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Since the 1980s, the Central Government and all the provinces and municipalities directly under the Central Government have been providing aid to Tibet. The projects for aiding Tibet have achieved great success, playing the great role to modern economic construction on the plateau.
1. “43 Aid Projects”
“43 Aid Projects” were referred to the 43 projects for aiding Tibet determined in the second national congress for work in Tibet held by the CPC Central Committee and the Central Government in April of 1984 with a view to celebrating the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Nine provinces and municipalities directly under the Central Government, such as Tianjin, Shanghai, Shandong, Fujian, Sichuan, Zhejiang and Jiangsu, had participated in the projects, which mainly covered the infrastructures such as energy, traffic, building materials, commerce, culture and education, healthcare, travel, sports, municipal works. Among them, 20 items were built in Lhasa and the others were distributed in the 5 regions of Xigaze, Shannan, Nagqu, Qamdo and Ngari. The overall floorage of the projects was nearly 250,000 square meters with costs of 477 million yuan. All the work started early in 1 984. The projects were also known as the “Project of Keys” because the contract unit had undertaken the work from the design and construction of the project to equipment, apparatus and the training of the administrative staff before the completion. After the completion, the construction had handed over the keys Thereafter, the project could come into operation and produce benefit. The project had raised an unprecedented, extensive modernization wave on the plateau of Tibet which has exerted an important influence on the development of society, and the economy of Tibet, and will be written into the flashing history of new Tibet in the 1980s
     
In retrospect of the “43 Aid Project, we find in surprise that the projects really set up an epoch-making monument for Tibet.
     
-Have expanded the new industries in Tibet. Before 1985, tourist industry was only a concept for Tibet, because there were no tourist facilities at all. However with the construction of a large number of tourist facilities such as the Lhasa hotel, Tibet Hotel, Xigaze Hotel, Zetang Hotel, the tourism of Tibet is now at the summit of its development and is growing to be the pillar industry of Tibet. And the establishment of Lhasa Granite Factory, Lhasa Plastering Factory and Lhasa Fodder Factory has not only formed their own modernized production scale but also driven the rise and development of the relevant industries at the same time.
     
-Made urban construction from the “plain” to “three-dimensional”. Before the construction of “43 aid projects” this old well-known city, Lhasa was far from the holy and pure and beautiful land in the memories of its visitors. In the streets of Lhasa, the sewage overflowed especially in the old districts and later became the small stream. The units good in economic strength had built up very high water towers and the other units had to dig pump wells, which were the so-called water-supply lines and sewer projects at that time in Lhasa. In addition, there were rusty iron sheet rooms all over the city, pieces of marshland and grit ground near the city, the endless dust and sand in winter, the burning sun in summer … But the “43 aid projects” had made all these disappear gradually. Nowadays, Lhasa and every large city and town have sophisticated high buildings, and the naughty children can go on the lift to experience the urban new high.

-Promoted the society to advance. When the renovation of Qinghai-Tibet Highway, and the reconstruction of Lhasa- Gonggar highway were under way in succession, the construction of the infrastructure of Tibet was officially commenced. Nowadays people can take the bus to arrive at Golmud city in 24 hours. The great improvement of the traffic has also enriched the supply of goods. People living in the highest land of the world can say proudly,” In Tibet we can buy almost anything that is available inland”. People can experience the benefits of the “43 Aid Projects” in person. How delightful to see the street lamps lighted and the house-hold appliances run! With the electricity, people finally can say “How beautiful the night scene of Lhasa is!”
       
-Raised the sun of tomorrow for Tibet. Tomorrow always belongs to new generations. Among the “43 Aid Projects” five were the large hospitals of certain scale and all the hospitals have departments of obstetrics and gynecology. They hold the suns that just rise. In Lhasa Juvenile Center, one of the “43 Aid Projects”, “small suns” receive the early childhood education. They will rise along the road of the sun; Lhasa audio-visual education hall can let them have modern means of study; Tibet University has offered the complete condition for their pursuit of advanced studies; seven art halls are the idea/ places for the masses to study and to enjoy amusement. New generations will be brought up constantly to become pillars in the construction of Tibet.

