| Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Tashilhunpo lies 2 kilometer (1.2 miles) west
of Shigatse city. The monastery is a very influential monastery
in Tibet. It was founded in 1477 by Gendun Drubpa, the first
Dalai Lama and a most outstanding disciple of Tsong Khapa. In
1600, the Fourth Panchen Lama started a large-scale expansion
and his successors carried on. The monastery now has a building
space of 300 thousand square meters. In 1713, the Fifth Panchen
Lama's title and status were finally ascertained by the Chinese
emperor. The monastery became the seat of Panchen Lama.
The construction of the Main Chanting Hall (Tshomchen) took 12
years. It is the earliest building in the monastery. Before the
hall, there is a flagstoned debating courtyard, where Panchen
Lamas used to make religious speeches to lamas. The courtyard
has walls covered by a thousand Sakyamunis, which were enshrined
in the walls. The Main Chanting Hall, capable of holding 2000
chanting monks, contains the Panchen Lamas' throne and three
chapels. The Sakyamuni Chapel houses a 24-feet statue of
Sakyamuni flanked by his disciples, which was dedicated to his
religious teacher by Gendun Drubpa. To the west is the Maitreya
Chapel, which contains a 11-meter (36 feet) high Maitreya
flanked by Avalokiteshvara and Bodhisattva Manjushri, which were
said made by Gendun Drubpa himself. To the east is the Tara
Chapel, which enshrines a White Tara flanked by two Green Taras.
The Maitreya Chapel was the tallest building in the monastery,
30 meters (98 feet) in height. The chapel lies at the west end
of the monastery, founded in 1914 by the Ninth Panchen Lama. The
chapel houses the world largest brass statue of Maitreya. The
Maitreya, with its hands in mudras, is 26.2 meters (86 feet)
high. The statue is seated on a 3.8 meters (12 feet) high lotus
throne. A single finger is 1.2 meters (about 4 feet) long, while
foot is 4.2 meter (about 14 feet) long. The statue costs about
280 kilograms (614 pounds) of gold, 150 tons (330,000 pounds) of
brass and about 1400 precious gems like huge diamonds, pearls,
ambers. A ladder leads to chapels reaching its lotus throne,
waist, chest, face and crown.
In the Fourth Panchen Lama's Stupa Chapel, visitors may see the
stupa tomb of the Fourth Panchen Lama's. Comparable with any in
Tibet, the stupa was built in 1662 and finished four years
later. The 11 meters (36 feet) silver and gold stupa cost 85
kilograms (187 pounds) of gold, much more silver and brass and
countless precious gems. In 1982 and 1985, national fund was
allocated to the monastery to renovate the chapel and the stupa.
To its left is the Tenth Panchen Lama's Stupa Chapel. After the
death of the tenth Panchen Lama 1989, 64 million RMB and lots of
gold, silver, and gems were immediately allocated by the central
government to build his stupa. In 1993, the 11 meters (36 feet)
stupa was completed and the lama's body was placed inside.
The Thangka Wall sits northeast of the monastery. The huge wall,
35 meters (115 feet) in height 40 meters (131 feet) in width,
can be seen faraway. Founding in 1468, it was a memorial
monument to commemorate the birth, nirvana and initiation into
Buddhahood of Sakyamuni. Every year on April fourteenth on
Tibetan calendar, gigantic thangkas of Buddha will be displayed
on the wall.
In addition the trove of thangkas, murals and other religious
and artistic treasures certainly will impose an indelible
impression upon visitors. |
