Daichi Wada draws on Russian, Chinese, and Japanese sources to analyse
the Thirteenth Dalai Lama’s diplomatic activities during his sojourn in
Khalkha, Qinghai, and Mount Wutai (1904–1909). Daichi demonstrates
how the Dalai Lama’s diplomatic efforts manifested both traditional
and modern aspects that were deployed as appropriate, and how his
worldview was enhanced by his travels. The author particularly focuses
on the Thirteenth Dalai Lama’s relationship with the Buryat Buddhist
community, which in some aspects represented Russian interests but
also held traditional ties with the Tibetan Buddhist centre. The support
he gained among the Buryats helped him survive in a dangerous situation
as not only a ruler of Tibet but also as the highest authority over Tibetan
Buddhists.