This ancient architectural complex is considered a model of Tibetan architecture.
Located on the Red Hill in Lhasa, Tibet, it is 3,700 meters above sea level and
covers an area of over 360,000 square meters, measuring 360 meters from east to
west and 270 meters from south to north.
The present Potala Palace is 119 meters height with 13 floors. The building measures
400 meters east- west and 350 meters north-south, with sloping walls of stone of 3 m
thick, and 5 m thick in the base, and with the copper covering foundations, this in
order that the building is to proof of earthquakes.
It is famous for its high historical value and kept numerous treasures in it. Divided
into White and Red Palaces, the complex was one of the world’s tallest buildings before
the era of modern skyscrapers. The White Palace, comprising halls, temples and courtyards,
serves as the living quarters of the Dalai Lama.
The Red Palace includes various chambers for worshipping Buddha and chambers housing
the eight stupa that contain the remains of fifth through thirteenth Dalai Lama. All
the stupas are covered with gold foil. The most magnificent stupa belongs to the fifth
Dalai Lama. The palace also collected a large number of sculptures, murals, scripture
and other valuable cultural relics.
The main central hall of the Red Palace is the Great West Hall which consists of four
great chapels that proclaim the glory and power of the builder of the Potala, the Fifth
Dalai Lama. The hall is noted for its fine murals reminiscent of Persian miniatures,
depicting events in the fifth Dalai Lama's life.
On the north side of the Red Palace is the holiest shrine of the Potala.
A large blue and gold inscription over the door was written by the 19th century Tongzhi
Emperor of China. It contains a small ancient jewel encrusted statue of Avalokiteshvara
and two of his attendants. On the floor below, a low, dark passage leads into the Dharma
Cave where Songsten Gampo is believed to have studied Buddhism. In the holy cave are images
of Songsten Gampo, his wives, his chief minister and Sambhota, the scholar who developed
Tibetan writing in the company of his many divinities.
The North Chapel centers on a crowned Sakyamuni Buddha on the left and the Fifth Dalai
Lama on the right seated on magnificent gold thrones. Their equal height and shared aura
implies equal status. On the far left of the chapel is the gold stupa tomb of the Eleventh
Dalai Lama who died as a child. On the right of the chapel are Avalokiteshvara and his
historical incarnations including Songsten Gampo and the first four Dalai Lamas.
Potala Palace, Lhasa
The South Chapel centers on Padmasambhava, the 8th century Indian magician and saint. The East
chapel is dedicated to Tsong Khapa, founder of the Gelug tradition. His central
figure is surrounded by lamas from Sakya Monastery who had briefly ruled Tibet and formed
their own tradition until converted by Tsong Khapa. Other statues are displayed made of various
different materials and display noble expressions.
The West Chapel contains the five golden stupas. The enormous central stupa, 14.85 metres high,
contains the mummified body of the Fifth Dalai Lama. This stupa is built of sandalwood and
is remarkably coated in 3,727 kg of solid gold and decorated with 18,680 pearls and semi-precious
jewels. The nearby stupa for the 13th Dalai Lama is 22 meters high. The stupas on both ends contain
important scriptures.
The living quarters and offices of regents are on the fifth and sixth floors and while the top
floor consists of the East and the West Chamber of Sunshine. Because the sun is present in the
chambers throughout the year, the East and West Chamber were the places where Dalai Lamas lived, worked and
studied. The furnishings are sumptuousness and comfortable, revealing the dignity of Dalai Lamas.
Standing on the spacious balcony, visitors can look down on beautiful Lhasa.
Tangka or Buddhist scroll paintings are usually done on cotton and some are patch work or embroideries.
The paintings are usually in vivid colors. As with paintings, Tangka are based on different themes such
as Buddhas and historical figures, as well as history, medicine, architecture and arts. Potala Palace
houses many iron, bronze, gold and silver articles, such as weapons, from the Tubo Kingdom. There are
also sacrificial articles from the same period and leather, textile, paper, porcelain, carved stone,
seals, and documents issued by emperors to the Dalai Lamas.
History
The old Potala Palace was built in 7th century by Zhanpu King. At that time Zhanpu King (Shuzhan Genpu)
established Tufen Kingdom in Tibet, Lhasa was its Capital, the Emperor of China's Tang Dynasty sent the
Princess Wenchen to marry with Zhanpu King. Then Zhanpu King decided to build a city to show his glory,
later he decided build the Potala Palace on the Red Hill.
This structure was later burned during a war and was rebuilt in the 17th century by Lozang
Gyatso, the Great Fifth Dalai Lama, the construction started after one of his spiritual advisers, Konchog
Chophel (d. 1646), pointed out that the site was ideal as a seat of government, situated as it is between
Drepung and Sera monasteries and the old city of Lhasa.
Repeated repairs and expansions until 1645 finally brought the palace to its present scale. The Dalai Lama
and his government moved into the Potrang Karpo ('White Palace') in 1649.
Potala Palace, Lhasa
The palace was slightly damaged during the Tibetan uprising against China in 1959. It also had damage
during the Cultural Revolution in 1966 by the intervention of Zhou Enlai, who was then the Premier of the
Republic of China but who personally opposed the revolution. That's why, almost all of the over
100,000 volumes of scriptures, historical documents and other works of art were removed, damaged or
destroyed.
The Red Palace was build in 1690 after the death of the Fifth Dailai Lama, the wall of the palace was
painted to red, representing stateliness and power. Construction lasted until 1694, some twelve years
after his death. The Potala was used as a winter palace by the Dalai Lama from that time.
In 1934, the palace of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama began to build and it took three years. It is the last
construction of the Potala Palace. The palace is 14 meters high, only 0.86 meters lower than that of
the Fifth Dalai Lama's. Inside the palace, the murals are the Thirteenth Dalai Lama's biography, and a
some other scenes.
In 1994, the palace joined the list of world cultural heritage sites. In 2000 and 2001, Jokhang Temple and
Norbulingka were added to the list as extensions to the sites.
Rapid modernization has been a concern for UNESCO, however, which expressed concern over the building of modern
structures immediately around the palace which threaten the palace's unique atmosphere. The Chinese government
responded by enacting a rule barring the building of any structure taller than 21 meters in the area. UNESCO was
also concerned over the materials used during the restoration of the palace, which commenced in 2002 at a cost
over US$22.5 million, although the palace's director, Qiangba Gesang, has clarified that only traditional materials
and craftsmanship were used.
The Potala Palace was the chief residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to Dharamsala, India
after an invasion and failed uprising in 1959. Today the Potala Palace has been converted into a museum by the
Chinese. Daily visitorship to the palace was restricted to 1,600 a day, with opening hours reduced to six hours
daily to avoid over-crowding from 1 May 2003.