Qingjing Huacheng Pagoda in the Huang Monastery built for the 6th Panchen by Emperor Qianlong (partial scenery).

Golden seal bestowed on the 7th Dalai Lama by Qing Dynasty emperor.

After the Zungari invaders were driven out of Tibet, the Qing court established direct administration over Tibet, rather than let various Mongolian leaders of Qinghai continue to rule. Several leaders from among the Tibetan nobility were selected to serve in the position of Galoon, and Khan-chennas was made the first Galoon in charge of Tibetan affairs. However, infighting soon occurred among several Galoons appointed by the Qing court. In 1727, Galoon Nga-phod-pa, Galoon Lum-pa-nas and Galoon Sbyar-ra-nas waged a joint struggle against Khan-chen-nas and Galoon Pho-lha-nas for more power. They killed Khan-chen-nas and sent men to capture Pho-lha-nas, who was in the Xigaze area at that time. On hearing the news, Pho-lha-nas immediately realized that it was a scheme that went against the intentions of the Qing court. So, he took definite measures to mobilize his forces to resist, and sent envoys in haste to the Qing court to seek support. Pho-lha-nas, by joining hands with Gar-xi-nas, local leader of Ngari and the elder brother of Galoon Khan-chen-nas, led picked troops of Ngari and the Xigaze areas to attack Nga-phod-pa. The two sides met and fought in Jamze for over half a year, and in the end, Pho-Iha-nas led his army into Lhasa, capturing Nga-phod-pa and his men with the support of the forces of the Three Monasteries of the Gelug Sect. Then, Pho-lha-nas sent envoys to report this fact to the Qing court. At that time, the troops dispatched by the Qing court had arrived in Lhasa, and after joint verification with their commander, Pho-lha-nas ordered the execution the three rebel Galoons. The Qing court praised the efforts of Pho-lha-nas, who it considered had distinguished himself in suppressing the rebellion, and made him the Beizi Prince and the first Galoon. Later his title was upgraded to Prefecture Prince in charge of government affairs in Tibet. Under Pho-lha-nas, the Qing court appointed Karxiba Neimizhaleiseboten and Ceren Wangye as two Galoons to assist him in handling government affairs, but local power resided in the hands of Pho-Iha-nas. In order to prevent the second invasion of Zungari Mongols and further internal disputes among the ruling class of Tibet, Emperor Yongzheng ordered an escort to take the seventh Dalai Lama to the Huiyuan Temple of Taining in Sichuan to live. The seventh Dalai Lama's father, Soinam Daigye, was given the title of Assistance State Teacher, with the aim of preventing him from interfering in Tibetan affairs. It was from the seventh Dalai Lama that his relatives were granted imperial titles from the central government. In 1735, when the threat from the Zungari Mongols had gradually been eliminated, that Emperor Yongzheng sent General Fushou and State Master Zhangggyia Robidorje to escort the seventh Dalai Lama back to Lhasa. In order to strengthen the administration of Tibet, in 1727, the Qing court established the office of High Commissioner in charge of local government in Tibet, backed by 2,000 Qing troops to be permanently stationed there. Generally, there were two High Commissioners at one time, with one senior than the other, but enabling them to not only consult with each other but allowing them to be interchangeable so that there would always be at least one High Commissioner familiar with Tibetan affairs staying in Tibet. In addition, the Qing court further defined the borders of Tibet, Qinghai, Sichuan and Yunnan, clearly setting out the administrative sphere of Tibet.

Qingjing Huacheng Pagoda located in the Huang Monastery and built specially for the 6th Panchen in Beijing by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty

Gyana Lhakang in the Tashilungpo Monastery.

