Posted 2016/12/31
Rested on Mountain Maburi (Red Mountain) in the north-west of Lhasa, capital of Tibet, the Potala Palace is a magnificent ancient Tibetan palace complex.
The Potala Palace is 110 meters high with thirteen floors from the mountain foot until the top. The whole complex comprises the White Palace in the east
where lives Dalai Lama and the Red Palace in the middle (the Buddha Temple and the Dalai Lama Stupa Temple). In the 7th Century A.D., The King
Songtsan Gambo constructed this Potala Palace for his wedding with Princess Wencheng. After the restoration in the 17th Century, this palace had become
the residence of Dalai Lamas in wintertime as well as the power center of the Tibetan regime which integrates the religion and the politics. The palace on the
whole is typical in Tibetan style, with a large collection of jewellery inside, which earns it the reputation of a palace of the art.
Known as "a pearl on the ridge of the world", the Potala Palace is world famous for its outstanding layout, construction, craftwork, painting and sculpture.
Extraordinary achievements have been made in fields of architecture, decoration, and religious art. The Potala Palace is the remarkable representative of
thousands of Tibetan architectures that integrate perfectly the temple and palace. The Palace complex, though constructed in various times, made full use of
the topographical features of the mountains to create both the majesty and the harmonious integrity ----an unparalleled altitude in terms of architectural
aesthetics achievement. The decorative art of the Potala Palace is embodied in the design of each part and artistic decoration (sculpture, painting) and so on.
Granite walls, wood roofs, windows with rising tips, ornaments with copper tiles and gilts, dharani pillars, aquarius, Capricorn fish, redpolls lying around the
ridges…..all of these consitiute the magnificence of the palace. Cosely connected with historical figures such as Songtsan Gambo, Princess Wencheng,
Princess Chizun and all the Dalai Lamas, the Potala Palace is endowed with great historic and religious significance.
The Potala Palace is the Holy Temple in the hearts of the Tibetans and aslo enjoys world famous fame by its majesty .It has become the icon of Tibet owning to its majestic appearance and its status as the
sanctum of Tibetan Buddhism.
