Title: Introduction to the Potala Palace (Article 1)
The Potala Palace, a majestic architectural masterpiece, is a renowned cultural and historical landmark located in Lhasa, Tibet. It is an iconic symbol of Tibetan Buddhism and an important pilgrimage site for Buddhist followers. With its rich history, incredible architecture, and spiritual significance, the Potala Palace attracts visitors from all over the world.
The Potala Palace was originally built during the 7th century by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo. However, the current structure that we see today was constructed during the 17th century by the Great Fifth Dalai Lama, who made it his winter residence. Standing at an impressive height of 13,123 feet, the palace consists of two main sections: the Red Palace and the White Palace.
The Red Palace, located at the highest point of the complex, is the heart of the Potala Palace. It is dedicated to religious and spiritual activities, housing numerous chapels, prayer halls, and sacred relics. The highlight of the Red Palace is the magnificent Potala Palace Chapel, which contains the tombs of several Dalai Lamas. The interior of the chapel is adorned with intricate murals, beautifully crafted statues, and religious artifacts that showcase the rich Tibetan Buddhist culture.
Connected to the Red Palace by a series of corridors and staircases, the White Palace served as the administrative center of the Tibetan government. It consists of various rooms, including living quarters, reception halls, and offices. The White Palace exhibits a unique blend of Tibetan, Han Chinese, and Indian architectural styles, with its white walls, golden roofs, and colorful decorations. It offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscapes, including the sacred Jokhang Temple and the Lhasa cityscape.
Beyond its architectural grandeur, the Potala Palace holds immense spiritual significance for Tibetan Buddhists. It is believed to be the residence of Chenresig, the bodhisattva of compassion. Pilgrims and devotees flock to the palace to pay their respects and seek blessings. During religious festivals, the palace comes alive with vibrant celebrations, chanting, and colorful rituals. The atmosphere is filled with devotion and reverence, creating a truly awe-inspiring experience for visitors.
Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994, the Potala Palace stands as a testament to Tibet's rich cultural heritage and serves as a symbol of Tibetan resilience in the face of adversity. It attracts millions of tourists each year, who come to admire its architectural beauty, learn about Tibetan Buddhism, and immerse themselves in the unique cultural tapestry of Tibet.
In conclusion, the Potala Palace is a remarkable cultural and historical gem that captivates the hearts and minds of all who visit. Its architectural splendor, spiritual significance, and cultural importance make it a must-see destination for travelers seeking a truly transformative experience. Whether you are an architecture enthusiast, a history buff, or a spiritual seeker, the Potala Palace will leave an indelible impression on your soul.
布达拉宫的英文介绍 篇三
布达拉宫的英文介绍
布达拉宫(藏文:པོ་ཏ་ལ,藏语拼音:bo da la,威利:po ta la),坐落于于中国西藏自治区的首府拉萨市区西北玛布日山上,是世界上海拔最高,集宫殿、城堡和寺院于一体的'宏伟建筑,也是西藏最庞大、最完整的古代宫堡建筑群。和小编一起来学习如何用英语介绍布达拉宫吧。
In 641, after marrying Princess Wencheng, Songtsen Gampo decided to build a grand palace to accommodate her and let his descendants remember the event. However, the original palace was destroyed due to a lightening strike and succeeding warfare during Landama's reign. In seventeenth century under the reign of the Fifth Dalai Lama, Potala was rebuilt. The Thirteenth Dalai Lama expanded it to today's scale. The monastery-like palace, reclining against and capping Red Hill, was the religious and political center of old Tibet and the winter palace of Dalai Lamas. The palace is more than 117 meters in height and 360 in width, occupying a building space of 90 thousand square meters. Potala is composed of White Palace and Red Palace. The former is for secular use while the later is for religious.
The White Palace consists of offices, dormitories, a Buddhist official seminary and a printing house. From the east entrance of the palace, painted with images of Four Heavenly Kings, a broad corridor upwards leads to Deyang Shar courtyard, which used t
o be where Dalai Lamas watched operas. Around the large and open courtyard, there used to be a seminary and dormitories. West of the courtyard is the White Palace. There are three ladder stairs reaching inside of it, however, the central one was reserved for only Dalai Lamas and central government magistrates dispatched to Tibet. In the first hallway, there are huge murals describing the construction of Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple and the procession of Princess Wencheng reaching Tibet. On the south wall, visitors will see an edict signed with the Great Fifth's handprint. The White Palace mainly serves as the political headquarter and Dalai Lamas' living quarters. The West Chamber of Sunshine and the East Chamber of Sunshine lie as the roof of the White Palace. They belonged to the Thirteenth Dalai Lama and the Fourteenth Dalai Lama respectively. Beneath the East Chamber of Sunshine is the largest hall in the White Palace, where Dalai Lamas ascended throne and ruled Tibet.The Red Palace was constructed after the death of the Fifth Dalai Lama. The center of the complicated Red Palace is the Great West Hall, which records the Great Fifth Dalai Lama's life by its fine murals. The scene of his visit to Emperor Shunzhi in Beijing in 1652 is extraordinarily vivid. It also has finely carved columns and brackets. The hall has four additional chapels. The West Chapel houses three gold stupas of the Fifth, Tenth and Twelfth Dalai Lamas'. Their mummified and perfumed bodies are well kept in those stupas. Among the three, the Fifth Dalai Lama's stupa is the biggest, which is made of sandalwood, wrapped in gold foil and decorated with thousands of diamonds, pearls, agates and others gems. The stupa, with a height of 14.86 meters , spends more than 3,700 kilograms of gold. The North Chapel contains statues of Sakyamuni, Dalai Lamas and Medicine Buddha, and stupas of the Eighth, Ninth and Eleventh Dalai Lamas. Against the wall is Tanjur , a most important Tibetan Buddhist sutra sent to the Seventh Dalai Lama by Emperor Yongzheng. In the East Chapel a two meters high statue of Tsong Khapa, the founder of Gelugpa which is Dalai Lama's lineage, is enshrined and worshipped. In addition, about 70 famous adepts in Tibetan Buddhism surround him. The South Chapel is where a silver statue of Padmasambhava and 8 bronze statues of his reincarnations are enshrined. On the floor above, there is a gallery which has a collection of 698 murals, portraying Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Dalai Lamas and great adepts and narrating jataka stories and significant Tibetan historic events. West of the Great West Hall locates the Thirteenth Dalai Lama's stupa hall. Since he was regarded as great as the Great Fifth, people started to build his stupa after his death in the fall of 1933. Taking three years, the stupa is comparable with the Great Fifth's stupa. It is 14 meters in height, coated with a ton of gold foils. In front of it is a mandala made of more than 200,000 pearls and other gems. Murals in the hall tell important events in his life, including his visit with Emperor Guangxu. The highest hall of Potala was built in 1690. It used to be the holy shrine of Chinese Emperors. Dalai Lamas would come here with his officials and high lamas to show their respects to the central government annually before.
Dharma Cave and the Saint's Chapel are the only structures left which were built in seventh century. They both lie central of the Red Palace. Dharma Cave is said to be the place where King Songtsen Gampo proceeded his religious cultivation. Inside the cave, statues of Songtsen Gampo, Princess Wencheng, Princess Tritsun and his chief ministers are enshrined. In the Saint's Chapel above Dharma Cave, Chenrezi, Tsong Khapa, Padmasambhava, the Fifth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Dalai Lamas are enshrined and worshipped. Visitors may find a stone with a footprint that was believed left by the infant Twelfth Dalai Lama.