Potala Palace was built in. Potala Palace in Tibet

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Hidden from the hustle and bustle of the world high mountains Tibet has attracted travelers since ancient times. This is one of the oldest states in the world with its own unusual charter and order, rich history and cultural heritage... And it is not surprising that it is in Tibet that the highest castle complex in the world is located - the Potala Palace. It got its name in the 11th century thanks to the mountain on which it is located. It is called Puto, according to legend, it was here that the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara first appeared, who is considered the embodiment of the great compassion of all the enlightened (Buddhas).

The history of the construction of the palace

For the first time, the Potala Palace was erected in the second half of the 7th century at an altitude of almost four thousand meters above sea level by the Tufan ruler Sronzangamp as the main imperial residence for him and his newly minted wife Princess Wencheng. Before that, there were already caves for meditation here. The entire palace complex, consisting of a thousand halls and rooms, was surrounded by a high fortress wall, and it was possible to enter it through four gates.

During a severe thunderstorm, most of the wooden buildings of the palace were incinerated by lightning.

Only in the middle of the 17th century, the V Dalai Lama Aghvan Lobsan Jamtso decided to completely restore the former greatness of the palace. The result was a grandiose complex with courtyards, wide stone staircases, chapels, fenced off by high walls and covering an area of about three hundred and sixty thousand square meters.

Architecture and interiors

This reconstruction involved about seven thousand builders and another fifteen hundred sculptors and artists who created unique statues and sculptural compositions. The central place among them is occupied by the statue of the Potala, completely covered in gold and weighing half a ton. In addition, silver, precious stones and valuable wood were widely used in the construction and decoration of the palace.

The fact that the Potala Palace is one of the main symbols of Tibet, a treasury of the country's cultural and spiritual heritage, as well as the greatest architectural monument region, contributed to the fact that in 1994 this complex was included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. Today it is the residence of the Dalai Lama, the site of the most important religious ceremonies and one of the most interesting museums the world.

How to visit

The palace is open for tourists from 9:00 to 17:00, and in the summer months from 7:30. A little more than two thousand people can see it a day, mostly groups of tourists who have bought tickets in advance. As a rule, immediately after closing, entrance tickets for the next day are instantly sold out, their cost is about $ 11 per person (June 2012).

The structure 320 m long and 110 m high, around which eagles soar, is divided into the White and Red palaces. The Potala White Palace with a defensive plinth in its present form arose under the 5th Dalai Lama starting in 1645 with the participation of a large number of serfs. From more ancient fortress, which existed on this mountain since the time of Songtsen Gampo (7th century), practically nothing remained - although the legend says that the relics of that time are the cave for meditation (see below) and the Phagpa hall. The White Palace contains rooms with a purely practical function, including sleeping quarters, study rooms and an audience hall for the Dalai Lama. In addition, the monastery tract, administrative premises and warehouses are located here. The most important shrines are located in the Red Palace, erected under the regent of the 6th Dalai Lama until 1694. Since then, the appearance of the Potala has hardly changed.

Inspection

The main entrance to the Potala Palace, through which the pilgrims follow, leads up the side of the fortress mountain (the so-called Red Mountain), which faces the Old City, in eastern part Of the White Palace. Tourists, as part of the booked program, are driven along the road from the west to the north side of the Red Palace, so that they can enter the holy of holies, so to speak, through the back door. From there, you have to follow the route of inspection, leading to all the important rooms with an unusually large number of magnificent art objects.

Great West Hall

The center of the Red Palace is the Great Western Hall, the hall of enthronement. Its walls are decorated with paintings depicting episodes from the life of the Dalai Lamas, Tibetan kings and incarnations of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. The four rooms surrounding the western hall, based on their religious meaning, can be regarded as the history of Tibetan Buddhism: the hall of Padmasambhava tells about its origins; it is dedicated to that Indian saint who arrived in Tibet in the 8th century, subdued the demons of the local religion and instructed them from now on to stand guard over Buddhism. The next room is the hall of the reformer Tsongkhapa, whose heir later became the 1st Dalai Lama. The third room is dedicated to him and his four subsequent incarnations. The fourth one conceals the tombstones with the bodies of the 5th, 10th and 12th Dalai Lamas. These are 14-meter high, richly gilded and bejeweled pagodas with relics. The central stupa of the 5th Dalai Lama is the most luxurious decoration of the Potala. In similar caskets in the Red Palace rest the mortal shells of eight Tibetan kings-priests. Outside, their exact location is shown by the gilded roofs of the Red Palace.

