Changkya Hutuktu, ལྕང་སྐྱ་ཧོ་ཐོག་ཐུ། also known as Changkya Living Buddha, is the largest reincarnated Living Buddha of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism in Inner Mongolia during the Qing Dynasty. He is a revered and knowledgeable Buddhist leader who played a significant role in the country’s modern history. After the Revolution of 1911, Seventh Changkya Rinpoche travelled from Inner Mongolia to Beijing to support the republic. He later persuaded Inner Mongolia to maintain national unity and resisted Japanese aggression during the beginning of the Anti-Japanese War, showcasing his noble integrity as a Buddhist leader.
He relocated to Taiwan in 1949 and passed away in Taipei on March 4, 1957, marking the end of the Changkya Living Buddha reincarnation system. The seventh Changkya was a patriotic and devout Buddhist monk who recited mantras daily and was fluent in Chinese, Manchu, Mongolian, and Tibetan.
The origin of Changkya Hutuktu.
Changkya Hutuktu and Jetsundamba Hutuktu are the two prominent Buddhas of Mongolia. They are also among the four eminent leaders of Tibetan Buddhism, along with the Dalai Lama, Panchen Erdeni, and Jebtsundamba Hutuktu. According to legend, the first living Buddha of Changkya was Arhat, who was originally from India. He was reborn in India before his fourth life and in Tibet and Qinghai.
First Changkya Dragpa Öser
Changkya Dragpa Öser was the first Changkya Living Buddha, born in Changkya Village, Qinghai. He excelled in his studies in U-Tsang and was certified by the fifth Dalai Lama. After his passing, the Dalai Lama built a pagoda in his honour. He was also known as the “Changkya Living Buddha” and had his name changed by Kangxi, the founding emperor of the Qing Dynasty.
Second Changkya Ngawang Losang Chöden
Changkya Ngawang Losang Chöden (1642-1715) was born in Daquge Village, Qinghai Province. He showed intelligence from a young age and was recognized as the reincarnated soul boy of the first Changkya Living Buddha by the fourth Panchen Lama. He was given the name Changkya Hutuktu and enthroned at Youning Temple.
In 1652, the 5th Dalai Lama met an 11-year-old boy named Ngawang Losang Chöden during his pilgrimage. The Dalai Lama gave him a minor precept. Ngawang Losang Chöden then studied Tantric classics and worshipped at Youning Temple. At 19, he travelled to Tibet to pay homage and study. At 21, he became a disciple of the fifth Dalai Lama and received middle precepts. At 23, he received great precepts. At 29, he gave a famous lecture in Lhasa, earning fame for his knowledge. He became a renowned lama. At 42, he returned to Youning Temple.
In 1684, the Qing government sent envoys to resolve a conflict in the Khalkha region. They sought the assistance of the fifth Dalai Lama and sent representatives to mediate. The mission was successful, and peace was restored in Khartoum.
In 1687, Emperor Kangxi praised Changkya’s trip to Khalkha and rewarded him. The next year, he invited Changkya to Beijing and placed him in Fayuan Temple. Changkya became the “Great Lama of Zhasak” in 1693 and oversaw Tibetan Buddhism in Inner Mongolia. In 1697, he led the enthronement of the sixth Dalai Lama in Tibet. He was honoured as “Great Master of Enlightening Pushan Guangci Changkya Hutuktu” in 1705 and was in charge of Mongolian banners in Inner Mongolia and Qinghai. The Qing government built Songzhu Temple for Changkya during Kangxi’s reign. In 1713, Kangxi appointed Changkya as the leader of the Yellow Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. On May 26, 1715, Changkya Hutuktu died in Duolun.
Emperor Yongzheng embraced Zen Buddhism from Lama Changkya Hutuktu, valuing a simple life and spiritual growth through tea conversations. He believed in being close to the national teacher. Seeking guidance from Zen monk Jialing’s Xingyin, he experienced enlightenment but had doubts. Changkya confirmed his enlightenment. In 1736, Changkya became Lama Zhasakda and in 1792, his reincarnation was chosen by drawing lots.
Third Changkya Rolpei Dorje
The third Changkya Living Buddha, Rolpei Dorje, born in Gansu in the fifty-sixth year of Kangxi, was confirmed as the reincarnation of the Second Changkya Living Buddha. He was enthroned in Youning Temple but had to face unrest caused by the rebellion in Qinghai when he was six years old.
