The 11th Panchen Lama tonsured the reincarnation of the fifth Living Buddha Dezhub in Lhasa Sunday in observance of Tibetan Buddhist rituals, officials in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region said Monday.

The tonsure ceremony began at 7 a.m. Sunday at the Jokhang Temple, following a lot-drawing ceremony that selected a boy with the secular name Losang Doje as the sixth Living Buddha Dezhub.

Before the tonsure, Losang Jigme, Tibet's top official in charge of religious affairs, read out the regional government's approval of the reincarnation.

Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, the 11th Panchen Lama, and also vice president of the Buddhist Association of China, then scissored off a lock of the boy's hair and gave him the religious name Dezhub Jamyang Sherab Palden.

Losang Doje was born on Nov. 30, 2005 in Lhunze County of Shannan Prefecture.

He was chosen as one of the candidates after several years of searching by senior monks according to religious practice and traditions.

The fifth living Buddha Dezhub Jambai Gaisanggyaco died in Lhasa on March 11, 2000 at the age of 66.