Top floor

Stairs in the northeast of the western hall lead through the mezzanine floor with wall paintings, which, among other things, depict the construction of the Potala, to the upper floor with other significant halls and remarkable images. Here in the northeast corner is also the meditation hall of King Songtsen Gampo. This room with models of rocks, designed as a grotto, dates back to the time of the founding of Lhasa and the origins of the Potala Palace, as well as Tibetan Buddhism in general. Plastically, the king is depicted between the thirty-eight-armed Avalokiteshvara and the 5th Dalai Lama; further on, statues of the wives of Songtsen Gampo, Padmasambhava and other persons are seen.

Phagpa Hall

The ring corridor leads further to the hall of peaceful and wrathful gods, as well as to two halls full of many valuable metal sacrificial gifts. Above them is the Phagpa Hall. At the left entrance to it, one can see the prints of feet and hands, allegedly left by Padmasambhava, Tsongkhapa and the 12th Dalai Lama. The main statues in the room are three sandalwood statues of Avalokiteshvara, which supposedly emerged as natural formations from a split tree trunk; therefore, believers see in these figures a manifestation of the otherworldly, and, accordingly, great reverence for them.

13th Dalai Lama's stupa and private chambers

If you go to the left, you can reach the grave stupa of the 13th Dalai Lama, who died in 1933. This is followed by the private chambers of the 6th Dalai Lama, a life-loving person who did not obey monastic vows and was later allegedly killed. Amitayus, the Buddha of longevity, is worshiped in this room today. The staircase leads to the attic floor with the Maitreya Hall, which houses the throne of the 8th Dalai Lama. Opens from the roof platform beautiful view to the city. Further, the circular corridor leads to the private chambers of the 13th and 14th (current) Dalai Lama. Since the latter fled Tibet in 1959, the premises allocated to him have practically retained their original appearance. Through the courtyard and extremely luxurious portals, you can go up to the staircase leading up to south side palace and go down to the city. Opening hours: daily. 9.30-12.00, 15.00-17.00.

The Potala Palace appears to be the first in the list of the group of the most important cultural and historical monuments of Tibet, protected by the state. Potala is a unique palace-castle in the world in terms of its high-altitude location and size; its image is the emblem of Lhasa and the whole of Tibet. The Potala Palace is an imperishable and magnificent monument of ancient Tibetan architecture. In December 1994, the Potala Palace was officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.

The Potala Palace is built on the southern slope of Red Mountain in the capital of Tibet, Lhasa. The back side of the Potala Palace rests on the slope of the mountain, has a trapezoidal shape, tapering at the top, against the background of the blue sky and white clouds of Tibet, the palace, painted in white and red, looks like a majestic, fairytale castle.

What does the name of the Potala Palace mean? In Tibetan "potala" is translated as "abode of Avalokiteshvara", in India "potalaka". And the mountain on which the Potala Palace is located is called Puto in religious literature, and is considered sacred because, as the legend says, the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara appeared on this mountain. Interestingly, in China, in the Zhejiang province, there is a second Mount Putuo (普陀山, Putoshan), which is sacred for the same reason.

The Potala Palace rises from the base by 119 meters in height, the length from east to west is 350 meters, the width from north to south is 270 meters, the construction area is 130 thousand square meters, and together with the front yard and the pond behind the palace, the total area of the Potala palace complex is 360 thousand square meters!

