Misplaced Pages

#68931

46-870: During the 17th century, the Dalai Lama established the priest and patron relationship with China's Qing emperors, a few decades before the Chinese expedition to Tibet (1720) . Meanwhile, the Qing became increasingly active in governing Tibet with the establishment of imperial resident ( Amban ) and Chinese garrison stationed in Lhasa since the early 18th century and took advantage of crisis situations in Tibet to intervene in Tibetan affairs each time, although this also caused some dissatisfaction and uprisings within Tibet, such as

92-632: A 30% increase in visitorship since the opening of the Qingzang railway into Lhasa on 1 July 2006, but the quota is often reached by mid-morning. Opening hours were extended during the peak period in the months of July to September, where over 6,000 visitors would descend on the site. In February 2022, Tibetan pop star Tsewang Norbu set himself on fire in front of the Potala Palace and died. The Foreign Ministry of China has disputed this. Built at an altitude of 3,700 m (12,100 ft), on

138-492: A church and to introduce the Christian faith. The king of Guge eagerly accepted Christianity as an offsetting religious influence to dilute the thriving Gelugpa and to counterbalance his potential rivals and consolidate his position. All missionaries were expelled in 1745. After the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1911, which ended Qing rule over Tibet , the 13th Dalai Lama declared himself ruler of an independent Tibet . It

184-673: A few years but was formally dissolved in 1959 after the 1959 Tibetan uprising . The Tibet Autonomous Region was established by China in 1965 out of a part of the Tibetan ethno-cultural area . The Central Tibetan Administration was established by the 14th Dalai Lama and based in McLeod Ganj India since 1959. Priest and patron relationship The priest and patron relationship , also written as priest–patron or cho-yon ( Tibetan : མཆོད་ཡོན་ , Wylie : mchod yon ; Chinese : 檀越關係 ; pinyin : Tányuè Guānxì ),

230-406: A lama or a deity), and yöndag , "he who gives gifts to that which is worthy" (a patron). During the 1913 Simla Conference , the 13th Dalai Lama 's negotiators cited the priest and patron relationship to explain the lack of any clearly demarcated boundary between Tibet and the rest of China (ie. as a religious benefactor, the Qing did not need to be hedged against). According to this concept, in

276-410: A museum since then, and a World Heritage Site since 1994. The palace is named after Mount Potalaka , the mythical abode of the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara . The 5th Dalai Lama started its construction in 1645 after one of his spiritual advisers, Konchog Chophel (died 1646), pointed out that the site was ideal as a seat of government, situated as it is between Drepung and Sera monasteries and

322-529: A result, Sonam Gyatso became known as the Dalai Lama . Since this title was also posthumously given to Gendun Drup and Gendun Gyatso , who were considered Sonam Gyatso's previous incarnations, Sonam Gyatso was recognized as being already the 3rd Dalai Lama. The 5th Dalai Lama (r. 1642–1682) is known for unifying the Tibetan heartland under the control of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, after defeating

368-501: A rule barring the building of any structure taller than 21 metres in the area. UNESCO was also concerned over the materials used during the restoration of the palace, which commenced in 2002 at a cost of RMB180 million (US$ 22.5 million), although the palace's director, Qiangba Gesang, has clarified that only traditional materials and craftsmanship were used. The palace has also received restoration works between 1989 and 1994, costing RMB55 million (US$ 6.875 million). The number of visitors to

414-571: A treaty agreeing on status quo ante . In the third Nepalese war (1855–1856) Tibet was defeated by the Nepal, but the resulting Treaty of Thapathali included provisions for mutual aid against aggressors. The first Europeans to arrive in Tibet were the Portuguese missionaries António de Andrade and Manuel Marques in 1624. They were welcomed by the King and Queen of Guge , and were allowed to build

