Architectural art of Tibetan Buddhism III

Architectural art of Tibetan Buddhism III
Oct 29, 2009 04:27
234353RSRXD Points: Join Date: Oct 29, 2009 Status: offline	The Potala Palace In Tibet, there was a kind of government structure called "Zong shan". "Zong" means a local Tibetan administrative unit, equivalent to a county in interior areas. The government center of a "Zong" was mostly constructed on the hill, thus becoming a castle called "Zong shan". Lhasa's Potala Palace, the greatest building in Tibet, is both the highest "Zong shan" and the temple of the gods of Tibetan Buddhism. The Potala Palace, built on the Potala Hill, is an extremely magnificent castle, the only example in ancient China and a masterpiece rare even in world architectural history. In outward appearance, it consists of 13 stories 117 meters high, and covers an area of 100,000 square meters. Work to construct the Potala Palace began in the second year (1645) of the rule of Qing Emperor Shizu, around the time when the fifth Dalai Lama went to Beijing to have an audience with him. It took 50 years to complete. The outer walls of the central part of the Potala Palace are painted red, earning it the name of the Red Palace. Inside, is the stupa hall containing stupa for the Dalai Lamas of all ages, as well as Buddhist halls. The east and west of the Red Palace are linked to the east and west White Palaces. The east White Palace held the living area of the Dalai Lamas, while the west White Palace provided monks' living rooms. Extending forward from the lower part of the Red Palace is a white terrace linking the East and West White Palaces, inside which are various warehouses.

Oct 29, 2009 04:27

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The Potala Palace

In Tibet, there was a kind of government structure called "Zong shan". "Zong" means a local Tibetan administrative unit, equivalent to a county in interior areas. The government center of a "Zong" was mostly constructed on the hill, thus becoming a castle called "Zong shan". Lhasa's Potala Palace, the greatest building in Tibet, is both the highest "Zong shan" and the temple of the gods of Tibetan Buddhism.

The Potala Palace, built on the Potala Hill, is an extremely magnificent castle, the only example in ancient China and a masterpiece rare even in world architectural history. In outward appearance, it consists of 13 stories 117 meters high, and covers an area of 100,000 square meters. Work to construct the Potala Palace began in the second year (1645) of the rule of Qing Emperor Shizu, around the time when the fifth Dalai Lama went to Beijing to have an audience with him. It took 50 years to complete.

The outer walls of the central part of the Potala Palace are painted red, earning it the name of the Red Palace. Inside, is the stupa hall containing stupa for the Dalai Lamas of all ages, as well as Buddhist halls. The east and west of the Red Palace are linked to the east and west White Palaces. The east White Palace held the living area of the Dalai Lamas, while the west White Palace provided monks' living rooms. Extending forward from the lower part of the Red Palace is a white terrace linking the East and West White Palaces, inside which are various warehouses.

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