The beginning of the construction of the Potala Palace dates back to the 30s of the 7th century AD. According to historical sources, the Tufan chieftain Sronzangampo decided to make Lhasa his capital. First of all, he ordered to build on the top of Red Mountain in Lhasa, where there were already his meditation caves, royal palace... After the betrothal to the Tang princess Wencheng took place and Wencheng arrived in Tibet, Sronzangampo erected 999 rooms on Red Mountain. Together with the palace built earlier, a complex of thousands of rooms turned out! In addition, a wall with a length of 500 meters on each side was erected around. There were 4 gates in the wall, decorated with turrets, and a bypass channel was dug. Unfortunately, in the second half of the 8th century, due to a lightning strike, the wooden buildings of the Potala Palace burned down. In addition, at the end of the existence of the Tufan kingdom, an internecine war broke out between local tribes, which led to the destruction of the original Potala palace. Only Fawan Cave and Pabalakan Hall have survived.

The Potala Palace, which we see today, was built over several centuries, starting in the 17th century. Dalai Lama 5th Aghvan Lobsan Jamtso, in 1645 gave the order to restore the destroyed Potala Palace. In 1652, the 5th Dalai traveled to Beijing. On his return to Tibet, the 5th Dalai moved from his former abode, the Drapung Monastery, to the White Palace of the Potala, which had been completed by that time. Interestingly, after the reincarnation of the 5th Dalai Lama, no one dared to inform the people about this, as the rulers were afraid that the people would rebel and stop working on the construction of the Potala Palace. The power of the 5th Dalai Lama was so strong that his reincarnation was hidden for more than 10 years to finish building the palace.

In 1690, in the 8th year after the death of the 5th Dalai, Disa Sanjie, Jamtso, named after the 5th Dalai Lama, undertook the construction of the Red Palace and memorial stupas in the Potala complex, for which part of the dilapidated buildings was demolished. 7 thousand craftsmen and workers were employed in the work, 2,134 thousand lians (1 liang = 150 grams) of silver were spent, by order of the Qing emperor Kangxi, 114 Han and Manchu craftsmen were sent to the construction, Nepalese craftsmen also took part in the work. In 1693, the work was completed, and on the 20th day of the 4th month according to the Tibetan calendar, the Red Palace was consecrated. A memorial pillar was erected in front of the facade of the Potala Palace to commemorate the completion of construction. Since then, there have been no major changes in the planning of the Potala Palace.

When you enter the gates of the palace from the square in front of the Potala Palace, you find yourself inside the courtyard, fenced off on three sides by a high wall. A wide stone staircase leads directly to the north. From here you can see the east entrance and the west entrance. The main entrance is the eastern entrance (in Tibetan "pintsodolan"). Entering it and passing a dark stepped corridor, you find yourself in Deyangxia. It is a flat area of 1600 square meters at the entrance to the White Palace. Theatrical performances were held here for the Dalai Lama, high clergy and officials. There are galleries on the south and north sides of the site, premises on the east and west sides served as training rooms for titled monks. And the entrance, facing directly to the west, is the main entrance to the White Palace of the Potala.

Potala White Palace

The White Palace of the Potala is located east of the Red Palace, the White Palace contains the Great Eastern Pavilion, the Solar Pavilion, the living quarters of the regent and Dalai's mentors, and government offices.

Great East Pavilion(in Tibetan "Tsotsinxia") - the largest pavilion of the White Palace. Important events of a political and cult nature were held here, in particular, the ceremony of enthronement of the Dalai Lamas. In the center of the pavilion near north wall the throne of the Dalai Lama is established. There are many frescoes on the walls of the pavilion, two groups of frescoes are of particular interest: frescoes on the theme of "the transformation of a monkey into a man" and frescoes that tell the story of Princess Jincheng.

Solar pavilion located at the top of the Great East Pavilion. There are two solar pavilions: east and west. They served as living quarters for the Dalai Lamas. The Western Sun Pavilion was built in the later years of the 13th Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama spent most of the year (summer and autumn) in the summer residence of Norbulingka, and the Potala Palace served as his winter palace.

It was in this pavilion that the Dalai Lama spent his time reading sacred texts, administrative affairs and vital functions. The western sun pavilion housed the living quarters of the 13th Dalai Lama, and the eastern sun pavilion the quarters of the 14th Dalai Lama. The pavilion contains a golden statue of Buddha, a jasper figure of Avalokiteshvara, scrolls of sacred sutras, porcelain, a tea set made of gold and jasper, brocade blankets, and more.

