Gongga Laoren (1903-1997)

Fabienne Jagou, Ph.D. with habilitation (1999, École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, Paris) is Senior Associate Professor at the École française d’Extrême-Orient. She has published widely on the modern Sino-Tibetan political and cultural history and is the author of The 9th Panchen Lama (1883-1937): A Life at the Crossroads of Sino-Tibetan Relations, Chiang Mai, Silkworm/EFEO, 2011 and the editor of The hybridity of Buddhism: Contemporary Encounters between Tibetan and Chinese traditions in Taiwan and the Mainland, Paris, EFEO (Coll. “Études thématiques no. 29”), 2018.

Acknowledgments

List of Figures



Introduction



1 Life in China and in Tibet (from 1903 to 1958)

 1 Birth and Early Childhood

 2 Youth and Majority

 3 Heading towards the Bo Gangkar Monastery

 4 From the Bo Gangkar Monastery to Hong Kong



2 Building Religious Legitimacy in Taiwan (from 1958 to 1980)

 1 Arrival in Taipei

 2 Publication of the First Dictated Autobiography

 3 Esoteric Teachings

 4 Retreats

 5 Using the Secret



3 Contribution to the Development of Tibetan Buddhism in Taiwan (from 1980 to 1997)

 1 Vows Taken with the 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rikpé Dorjé

 2 Invitations Extended to Karma Kagyü School’s Reincarnated Masters

 3 Place in the Karma Kagyü School’s International Network

 4 Links with the 14th Dalai Lama



4 Spiritual Heritage

 1 Death and Mummification

 2 Succession

 3 Maintaining Links with the Karma Kagyü School

 4 Continuing Charity Projects



Conclusion



Appendix: Timeline of Gongga Laoren’s Life (1903–1997)

Glossary of Tibetan Names

Bibliography

Index