460-529: Is "Ganden Phodrang" in a different sense, the personal service or labrang of the Dalai Lama. Altan Khan of the Tümed Mongols chose the Gelug order of Tibetan Buddhism as his Buddhist faith. In 1577 he invited the leader of this order, Sonam Gyatso , to come to Mongolia and teach his people. He designated Sonam Gyatso as "Dalai" (a translation into Mongolian of the name Gyatso, meaning "ocean"). As

506-504: Is in these much rich decorative painting, with jewelled work, carving and other ornamentation. The lower white frontage on the south side of the palace was used to hoist two gigantic thangkas joined representing the figures of Tara and Sakyamuni during the Sertreng Festival on the 30th day of the second Tibetan month. The Chinese Putuo Zongcheng Temple , also a UNESCO World Heritage Site , built between 1767 and 1771,

SECTION 10

#1732766310069

552-497: Is the Tibetan political theory that the relationship between Tibet and China referred to a symbiotic link between a spiritual leader and a lay patron, such as the historic relationship between the Dalai Lama and the Qing emperor . They were respectively spiritual teacher and lay patron rather than subject and lord. Chöyön is an abbreviation of two Tibetan words: chöney , "that which is worthy of being given gifts and alms" (for example,

598-655: The Ladakh Chronicles . The Dzungar–Qing Wars (1687–1757) between the Dzungar Khanate and Qing China had a major impact for Tibet. While the military landscape of Inner Asia in the late 17th century was dominated by the conflict between the Dzungars and the Qing, the Ganden Phodrang regime was also involved in the war because of its religious role, which was sometimes disingenuous. In 1705,

644-686: The 2nd Dalai Lama . When the 5th Dalai Lama came to power and the expansion of the Potala Palace began, the Dalai Lama moved away from the actual quarters Ganden Phodrang and stayed at the Potala in the winter and Norbulingka in the summer. According to some, the Ganden Phodrang is represented by the Central Tibetan Administration or Dalai Lama's government-in-exile in Dharamshala , India after 1959. However, this

690-641: The Batang uprising in 1905. A governing council known as the Kashag also operated in the Ganden Phodrang administration. During the British expedition to Tibet (1904) and the Chinese expedition to Tibet (1910) before the 1911 Revolution which led to the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1912, the Ganden Phodrang continued to govern Tibet under the Qing protectorate. After the Chinese Civil War which led to

736-408: The Qing dynasty from Tibet in 1720, thus beginning the period of Qing rule of Tibet . Tibet was a protectorate of the Qing while remaining a priest and patron relationship . The Qing dynasty exerted military and administrative control over Tibet while granting it a degree of political autonomy. The Kashag , the governing council of Tibet that lasted in Lhasa until the 1950s, was created in 1721 by

782-684: The Tibet–Ladakh–Mughal War against the Namgyal dynasty of neighboring Ladakh , with the 5th Dalai Lama overruling the advice of his Prime Minister. The 5th Dalai Lama died in 1682 and the subsequent Prime Minister, Desi Sangye Gyatso , agreed on the 1684 Treaty of Tingmosgang with the King Delek Namgyal of Ladakh to end the war. The original text of the Treaty of Tingmosgang no longer survives, but its contents are summarized in

828-421: The "Red Hill", rising more than 300 metres (980 ft) in total above the valley floor. Tradition has it that the three main hills of Lhasa represent the "Three Protectors of Tibet". Chokpori , just to the south of the Potala, is the soul-mountain ( Wylie : bla ri ) of Vajrapani , Pongwari that of Manjusri , and Marpori, the hill on which the Potala stands, represents Avalokiteśvara . The site on which

874-468: The 5th Dalai Lama and his intimates established a civil administration which is referred to by historians as the Lhasa state . All power and authority lay in the hands of the Dalai Lama right up to his death and Güshi Khan did not interfere in the administration nor tried to control its policies. The core leadership of this government is also referred to as the "Ganden Phodrang" or "Ganden Podrang", derived from