Potala Red Palace

The Red Palace served as a place of prayers in the name of Buddha and other religious activities; the main premises of the Red Palace are pavilions with memorial stupas of the Dalai Lamas and other places of worship. In total, there are 8 memorial stupas in the Red Potala Palace, of which the most luxurious are the stupas of the 5th Dalai Lama and the 13th Dalai Lama. The size and splendor of the design of the stupa symbolizes the contribution to the development of the country and society made by this Dalai Lama. In addition, the Red Potala Palace contains numerous cult monuments and elaborate items made of precious stones and metals, skillfully carved crafts, rare editions of sacred texts, as well as sculptures of Buddhist saints, tanka icons, cult attributes, sacrificial supplies and so on. In the fresco gallery on the fifth floor of the Red Potala Palace, there is a whole group of frescoes that reproduce episodes of the construction of the Potala Palace.

5th Dalai Lama's stupa occupies the 4th floor, but it itself is equal in height to a 5-storey building! This stupa, 14.85 meters high, made of pure gold, is the tallest of the stupas of the Potala Palace. They say that the design and contents of this stupa is equal to half of the wealth of all mankind.

The second tallest stupa is 13th Dalai Lama's stupa... The beginning of the construction of the stupa dates back to 1934; the construction took 3 years. The height of the stupa is 14 meters, on the inner wall of the pavilion there is a fresco dedicated to the life of the Dalai Lama on the 13th, including an episode of the Dalai Lama's trip to Beijing, where he was received by Emperor Guangxu and Empress Dowager Cixi.

Western Great Hall(in Tibetan "Sysipinzo") is located to the east of the pavilions with stupas, its area is 680 square meters. This is the largest hall of the Red Palace in the entire Potala Palace. In this hall, the 5th Dalai Lama arranged receptions, sacrifices and so on. In the western hall there is also a pair of brocade cloths woven from gold threads, which were donated by the Chinese emperor in 1696 on the occasion of the completion of the construction of the Red Potala Palace. There is also a poster given by Emperor Qianlong with the emperor's autograph and the words "A Place Ouzing Paradise." This banner is located above the throne of the Dalai Lama.

In the highest pavilion of the Red Potala Palace, in the hall by the western wall statue of the eleven-faced and thousand-armed bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, which was made of pure gold and silver by order of the 13th Dalai Lama.

Of the earliest buildings of the Potala Palace, only the Fawana Cave ("Jujiechzhupu") and the Pabalakan Pavilion have survived. Favana's cave with an area of 27 square meters, it is notable for its modest decoration. According to legend, the Tufan king Srontszamgambo himself comprehended sacred texts in this cave. In the cave, there are statues of Sronzangambo, Princess Wencheng, Princess Chizul, Ludongzang - persons known from the time of the Tufan kingdom. In addition, the utensils (hearth, stone vat, stupa), which, according to legend, were used by Srontszangambo, have been preserved. Pavilion Pabalakan also called the pavilion of Avalokiteshvara, it is located above the cave of Favana.

The pavilions with the stupas of the Dalai Lama on the 7th, 8th, 9th, as well as the pavilions with the stupas of the Dalai Lama on the 5th and 13th have roofs completely covered with gilding. The same golden roofs are crowned by the Pabalakan and Ramlakan pavilions. Together they form a brilliant ensemble of golden roofs. Most roofs are in the traditional shape of Chinese roofs with soaring corners. On the ridge of the roofs there are decorations in the form of bell-shaped monasteries, which rest on lotus pedestals. The flying corner roof structures are decorated with figurines of mythical Buddhist animals.

The Potala Palace is a treasure trove of priceless art and art pieces as well as historical monuments. Even for the frescoes, dyes made from precious metals and stones were used. These frescoes are striking in their brightness and freshness. The Potala Palace contains about 10 thousand icons of the "tank", most of which were made by prominent artists of antiquity. A rich collection of editions of sacred texts, many of which are made at a high artistic level and are deservedly considered a work of art. Quite a few editions are unique. There are about 100 scrolls of canons, made on palm leaves and brought from ancient India and other places. The earliest text on palm leaves dates back more than one millennium. The technique of publishing sacred texts includes handwriting in gold and silver ink, gold-plating on embossed text. For example, there is the "Ganchzhur" edition, made with dyes made from gold, pearls, silver, coral, iron powder, copper dust and seashells. The paper on which the text is written is resistant to moisture, decay and damage by insects, strong and at the same time elastic.