Pho-lha-nas had done much in Tibet to heal the traumas of war, stabilizing social order, promoting economic development, improving people's living standards and strengthening military power. With the support and guidance of the Qing troops stationed in Tibet, Pho-lha-nas set up the Zhaishi military camp in northern suburbs of Lhasa, drilling by stages Tibetan troops composed of 10,000 cavalry and 15,000 foot soldiers. From then on, Tibet had its own well trained and equipped army, which, combined with the establishment of strong border guard posts, discouraged the Zungari from further incursions. Thus, the security of Tibet's borders was well safeguarded. Pho-lha-nas also took effective measures to put the post stations in order, guaranteeing the timely delivery of official documents. By acting in accordance with the arrangements of Emperor Qianlong, he was well rewarded by the Qing court for his performance. Pho-lha-nas died in 1747 and his son Gyurmed Namugyal succeeded as prince and ruler of Tibet. But, he proved to be arrogant and despotic, acting for his own selfish purposes, throwing Tibet into a new crisis. He killed his elder brother stationed in Ngari, triggered disputes with the Dalai Lama, expressed hostility to the Qing High Commissioners stationed in Tibet, blockaded the delivery of official documents and made efforts to contact the Zungar Mongols for external support. As the Qing troops stationed in Tibet had been dispatched away from there in 1733, Lhasa fell into a dangerous situation. In 1751, High Commissioner Fu Qing and Lhabudain took a preemptive measure to kill Prince Gyurmed Namugyal, but they themselves were murdered by followers of the late prince and their office was ransacked and burned down. In history, it is called the Rebellion of Prince Gyurmed Namugyal. The seventh Dalai Lama immediately appointed Pundit Gong to handle the political affairs of Tibet and capture the murderers of the High Commissioners, bringing Tibet under his control and waiting for the arrival of Qing officers to cope with the situation. Celeng, governor-general of Sichuan, who was sent by the Qing imperial court to Tibet, worked out a 13-Article Ordinance for the More Effective Governing of Tibet after elaborate consultation and investigation. Emperor Qianlong had been alerted to the fact the rebellion by Prince Gyurmed Namugyal was the result of a dictatorship by the nobility with strong military power over vast areas. In order to resolve this hidden trouble, the emperor decided to readjust the local administrative system of Tibet by taking the advantage of suppressing the rebellion. The post of Prince exclusively controlling government affairs of Tibet was rescinded, and the Dalai Lama alone enjoyed religious and administrative rule over Tibet, under whom was the Gaxag Government, which was composed of four Galoons, including one monk and three laymen. From then on, a Buddhist monk was able to serve in the position of Galoon. The four Galoons were equal in rank and they were under the direct leadership of the Dalai Lama and High Commissioners. Galoons met to handle government affairs collectively, and they reported all matters of major concern to the Dalai Lama and the High Commissioners for decision. No one was allowed to handle government affairs arbitrarily. At the same time, Emperor Qianlong strengthened the position of the High Commissioners to supervise and handle local government affairs. The Qing court also put under the control of the High Commissioners the 39 tribes of Northern Tibet and the Damxung areas, formerly ruled by Prince Gyurmed Namugyal.

Statue of the 7th Dalai Lama Gesang Gyamco Kept in the Potala Palace.

In 1757, the seventh Dalai Lama passed away not long after beginning his rule over Tibet. The Qing court sent Hotogtu Zhanggyia to Tibet to locate the reincarnated soul boy. At the same time, Living Buddha Demo was appointed as Prince Regent, ruling over Tibet in the place of the Dalai Lama. From then on, there was a Hotogtu Living Buddha to serve as the Prince Regent between the death of a Dalai Lama and the time when his successor became old enough to take power. This became a set system. Through the efforts of the sixth Panchen, Jambi Gyamco (1758-1804) was confirmed as the reincarnated soul boy of the seventh Dalai Lama. In 1777, Living Buddha Demo passed away and the Qing court appointed Living Buddha Cemolin, then at the Kampus of Yonghe Lama Temple, to serve as the Prince Regent. So the administrative system of Tibet jointly ruled by the Dalai Lama, the High Commissioners, and the Prince Regent began to be established from then on. In 1779, the Qing court invited the sixth Panchen to Beijing. He set out on the receipt of imperial edict and reached Rehe in August of 1780, where he attended the ceremony to celebrate the 70th birthday of Emperor Qianlong. Within two months of arriving in Beijing, however, he fell ill and died in the Huangsi Monastery. The eighth Dalai Lama came to power in 1784. Two years later, State Master Zhanggyia Robidorje passed away and the Qing court ordered Living Buddha Cemolin back to Beijing, appointing Jilong Hotogtu Living Buddha to assist the Dalai Lama in handling government affairs.

Seal of authority bestowed by Qing Dynasty emperor on the 5th Dalai Lama: the Treasure of the Panchen Erdeni.

