Gyaincain Norbu was born on 13 February 1990 in
Lhari County in northern
Tibet Autonomous Region. He had been living in Beijing during his early childhood to be educated in a Chinese way, and travelled to
Tashilhunpo Monastery for his enthronement in November/December 1995, in
Shigatse, the official seat of the Panchen Lamas. Since his selection by the Chinese government as the Panchen Lama he has studied
Tibetan Buddhism; One Western press outlet reported a cold reception among delegates, with fellow Buddhists making no attempt to greet Gyaltsen Norbu during greeting ceremonies ahead of the conference on Wednesday.
Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama had not been invited, because he is viewed by China as "a long-time stubborn
secessionist who has tried to split his Chinese motherland and break the unity among different ethnic groups." China sees him as "the public face of Tibetan Buddhism". Later that month, at 20 years old, Norbu became the youngest member He was not, however, made vice chairman of the CPPCC, as
Choekyi Gyaltsen, 10th Panchen Lama was and was widely expected of Norbu. Still, the
Tibetan government in exile expressed concern that his appointment could prejudice his position on the next
Dalai Lama, who normally requires approval from the Panchen Lama. In May 2010, he reported to the ethnically Tibetan earthquake zone of the
2010 Yushu earthquake and held prayer services for victims. In June, he gave speeches at
Tibet University and
Tibet University of Traditional Tibetan Medicine in
Lhasa promoting the value of education. In response to the
2010 Gansu mudslide, in which
Zhugqu County, a third of which is populated by Tibetans, was hit, he donated ¥50,000 to relief efforts and prayed for the victims. He pays visits to the Tashilhunpo Monastery, the traditional seat of the
Panchen Lama, although he does not live there. The
Asia Times describes him as "A slight man who wears thick glasses and traditional crimson robes".
Selection Following the death of the
Choekyi Gyaltsen, 10th Panchen Lama in 1989, both the Tibetan government in exile and the Chinese government started parallel processes in the six-year-long search for the 11th Panchen Lama. they arrested Chadrel in May 1995. The Dalai Lama moved to pre-empt China's choice, and proclaimed his own preferred candidate,
Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, as the 11th incarnation of the Panchen Lama. Four days later, Chinese security forces escorted him from his home in Lhari County, stating that he "was at risk of being kidnapped by
Tibetan separatists". China rejects Nyima as being "arbitrarily" chosen, while the Tibetan government in exile similarly insists on its candidate's legitimacy. Chadrel was replaced on the search committee by
Sengchen Lobsang Gyaltsen. The new committee decided to choose the Panchen Lama from a list of finalists by drawing lots from a
Golden Urn. The Chinese custom of using the Golden Urn had been introduced in the year 1792 by the
Qianlong Emperor and used to select the
10th,
11th, and
12th Dalai Lamas. Six-year-old Gyaincain Norbu was selected on 8 December 1995 with the religious name Qoigyijabu. Exiled Tibetan
abbot Arjia Rinpoche alleges that
Ye Xiaowen, the central government official in charge of the Panchen Lama issue, stated privately that the selection had been rigged in favor of Gyaincain Norbu. Gyaincain Norbu was enthroned at Tashilhunpo Monastery and has since assumed the full functions of Panchen Lama. In attendance at the enthronement was the
8th Arjia Rinpoche, who in his book says, "We had to prostrate to the so-called Panchen Lama...we had neither the respect for nor faith in this chosen child... I felt soiled by this gesture." ==Diplomatic meetings==