The reincarnation of Living Buddhas, in essence, originated in the monastic economy. According to the Blue Annals, Abbot Garma Pakshi of the Curpu Monastery was the third-generation disciple of Marba, founder of the Gagyu Sect. He had 7,000 disciples and built the Garma Dainsa and Curpu monasteries, found- ing the Garma Gagyu Sect. As Master Duisum Qenba wore a black hat, the sect became known as the Black Hat Sect. In 1283, Garma Pakshi was about to pass away. All of a sudden, he opened his eyes and rose to sit on his folded legs. He summoned his disciple Wogyiba and told him in clear-cut words: “I will leave temporarily. After my departure, there will be one in a far-away place called Lhadui, who is the successor of the Black Hat. Before he comes, you will serve as the agent of Buddha.”

He took off his gold-rimed Buddha hat, put it on Wogyiba’s head, and he passed away.

A boy was born in Gongtang, hometown of Milha Riba, Chief Master of the Gagyu Sect, in 1284. Five    years later, he was determined as the soul boy of Garma Pakshi. The first reincarnated soul boy in Tibetan history was greeted to the Curpu Monastery in 1289 and   given the religious name Shianjoin Dorje, studying;   Buddhist doctrines from Wogyiba.

According to the Blue Annals, when the soul box reached Curpu Monastery, Wogyiba had a high seat set up in the Sutra Hall and declared that this was prepared for Master. When the boy reached the monastery together with his parents, he went up to the   high seat and sat on it. Astonished to see this, Wogyiba asked the boy why he sat on the Master’s seat. The boy answered: “I am your Master!” Recalling what the Master had said on his deathbed, Wogyiba accepted the boy as the incarnate of his Master.

Reincarnation of a Living Buddha constitutes a major contribution Garma Gagyu made to Tibetan Buddhism. Prior to this, there were two major methods for selecting successors to the deceased masters: One was for the father to find his successor from among his children or in his own clan; the other was for a master to find his successor among his disciples. The Nyingma Sect selected a successor to the deceased master among his children or in his own clan.    The Minzhuling and Dorjezha monasteries beside theYarlungZangboRiverwere resident monasteries of the Nyingma Sect. This sect allowed its members to marry. And for sons to take up the mantles of their fathers. From the 16th to the mid-17th centuries, the   two, monasteries featured fathers passing the mantle on to their sons or sons-in-law. This is also the case for the Minzhuling Monastery today.

The Sagya Sect featured finding successors from the same clans. Gonggar Nyingbo, the first-generation abbot of the sect, was succeeded by his second son KansoiNanzemo. When Kansoi died, he gave his throne to his brother, Kanzha Batsang. When Kanzha passed away, the power fell to his nephew, Sagya Gonggar Gyaincain, who, in turn, made his nephew, Pagba, his own successor. Pagba, the fifth-generation abbot of the Sagya Sect, won the honorific title of Imperial Tutor from Yuan Emperor Kublai Khan, making it possible for the Sagya Sect to ruleTibet.

Zongdainba, the founding abbot of the Gedang Sect, had many disciples. He built the Razheng Monastery. Upon his death, his role was taken on by his disciple,       Gongbawa. Masters of future generations followed his example in finding successors.

The Living Buddha reincarnation system was pioneered in the 13th century against the background that various Buddhist sects rose alongside with the construction of monasteries. The monastic economy gained ground.  Some of the monasteries owned not only land, animals and pasturelands, but also subjects. For political and economic reasons, various sects were locked in fighting. In order to survive, their masters carefully chose their successors. The Dorjezha and Zhigung monasteries of the Nyingma Sect all adopted the new system.

The system was perfected by the Gelug Sect, founded in the 15th century. All of its monasteries adopted the system. Throughout the years, they followed a whole set of rituals and historical precedence in this regard.