Panchen Lama’s Hat

(click image to enlarge)

(Item from: http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=3969961)

This is the 4th Panchen Lama’s hat that is currently on auction at the Rockefeller Plaza in New York. One of my students found this on the Internet. What’s interesting about it is that if you take a look at the “Pre Lot Text” (i.e. the owner of the item on auction) it is Princess Dewa Nimbo… my mother!

Christies (the auction house) dates this hat back to the 17th century, which is during the time of the 4th Panchen Lama, Lobsang Choekyi Gyaltsen, who lived from 1567 – 1662. The hat is described as “Yellow wool cloth and yellow silk lining, the edges with orange silk borders”.

In fact, the incarnation line of the Panchen Lamas dates back to one of the main disciples of Lama Tsongkhapa himself. His name was Khedrup Gelek Pelzang (or Khedrup Je), and he was Tsongkhapa’s foremost disciple. Considered a reincarnation of Manjushri, his later incarnation, the 4th Panchen Lama, was also the main tutor of the 5th Dalai Lama and has written many important texts…many of which are still used today.

How did this sacred item came into my family’s possession? In 1932, my grandfather, Prince Mingyur traveled with a large entourage from Mongolia to Tibet. They brought with them rich tributes of gold as they were going to pay homage to the 13th Dalai Lama. In return, the 13th Dalai Lama presented them with the Panchen Lama’s hat. It has a label of authentication which bears the innermost seal of the “Panchen Rinpoche of Tashilhunpo”.

The two pieces of paper that is included as part of this lot is a passport that grants free passage to Prince Mingyur for his visit to Tibet. It includes his entourage of up to 25 people, the duration of their travel, how many animals (8 camels and 64 horses!), and even the military checkpoints they stopped at during their journey.

What an interesting find! I’m happy to know that my family has made very strong connections with such holy beings.

Tsem Tulku

This is my maternal grandfather, Prince Mingyur Wang. His father is my great-grandfather, Prince Palta Wang.

Prince Palta wanted his four children to receive both an Oriental and a Western education. In 1915, at his request, Tsar Nicholas II granted his eldest son, Mingyur Wang, admission to the Russian officers’ school for the nobility in St. Petersburg. Returning to Beijing three years later, he dedicated himself to increasing the well-being of his people together with his wife, my grandmother, Queen Dechen.

This is my mother, daughter of Prince Mingyur and Queen Dechen Minh, Princess Dewa Nimbo.

(click to enlarge)

4th Panchen Lama, Lobsang Chokyi Gyeltsen