, but it also had certain results, just as Gong Juezhongni, director of the Tibet Office in Beijing, said: "With the intention of the central authorities for Tibet's dear love, it is deep and thick, and the comfort is inexplicable." Huang Musong obeyed the opportunity given by the high-level officials, did not withdraw the special envoy office, and left Liu Puchen and Jiang Zhiyu Changchuan in Tibet, which is the predecessor of the Mongolian and Tibetan Committee's office in Tibet, thus breaking the relatively closed situation with the Tibetan region since Xinhai and communicating their direct ties with the central authorities, which is of great significance. (China Tibet Network Special Writer / Hi Rao Nyima)