Seal of Dalai Lama, Buddha of Great Compassion in the West, Leader of the Buddhist Faith beneath the Sky, Holder of the Vajra, Qing Dynasty,gold seal with a Ruyi knob, 8257 grams, 10.1 cm high, each side: 11.5 cm

The title of "Dalai Lama" originated from the Third Dalai Lama bSod-nams-rgya-mtsho. In praise of his achievements, Altan Khan conferred upon bSod-nams-rgya-mtsho an honorific title "Da lai bla ma Vajradhara" in 1578, which means a "superior man with great wisdom and authority". In 1652, the Fifth Dalai Lama was called to visit Beijing to pay homage to the Court. In the following year, he returned to Tibet. On his way back, the Qing Government conferred upon him the title of "Dalai Lama, Buddha of Great Compassion in the West, Leader of the Buddhist Faith beneath the Sky, Holder of the Vajra" and bestowed upon him a gold album and a gold seal. The gold seal is inscribed with "Seal to Dalai Lama, Buddha of Great Compassion in the West, Leader of the Buddhist Faith beneath the Sky, Holder of the Vajra". This is the origin of the title of Dalai Lama officially conferred by the Qing Government.