The Potala Palace is a great creation of the Tibetan people and the focus of their culture. It embodied the achievements of the Tibetans in architecture, sculpture, painting, metalworking and other fields of science and art. It may well be called a museum of science and culture of Ancient Tibet. In addition, the Potala Palace captured the history of economic and cultural contacts of Tibetans with other nationalities of China, Nepal and India. The Potala Palace is the pride of the Tibetan people and the world cultural heritage of all mankind. Also, the palace is very often seen by foreigners who went on a tour of Tibet.

Potala Palace v Lhasa city v Tibet — royal palace and Buddhist temple complex , was the main the seat of the Dalai Lama... Located at an altitude of 3767 meters above sea level. No other palace in the world is located as high as the Potala. The palace got its name from the name of the sacred mountain located in India, where, according to legend, the bodhisattva Avalokiteshwar (Guanin) lives.

According to legend, the Potala Palace was built in the 7th century by the Tufan king Sronzangambo for his future wife, the Tang princess Wencheng. Stretching along the slope of the mountain from the foot to the top, it unites 1000 buildings of Tibetan architecture. After the fall of the Tufan dynasty from military invasions, most of the halls of the palace were destroyed, their reconstruction began in 1645, when the Qing government approved the Fifth Dalai Lama as ruler of Tibet. His successors did not stop work on expanding the Potala Palace, and this is how it appears today.

The palace is divided into two parts - Pochjangabo and Pochjangmabo. Pochjangabo in the east serves as the residence of the Dalai Lamas. Pochjangmabo in the center contains Buddhist halls and burial pagoda-stupas. Monks and servants live in white houses in the west. In front of Pojangmabo, there is a site for the presentation of the Buddha image in holidays... The main building of the Potala Palace has 13 floors.

Potala Palace- a sacred place of Tibetan Buddhism, every year it is visited by a great number of pilgrims and tourists. The ascent to the Potala usually begins with a blank stele at the foot of the mountain, along a winding stone path you can reach the eastern gate with the image of four alohans and through a 4-meter palace wall to get into the magnificent pavilion. In the middle of the mountain, a grandiose terrace with an area of 1600 sq. m, where the Dalai Lama addressed the believers. From here, along the corridor, you go up to the Tsoqinxia pavilion, the largest in Pochzhangabo. According to historical records, since 1653, when the Qing Emperor Shunzhi granted the Fifth Dalai Lama with a golden letter and seal and the central government approved his elevation to the rank of saint, solemn religious ceremonies are held here.

The main building of the Pochjangmabo part form 8 tombs - burial pagodas-stupas. The largest and most luxurious is the burial pagoda of the Fifth Dalai Lama. It is covered with gold leaf, for which 3721 kilograms were spent, and inlaid with precious stones. The largest pavilion, Pochzhangmabo, displays a memorial plaque with the inscription of the Qing Emperor Qianlong and magnificent curtains donated by the Qing Emperor Kangxi. According to legend, in order to make these curtains, the Kangxi emperor ordered the construction of a special workshop, it took a whole year to weave them. From here, through the gallery, you can get to the most ancient part of the palace - the Snoyagal pavilion, where the sculptures of King Sronzangambo, Princess Wencheng and dignitaries are kept. In the highest pavilion of Sasronlangjie, sacrifices were made to the image and memorial tablets of the Qing Emperor Qianlong. After the death of the Fifth Dalai Lama, his successors made sacrifices here on New Year's days according to the Tibetan calendar.

Potala White Palace located to the east of the Red Palace, the White Palace contains the Great East Pavilion, the Solar Pavilion, the living quarters of the regent and Dalai's mentors, and government offices.