The Qing army crushed the rebellion, destroying the temple and killing rebel lamas. The young third Changkya Living Buddha was sent to Beijing and underwent similar treatment as his predecessor. Under Emperor Yongzheng’s fourth son, Hongli, he studied different languages and Tibetan classics, solidifying a bond between Emperor Yongzheng and Emperor Qianlong that lasted for sixty years.
In 1734, during Yongzheng’s reign, the Qing government bestowed the title “Great Master of Enlightenment, Universal Compassion, and Compassion” upon the third Changkya. They also gave him a silver and a gold seal. Later that year, Prince Heshuo Yunli joined him on a visit to the Seventh Dalai Lama at Huiyuan Temple in Taining, Sichuan Province. He returned to Tibet in March of the next year.
During Emperor Qianlong’s reign, Prince Yong moved to the Grand Lama Temple. Four colleges were established to restore Miaoying Temple, Zifuyuan, Zhengjue Temple, Gongde Temple, Re He Potala, and nine other monasteries. Prince Heng received the Panchen Lama in Beijing. Emperor Qianlong built Shanyin Temple beside Huizong Temple in Duolun. Lama Temple, Huizong Temple, and Shanyin Temple became residences for Mongolian lamas to live and recite scriptures.
After the seventh Dalai Lama’s death, the third Changkya managed the aftermath. He spent two years in Tibet before returning to Beijing. During this time, he invited the Tibetan school Khenpos to serve in various locations. He also acted as the representative of the Liaison Office in Tibet. By imperial decree, he compiled the “Imperial Tongwen Yuntong.” The third Changkya had a great influence on politics, religion, and culture, and his work still captivates future generations.
Besides the translations of Tripitaka “Tengyur” and “Kangyur,” other important texts include “Biography of the Seventh Dalai Lama,” “Wutai Mountain Chronicles,” “On The Establishment of Sects: Sumeru,” and “Tibetan Orthography·The Origin of the Wise.” Additional resources like the “Mongolian-Tibetan Hebi Dictionary,” “Lama Statue Collection,” “Buddhist Calendar,” and several other scriptures are compiled and hold immense reference value for the study of Buddhist history.
In the biography of Changkya Guoshi Ruopei Dorje, it is mentioned that when he accompanied Emperor Qianlong on a pilgrimage to Mount Wutai, he fell in love with the Brahma Palace and requested to stay there every summer. Changkya resided in various caves and later built a Zen temple called “Puleyuan”. Emperor Qianlong deeply respected Changkya and would give him valuable property every year during teachings or on his birthday.
Emperor Qianlong sent the Minister to Songzhu Temple on his birthday. In 1786, he went to Mount Wutai with the third Living Buddha Changkya. Changkya was ill but still saw him off.
After his 70th birthday celebration, the third Changkya Guoshi wanted to go back west. He had a prayer ceremony in Wutai Mountain and wrote his final words, saying he wanted to be cremated and placed in a copper tower at Zhenhai Temple. On April 2nd, his cremation happened quietly. Emperor Qianlong was sad but believed Changkya would be reborn. To honour him, the emperor gave silver made statues, and chanted scriptures in the palace.
Fourth Changkya Yéshé Tenpé Gyeltsen
The fourth Changkya Yéshé Tenpé Gyeltsen was born on May 18 in Zaratong, Gansu. He was recognized as the reincarnation of the third Changkya Living Buddha at a young age. At 8 years old, he travelled to Chengde to worship Emperor Qianlong.
Emperor Qianlong welcomed him to the Summer Resort and expressed his sadness over the past. He compared it to a mother losing a child and said he was happy that he had been reincarnated. The Fourth Living Buddha Changkya stayed by his side for a year and then returned to his temple to study. When he learned of Emperor Qianlong’s death, he quickly travelled to Beijing to pay his respects to the new Emperor Jiaqing.
At 14, he went to Tibet to study with the Eighth Dalai Lama. He later returned to Beijing for three years. He visited Inner Mongolia, Chahar, and Rehe for Tibetan Buddhist affairs. He also made four trips to the Mongolian banners and established Guangji Temple in Qinghai. In 1834, he was honoured with the golden seal of the Great Master, and in 1840, he received the gold-topped yellow sedan chair.
In 1846, he died at Youning Temple at 59 and his remains were taken to Zhenhai Temple in Wutai Mountain.
