Panchen Lama

The Panchen Lama is the second-highest ranking lama in the Geluk sect of Tibetan Buddhism, the sect which historically controlled Tibet. He bears part of the responsibility for finding the incarnation of the Dalai Lama and vice versa. The current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, named Gedhun Choekyi Nyima the 11th reincarnation of the Panchen Lama on May 14, 1995. However, the government of the People's Republic of China has named another child, Gyancain Norbu, as such and the Dalai Lama-named Panchen Lama has gone "missing".

The last Panchen Lama's daughter is Yabshi Pan Rinzinwangmo, better known as "Renji".

See also: History of Tibet