Potala Palace:
Lhasa means "holy land" in Tibetan language. Lots of Tibetan people and
visitors from home and abroad are attracted mostly because of Podala
Palace and Johkang Temple, and the Buddhist rings of the brilliant
golden roofs on them. The two grand and mysterious buildings are
regarded as the symbols of the city Lhasa.
Podala Palace was first constructed in the 7th century. According to The
New Tang book-Tubo History, Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo waited to meet
Princess Wencheng here to marry her and decided "a fort should be built
for Princess to show pride to her accuser and a palace for her to live
in. There were 999 rooms in early Podala Palace, all together 1000 rooms
if adding the Qujizhopo Cave. Stricken by wars and thunderstorms, there
left only two places: Qujizhopo and Pabalungkang. After the constant
repair and enlargement started from the mid of the 17th century by Fifth
Dalai Lama, the scale of today has formed finally. Podala Palace is the
residence for successive Dailai Lamas, symbolizing the political and
religious power of old Tibet. The official documents given by Chinese
Emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties are preserved in the Palace, and
also lots of precious relics on religion, culture and arts. | |