Thubten Gyatso (or Thupten Gyatso) (February 12th 1876 - December 17th 1933) (Wylie: Thub-bstan rgya-mtsho, Tibetan: ཐུབ ་ བསྟན ་ རྒྱ ་ མཚོ ་) is the 13th Dalaï Lama.

The 13th Dalaï Lama, Thupten Gyatso, were born the year from the Bird of Fire, 1876, in Thakpo Langdun in the south of the Tibet of Kunga Rinchen and Lobsang Dolma, a country couple. In 1878, it was recognized like the reincarnation of the the 12th Dalaï Lama according to the predictions of oracles of the state of Tibet and the signs auspicieux which marked its birth. He was escorted with Lhassa where it was ordered monk by the 8th Panchen LAMA, Tenpai Wangchuk, and it to him was given the name of Ngawang Lobsang Thupten Gyatso Jigdral Chokley Namgyal. In 1879, the 13th Dalaï Lama was established with the Palate of the Potala.

The August 8th 1895, at the 18 years age, it received the political power and was launched in the international big game between Russia Tsariste and British India on the fringes of their empires in expension. At one time when the fight for supremacy in Central Asia, between the great powers (Russian, British and Chinese), was with its paroxysm, the 13th dalaï LAMA, which had survived an attempted murder, appeared a politician except par. It crossed the British invasion of Tibet in 1904 and the Chinese invasion of its country in 1909 and survived the two experiments, by seeing its increased authority in an important way.

In 1909, when information filtered that Chao er-feng, a Chinese General, was with the doors of Lhassa, the 13th Dalaï Lama and official the most important fled of Lhassa in direction of the India. The group crossed Dromo and passed the collar of Jelep it, which separates Tibet from the Sikkim.

In 1911, the Dynasty Manchu was reversed and the Tibetans seized this occasion to expel the remaining forces Mandchous in Tibet. Dalaï Lama is turned over to Tibet and exerted an political authority which had not been seen since the reign of the the 5th Dalaï Lama. In addition to endeavouring to modernize Tibet, Dalaï Lama also tried to eliminate some from the most oppressive characteristics of the monastic system Tibetan. During her exile in India, Dalaï Lama was fascinated by the modern world and it introduced the first currencies and coins in Tibet. In 1913, it established the first post office in Tibet and it also sent 4 young Tibetans in England to study engineering. The January 8th 1913, it made a public statement on the five points of independence Tibetan and it composed the National anthem current Tibetan. The February 14th 1913, the 13th Dalaï Lama publishes a proclamation reaffirming the independence of the Tibet. The Chinese troops and official authorities had been expelled of Tibet in 1912 following the invasion of 1908 by the emperor Mandchou.

One owes him of deep reforms, in particular of the modifications of the administrative structures. One owes him also the creation of the Drapeau Tibetan in 1912 starting from the various flags of the frontier armies.

In 1914, it reinforced the military forces Tibetans by organizing a special drive for the army Tibetan. In 1916, it chose several monks young and intelligent various monasteries to preserve the specific Médecine traditional Tibetan and it established the well-known Institut of medicine and astrology Tibetan today under the name of Men-Tsee-Khang. In 1923, it established a principal seat of police force in Lhassa for safety and the wellbeing of the people Tibetan and the same year, it also established the first English school with Gyantse which to close in 1926 because of the opposition of the monasteries. He died in 1933 at the 58 years age.

Before its death, in a harmonious mixture of religion and policy, it emitted this prediction:

It could be that here, in the center of Tibet, the religion and the secular administration would be tackled at the same time outside and interior. Unless one can keep our own country, it will arrive whereas Dalaï and Panchen Lamas will be broken and will remain without name. With regard to the monasteries, the monks and the nuns, their grounds and other properties will be destroyed. The ancestral administrative habits (developed by the three large kings of Dharma (Tri Songtsen Gampo, Trisong Detsen and Tri Ralpachen) will be weakened. The civils servant of the religious and secular State, will see themselves seized of their grounds and their other possessions. And, themselves will have to serve their enemies, or to wander in the country like beggars. All the beings will be plunged in great difficulties, the days and the nights will sink slowly in the sufferings. Do not be traitors with respect to the religious community or of the State by working for another country only yours. Tibet is happy, and in comfort now. The situation is between your mains.

See too

• Tibet
• Dalaï Lama
• Panchen LAMA

External bonds

• Thupten Gyatso