Fifth Changkya Yéshé Tenpé Nyima
The fifth Changkya Yéshé Tenpé Nyima was born in Zaratong, Gansu. His father was Tonglabo and his mother was Manchao. On December 17, 1850, he was chosen through a lottery at the Lama Temple and approved by Emperor Daoguang. Received precept at 4, became emperor in 1858, encouraged to study and support yellow religion. He studied in Tibet for 2 years, served in Lama Printing Office, and toured Mongolian Banner.
In May 1859, he went to Duolun and lived in Huizong Temple. Princes and nobles from the 49 Banners of Inner Mongolia and the 57 Banners of Outer Mongolia gathered in Duolun to hold a grand celebration for him and welcome him back to Duolun. In the first month of 1860 (the tenth year of Xianfeng), he went to Gaoli Temple in Gansu.
The Fifth Living Buddha Changkya mourned and met Emperor Tongzhi in Beijing after learning of Xianfeng’s death. He studied Buddhist scriptures in Qinghai and received honours from Tongzhi. His father was titled Duke and he returned to Beijing, but died at 26 in Tianning Temple. His relic was sent to Zhenhai Temple.
Sixth Changkya Lozang Tendzin Gyeltsen
The Sixth Changkya Lozang Tendzin Gyeltsen was born in Duolongji, near Xining in 1878. In 1881, Guangxu ordered the search for the reincarnated soul boy. In 1882, he was selected by lottery and approved by Emperor Dezong to learn the classics from a local teacher. He received precepts at the ages of six and seven.
In 1886, he met with Dezong and Empress Dowager Cixi and gave them treasures and supplies as usual. In 1887, he went to Duolun and then to Mount Wutai to worship Buddha. In 1888, he moved from Mount Wutai to Duolun. In July, representatives from Outer Mongolia and Inner Mongolia, including 3 living Buddhas and believers, attended a grand ceremony. On September 7 of the same year, he passed away at the age of 10 in Duolun Shanyin Temple and his relic was kept in Zhenhai Temple in Wutai Mountain.
Seventh Changkya Lobzang Penden Tenpé Drönmé
The seventh Changkya Lozang Penden Tenpé Drönmé, born in 1890, became the seventh Changkya Hutuktu after being summoned by Emperor Guangxu at the age of 8.
Huang Yu was honoured with a golden seal and became the Grand Lama of Zasak the following year. In Qing Dynasty, Inner Mongolia was divided into 49 banners, each led by a Zasak. Zasak held authority over military, administrative, and judicial matters, and also oversaw vassal courts, generals, and capitals. Huang Yu was instructed to remain in Beijing and inherit all his previous titles.
Changkya Rinpoche have many believers in Inner Mongolia and Qinghai. He oversees over 300 temples in Mongolian Banner and has temples in Tibet, Inner Mongolia, and other places. He has hundreds of thousands of lamas as his disciples. Master Changkya’s annual patrols in Mongolian Banner attract tens of thousands of people who pay homage to him daily. His visits become the centre of Mongolian people’s beliefs.
In 1901, he visited Wutai Mountain and stayed at Xizhenhai Temple. He worshipped at different temples and chanted scriptures. Later that summer, he went to Duolun and stayed at Xihuizong Temple. As the Grand Lama of Zhasak, he assessed the state of Tibetan Buddhism in Inner Mongolia, just as he had done in his previous life.
In September 1904, he returned to Beijing from Inner Mongolia. The Qing government ordered him to manage Tibetan Buddhism in the capital and Inner Mongolia according to previous practices, and awarded him the seal and imperial edict of “Encouraging Universal Kindness, Guangci, and Great National Teacher”. In the following year, Emperor Dezong bestowed mink fur mattresses and nine dragon umbrellas. In 1911 (the third year of Xuantong), the seventh Changkya went to Wutai Mountain to live in Zhenhai Temple, where he sat in meditation and chanted sutras.
In 1912, the Qing emperor resigned, and the Republic of China was formed. Changkya returned to Beijing, backed the new government, and sponsored republican endeavours. Changkya was honoured by the President with the title “Hongji Guangming Great Master” and a salary raise. His family and teacher were also recognized with titles and prizes.
In January 1916, “Zhaoyin Chanhua” became the “Senior Advisor to the President” with added titles such as “Enabling Universal Kindness” and “Support of the Yellow Sect Master”. He received a golden book, an annual salary of 1,000 yuan, and was assigned a cavalry guard by the army.