Great East Pavilion(in Tibetan "Tsotsinxia") - the largest pavilion of the White Palace. Important events of a political and cult nature were held here, in particular, the ceremony of enthronement of the Dalai Lamas. The throne of the Dalai Lama is installed in the center of the pavilion at the northern wall. There are many frescoes on the walls of the pavilion, two groups of frescoes are of particular interest: frescoes on the theme of "the transformation of a monkey into a man" and frescoes that tell the story of Princess Jincheng.

Red palace served as a place of prayers in the name of Buddha and other religious activities, the main premises of the Red Palace are pavilions with memorial stupas of the Dalai Lamas and other places of worship. In total, there are 8 memorial stupas in the Red Potala Palace, of which the most luxurious are the stupas of the 5th Dalai Lama and the 13th Dalai Lama. The size and splendor of the design of the stupa symbolizes the contribution to the development of the country and society made by this Dalai Lama. In addition, the Red Potala Palace contains numerous cult monuments and elaborate items made of precious stones and metals, skillfully carved crafts, rare editions of sacred texts, as well as sculptures of Buddhist saints, tanka icons, cult attributes, sacrificial supplies and so on. In the fresco gallery on the fifth floor of the Red Potala Palace, there is a whole group of frescoes that reproduce episodes of the construction of the Potala Palace.

Dalai Lama's stupa On the 5th it occupies the 4th floor, but it itself is equal in height to a 5-storey building! This stupa, 14.85 meters high, made of pure gold, is the tallest of the stupas of the Potala Palace. They say that the design and contents of this stupa is equal to half of the wealth of all mankind.

Granite walls, golden roofs, graceful cornices with their gilded decorations make the Potala Palace indescribably magnificent and majestic. Colored wall paintings in it depict Buddhas and Alohans, faithfully reproduce the life and work of the Fifth Dalai Lama, the solemn entry into Tibet of the Tang princess Wencheng, reflect the development of Tibetan Buddhism, the ancient Tibetan culture. Ancient architectural ensemble- Potala Palace is a product of the mind and talent of the people, evidence of cultural ties between Tibetans and Han people, an indestructible symbol of Tibet.

Numerous pilgrims walk around the hill with the palace, making a bark - a ritual tour of the holy place. Along the crust are numerous prayer drums and shopping arcades.

In Buddhist mythology, the paradise where the bodhisattvas Avalokiteshvara and Tara live (corresponds to the Chinese paradise of Puto) ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

- (Skt. potala, potalaka, pautalaka), in Buddhist mythology, the name of the paradise where Avalokiteshvara and Tara live. According to Indian and Tibetan sources, it is located on the top of a mountain on the coast Indian Ocean, in Chinese Buddhism on an island in ... ... Encyclopedia of mythology

POTALA, in Buddhist mythology, the paradise where bodhisattvas live (see BODHISATTVA) Avalokiteshvara (see AVALOKITESVARA) and Tara (see TARA (in mythology)) (corresponds to the Chinese paradise Puto) ... encyclopedic Dictionary

- (Skt.) 1) in budd. mythology is the name of the paradise where the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara and his female energy Tara live; 2) the palace and winter residence of the Dalai Lama in Lhasa (until 1959), one of chap. shrines of Tibet; named after the paradise of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara ... Buddhism

Potala- in the buddhas. myth. name paradise where Avalokiteshvara and Tara live. By ind. and a Tibetan source., is located on the top of a mountain on the coast of the Indian Ocean ... Ancient world... encyclopedic Dictionary

potala- and, w. Z їdannya, slaughter. || Dashing, dashing, bida. Go to the potala ... Ukrainian Tlumachny vocabulary

potala- Mennik of a female family ... Spelling vocabulary of the Ukrainian language

Coordinates: 29 ° 39'35 ″ s. sh. 91 ° 07′01 ″ in. d. / 29.659722 ° N sh. 91.116944 ° E etc ... Wikipedia

A city in the southwest of China, c. Tibetan Auth. p on. It is the main religious center of Lamaism (one of the forms of Buddhism) in Asia, which is reflected in the name: Tibet. lha god, sa earth, that is, divine, sacred land. Geographic names… … Geographical encyclopedia

Lhasa City 拉薩, 拉萨, Lāsà Country China China Status ... Wikipedia

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