The title of Dalai Lama has a history of more than 400 years in Tibet. The title’s Insight has connected with the history and politics of Tibet closely. As a result from Tibet Research Institude Center, The words Dalai Lama is not from original Tibetan language, like many Chinese words, it’s from foreign language. The force of Mongolian withdrew from "Middle Kingdom" and turn to west in Yuan Dynasty. They accupy a large piece of land in middle Asia and Qinghai, Xinjiang area as well where they set up local government. In the end of Ming and beginning of Qing Dynasty, Tumete from Mongolia controlled the Qinghai area. The head lama from Gelukpa(Yellow sector of Lamaism), Sonajatso have preached Lamaism in Qinghai and Mongolian area in 1578 (The 6th year of Wanli in Ming Dynasty). He was the 4th living Buddha of Gelukpa which was founded by Tsongkhapa. The reincarnation of Gelukpa living Buddha started from Sonajatso. The great disciple of Tsongkhapa, Dgevdunvgrub-the first Dalailama was the abbot of Drepung, the largest monastery of three Gelukpa lamaism in Lhasa. After nirvana of Dgevdunvgrub, Gedun Gyatso was the successon according to the will of Tsongkhapa. Then the lamas from upper level of Gelukpa decided to start the reincarnation system of Gelukpa living Buddha. So Sonajatso was only 3 when he was greeted to Drepung monastery. And he was the first living Buddha of reincarnation. When Sonajatso preached Lamaism in Qinghai and Mongolian area, he met Altankhan, the headman of Tumote Mongolian race at the side of Qinghai Lake. Altankhan granted Sonajatso the tittle of Dalai Lama which means the great master with the knowledge like a broad sea who has achieved greatly in both the esoteric and exoteric Buddhism. This was the personal grant between representatives of Tibetan and Mongolian without any special meaning in law and politics. Altankhan was the King of Shunyi-feudatory by Ming Dynasty. So Sonajatso advised Altankhan for feudatory from Ming Dynasty. Sonajatso himself also wrote to Prime minister of Ming Dynasty- Zhang Jvzheng for feudatory from Dynasty. Not long before, Sonajatso got granted of the tittle of Dalai by the emperor from Ming Dynasty. In 1587, this tittle was admitted by Ming Dynasty and an envoy was sent for feudatory. So Sonajatso was the first to get the tittle-the third Dalai Lama.
The first Dgevdunvgrub the disciple of Tsongkhapa and the second Gedun Gyatso Dalai Lama were admitted. In 1653, (10 year of Shunzhi Qing Dynasty) the fifth Dalai Lama was invited to Beijing by Shunzhi emperor who officially granted him the tittle of fifth Dalai Lama like Altankhan granting the third Dalai lama. And granted him the golden certificate and the golden seal written with Han, Mang and Tibetan the three language. From now on, the tittle of Dalai Lama has had the meaning of politics and law. In 1751, in order to rule Tibet better, the 7th Dalai Lama was granted to be the top leader in religion and politics by the government of Qing Dynasty starting the integration of religion and politics-theocratic system. Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama were the two great disciples of Tsongkhapa - the founder of Gelukpa of lamaism. They both have the special system of living Buddha of reincarnation. Till now, the 14th Dalai Lama and 11th Panchen Lama are still alive now. In the procedure in reincarnation, they may find more than one soul boys. So in order to avoid conflicts and trouble, in 1792,(15th year of Qianlong Qing Dynasty) the emperor of Qianlong granted two golden vasts for selection of Dalai Lama by lot. One was in Yonghe Monastery Beijing and another was in Jongkhang monastery Lhasa. Any names of finding soul boys in living Buddha reincarnations of lamaism from Tibet and Mongolia registered in court of colonial affairs,like Changcha hutukhtu, Rjebtsundampa, Dalai, Panchen would be written on the sticks of ivory. And put them into the golden vast and select the real soul boy by lot and the procedure would be supervised by the head man of the court of colonial affairs and minister of Tibetan station. After the ceremony of sitting in power, the selected soul boy would be the living Buddha of reincarnation officially. If only one soul boy was found, he would be reported to center government by the minister of Tibetan station. And he would be granted to be the living Buddha directly without selection by lot. The 14th Dalai Lama was granted by Chairman of the government of Republic China.

There have been 14 recognized reincarnations of the Dalai Lama:

Name Picture Lifespan Recognized Reign Tibetan/Wylie PRC transcription (Chinese transcription) Alternative spellings

1st Gendun Drup 1391–1474	2nd Gendun Gyatso 1475–154
3rd Sonam Gyatso 1543–1588	4th Yonten Gyatso 1589–1616
5th Lobsang Gyatso 1617–1682	6th Tsangyang Gyatso 1683–1706
7th Kelzang Gyatso 1708–1757	8th Jamphel Gyatso 1758–1804
9th Lungtok Gyatso 1806–1815	10th Tsultrim Gyatso 1816–1837
11th Khendrup Gyatso 1838–1856	12th Trinley Gyatso 1857–1875
13th Thubten Gyatso 1876–1933	14th Tenzin Gyatso 1935 Dainzin Gyaco He is a Nobel Prize winner