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. |
Tibet