920-518: The Dalai Lama and his cabinet were to communicate with the Qing emperors. The Golden Urn system was also instituted in this degree, although the system was not always used (in such cases the amban was consulted). By the mid-19th century, Chinese hegemony over Tibet became weaker. In 1841-1842, the Tibetan army defeated the Sikh Empire's Dogra forces in the Dogra–Tibetan War , leading to

966-658: The Kashag which was further set by the Qing. In 1788, problematic relations with Nepal led to wars with Nepal. Tibetans requested Qing intervention, which resulted in the Sino-Nepalese War . After the war, Nepal also agreed to accept the suzerainty of the Chinese emperor. Qing also issued the "Twenty-Nine Article Imperial Ordinance of 1793", which was designed to enhance the ambans' status, and ordered them to control border inspections, and serve as conduits through which

SECTION 20

#1732766310069

1012-513: The Mongols ruled Tibet. However according to Sam van Schaik , this is an oversimplification, and the Mongols ruled Tibet as a colony. The Bureau of Buddhist and Tibetan Affairs and Imperial Preceptor in Khanbaliq were at the top of the Tibetan administration, but due to the great distance from Tibet, they had little direct influence on daily governance. Hence, the highest authority in Tibet

1058-769: The Potala Palace rises is built over a palace erected by Songtsen Gampo on the Red Hill. The Potala contains two chapels on its northwest corner that conserve parts of the original building. One is the Phakpa Lhakhang, the other the Chogyel Drupuk, a recessed cavern identified as Songtsen Gampo's meditation cave. Lozang Gyatso , the Great Fifth Dalai Lama, started the construction of the modern Potala Palace in 1645 after one of his spiritual advisers, Konchog Chophel (died 1646), pointed out that

1104-674: The Potala." It also escaped damage during the Cultural Revolution in 1966 through the personal intervention of Zhou Enlai , who was then the Premier of the People's Republic of China . According to Tibetan historian Tsering Woeser, the palace, which harboured "over 100,000 volumes of scriptures and historical documents" and "many store rooms for housing precious objects, handicrafts, paintings, wall hangings, statues, and ancient armour", "was almost robbed empty". The Potala Palace

1150-557: The Qing conspired with a Dzungar faction to kidnap the 6th Dalai Lama , after the murder of his regent and government official. Due to these actions, Tibet's relationship with the Mongols declined in popularity. In 1717, the last khan of the Khoshut Khanate, Lha-bzang Khan , was killed by the Mongol Dzungar Khanate forces invading Lhasa. The Dzungar forces were in turn expelled by the expedition forces of

1196-450: The Qing. The council was to govern Tibet under the close supervision of the Chinese garrison commander stationed in Lhasa, who quite often interfered with the decisions of the Kashag, especially when Chinese interests were involved. Soon after 1727 the skilful and politically astute Tibetan leader Pholhane reorganized the administration and army with Qing's support. After the death of Pholhane in 1747, his son Gyurme Namgyal moved to end

1242-415: The case of Yuan rule of Tibet in the 13th and 14th centuries, Tibetan Lamas provided religious instruction; performed rites, divination and astrology, and offered the khan flattering religious titles like "protector of religion" or "religious king"; the khan ( Kublai and his successors), in turn, protected and advanced the interests of the "priest" ("lama"). The lamas also made effective regents through whom

1288-416: The cooperation with Qing China by trying to expel the last of their troops from Lhasa, whose numbers varied over the decades. He was murdered by two Qing China ambassadors ( ambans ) in 1750, both of whom were killed by Gyurme Namgyal's army during the subsequent riot in Lhasa . After the riot, Qianlong Emperor of the Qing dynasty sent an army to Tibet and reorganized the Tibetan government in 1751, including

1334-546: The establishment of the People's Republic of China and the subsequent signing of the Sino-Tibetan Seventeen Point Agreement in 1951, the annexation of Tibet by the People's Republic of China began, although Dalai Lama escaped from Tibet and declared the revocation of the agreement following the 1959 Tibetan uprising . "Ganden Phodrang" originally referred to the residential quarters of the Dalai Lama lineage at Drepung Monastery since

