Soon after the Ming Dynasty replaced the Yuan Dynasty in 1368, the Central Government sent officials to the Tibetan-inhabited areas, calling for various tribal leaders to swear allegiance to the new ruler. Old official seals were reclaimed and replaced by new ones in a peaceful transition. The Ming continued sovereignty over Tibet.

The Ming abolished the official system the Yuan had adopted. But, the Ming rulers introduced a new system of granting official titles to Tibetan monks. All the representative figures in Tibet received official titles from the Ming court; granted official seals of authority, they managed affairs of their own areas. It was made clear then that the inheritance of their official titles was possible only with the approval of the emperor.

The central authorities of the Ming followed the administrative and military systems of the Yuan Dynasty. It set up the Udbus Tsang and Do-khams Commander's Offices and the three Pacification Commissioner's Offices set up during the previous dynasty of Yuan. Under them were different organs such as Commissioner's Office, Pacification Offices, 10000-Household Offices and 1000-Houschold Offices. Monk and lay leaders of various administrative and military organs were appointed by the Central Government. Their promotion or dismissal from office had to have the approval of the Central Government.

( Source: China's Tibet Facts  & Figures 2008 )