The year of 1788 saw the invasion of Nepalese Ghurkas in the Xigaze area. Historically, Nepal referred to Yambo (today's Katmandu), Kukule and Yeleng, the three places covering the Katmandu Valley and populated by the Parlebos. Tibetans called the three places Parlebo. In 1768, the Ghurkas, one of main Nepalese tribes, annexed the three tribes of Parlebo when the latter were plagued with internal struggles, and moved the capital to Yangbo. The border of the Xigaze region was close by and the two sides enjoyed close economic relations through trade, despite sometimes witnessing some friction and disputes over small problems in these trading affairs. In 1788, on an excuse of a problem in exchanging money and a higher tax imposed on trade, the Ghurkas dispatched over 3,000 soldiers to occupy Jilong, Nyelamo, Zongkar in the border areas of Xigaze. Upon hearing the news, Emperor Qianlong sent General Erhui of Chengdu, Military Commander of Sichuan, to rush troops to Tibet to fight the invaders. At the same time, Bazhong was also sent to Tibet in the capacity of Imperial Commissioner to meet and consult with General Erhui in handling the aftermath of the event. Before the arrival of Bazhong, Hotogtu Zhongba in Xigaze had made secret terms with the Ghurkas, agreeing to cede territory and pay an indemnity. When Bazhong went to Tibet, he first consulted with General Erhui and then got the Red Cap Living Buddha to send an official denunciation to the Ghurkas, ordering them to give back Jilong, Nyelamo, Zongkar and promise not to invade Tibetan territory in future. On the other hand, Bazhong secretly sent his envoy to sue for peace. The Ghurkas retreated from the occupied Tibetan areas after receiving a written IOU promising that Tibet would pay them 300 gold ingots every year. Bazhong and his allies hid the true situation from the Qing court and reported in succession that they had recovered the occupied territories, thus setting the scene for a further Ghurka invasion. In 1769, the Ghurkas sent a mission to receive the promised money. Bazhong promised to pay, but this was rejected by the Dalai Lama and the Gaxag Government. The Dalai Lama sent an envoy to negotiate with the Ghurkas and gain a retraction of the contract, but the latter angrily rejected the request. When Emperor Qianlong was informed of this, he finally came to understand the falseness of the previous reports from Bazhong. Considering the situation dangerous, Emperor Qianlong sent Living Buddha Cemolin to Tibet to serve as Prince Regent. Unfortunately, he died in March, of 1771, several months after reaching Tibet. The Qing court appointed the eighth Living Buddha Jilong (Gongdelin) as Prince Regent just as the Ghurkas were launching a second war against Tibet claiming a Tibetan breach of contract. Over a period of several days, they occupied Nyelamo, Dingri, Sagya, Jilong and so on. The Red Cap Living Buddha made effort to incite them invaders to ransack the Tashilhungpo Monastery because of a personal grudge against his elder brother Hotogtu Zhongba, as the latter hadn't shared the heritage of the sixth Panchen with him (The Red Cap Living Buddha was half-brother of the sixth Panchen and Hotogtu Zhongba). When High Commissioner Baotai was informed of the situation, he ordered the seventh Panchen be moved to Lhasa to avoid capture. Hotogtu Zhongba fled with large quantities of gold, silver, pearls and jewelry. As diviners had prophesied that it was not a good choice to fight with the invaders, many lamas of Jizhong and the monks of Tashilhungpo Monastery gave up thought of resistance and fled in all directions. Allowing the Ghurkas to ransack the monastery. Only Commander Xu Nanpeng with 80 men held fast to the castle of Xigaze and vigorously resisted the invaders. The Qing court were shocked by the event, while Bazhong plunged into a lake to end his life for his unforgivable crimes. Emperor Qianlong decided to send General Fu Kang'an, Minister Hai Lancha, and the Valiant Commander, leading an army of over 170,000 soldiers composed of Manchu, Han, Mongol, Hui, Daur, Ewenk, Oroqen and other ethnic groups, along three routes to fight the invaders. With the support of the Tibetan people, the Qing troops recovered the lost Tibetan areas in May of 1792 and drove the Ghurkas out of Tibet. In July, the Qing troops fought their way into Nepal to within 10 miles of Katmandu, forcing the Ghurkas king to submit and admit guilt. He released Galoon Danjin Pandrul and other captives, handed over the contract signed with Bazhong, and returned treasures and the gold certificate of appointment to Panchen that had been stolen from Tashilhungpo Monastery. Considering the change in climate, Emperor Qianlong instructed Fu Kangan to accept the Ghurkas submission and allowed the latter to present official document admitting guilt and promising "never to invade Tibet" again, and agree to pay regular tribute to the Qing court. The Ghurka king accepted all the terms and sent envoys to Beijing to present various tributes to the Qing court. In September, General Fu Kang'an and his troops returned victorious from the Sino-Nepalese border.

Portrait of emperor himself bestowed on the 8th Dalai Lama.