四世班禅法名罗桑却吉坚赞(1567-1662)， 在西藏历史中具有举足轻重的影响。 他是开启班禅喇嘛传承谱系的首位活佛。 其一生中最重要的事迹即为与五世达赖及当时格鲁派摄政共同邀请和硕特蒙古和固始汗入藏， 击败由藏巴汗与噶玛噶举派所领导的当时西藏政权， 建立了甘丹颇章政权， 进而确立了格鲁派自始至今在西藏的领导地位。 而罗桑却吉坚赞也因此被固始汗尊称为班禅额尔格尼， 即智慧广博之意。 他也是四世达赖和五世达赖的上师。
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The Panchen Lama line of incarnation (tulku), belonging to the Gelug Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, was started by the Fifth Dalai Lama in 1667. Regarded as emanations of Amitabha Buddha their principal seat of power is the Tashi Lhunpo monastery at Shigatse in Tsang Province.
The monastery of Tashi Lhunpo was founded by Gendun Drub, who was later to be posthumously acknowledged as the 1st Dalai Lama. It was the tradition of the monastery that each successive abbot have the title of Panchen. After the time of Lobzang Chokyi Gyaltsen, the 5th abbot, the title of Panchen became the official name of his successive reincarnation lineage. Three previous abbots of Tashi Lhunpo were also posthumously named Panchen incarnations.