1380-515: The exclusion of concrete political subordination is itself a "rather recent construction" and unsubstantiated. Instead, the patron and priest relationship coexisted with Tibet's political subordination to the Yuan and Qing dynasties. He writes that the priest and patron relationship has been present in times of political subordination, such as during the Yuan and Qing dynasties, as well as in times which

1426-530: The name of the estate of the Dalai Lamas at Drepung Monastery . The 5th Dalai Lama initiated the construction of the Potala Palace in Lhasa on the site of the Red Fort, and moved the centre of government there from Drepung . It remained the chief residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India during the 1959 Tibetan uprising . From 1679 to 1684, the Ganden Phodrang fought in

Ganden Phodrang - Misplaced Pages Continue

1472-656: The old city of Lhasa . It may overlie the remains of an earlier fortress called the White or Red Palace on the site, built by Songtsen Gampo in 637. The building measures 400 metres (1,300 ft) east-west and 350 metres (1,150 ft) north-south, with sloping stone walls averaging 3 metres (10 ft) thick, and 5 metres (16 ft) thick at the base, and with copper poured into the foundations to help proof it against earthquakes. Thirteen storeys of buildings, containing over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and about 200,000 statues, soar 117 metres (384 ft) on top of Marpo Ri,

1518-453: 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. The palace was receiving an average of 1,500 a day prior to the introduction of the quota, sometimes peaking to over 5,000 in one day. Visits to the structure's roof were banned after restoration efforts were completed in 2006 to avoid further structural damage. Visitorship quotas were raised to 2,300 daily to accommodate

1564-649: The patrons did not possess political authority in Tibet, such as during periods of the Ming and Qing. This Asian history–related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Potala Palace The Potala Palace is a dzong fortress in Lhasa , capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in China . It was the winter palace of the Dalai Lamas from 1649 to 1959, has been

1610-641: The rival Kagyu and Jonang sects and the secular ruler, the Tsangpa prince, in a prolonged civil war. His efforts were successful in part because of aid from Güshi Khan, the Oirat leader who established the Khoshut Khanate . With Güshi Khan as a completely uninvolved patron, who had conferred supreme authority on the Dalai Lama for the whole of Tibet at a ceremony at Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse ,

1656-469: The side of Ri Marpo ('Red Mountain') in the centre of Lhasa Valley, the Potala Palace, with its vast inward-sloping walls broken only in the upper parts by straight rows of many windows, and its flat roofs at various levels, is not unlike a fortress in appearance. At the south base of the rock is a large space enclosed by walls and gates, with great porticos on the inner side. A series of tolerably easy staircases, broken by intervals of gentle ascent, leads to

1702-486: The site was ideal as a seat of government, situated as it is between Drepung and Sera monasteries and the old city of Lhasa. The external structure was built in 3 years, while the interior, together with its furnishings, took 45 years to complete. The Dalai Lama and his government moved into the Potrang Karpo ('White Palace') in 1649. Construction lasted until 1694, some twelve years after his death. The Potala

1748-400: The status of independent nation with only a patron and priest relationship and the idea that the political subordination to the Yuan and Qing emperors was a misunderstanding. According to Elliot Sperling, an expert on the history of Tibet and Tibetan–Chinese relations at Indiana University , the Tibetan concept of a "priest–patron" religious relationship governing Sino-Tibetan relations to

1794-516: The summit of the rock. The whole width of this is occupied by the palace. The central part of this group of buildings rises in a vast quadrangular mass above its satellites to a great height, terminating in gilt canopies similar to those on the Jokhang . This central member of Potala is called the "red palace" from its crimson colour, which distinguishes it from the rest. It contains the principal halls and chapels and shrines of past Dalai Lamas. There

1840-625: The village fortification walls, and the exterior stone pillar or doring chima , which originally stood outside the South entrance to the village. Today the pillar stands neglected to the East of the Liberation Square, on the South side of Beijing Avenue. The doring chima dates as far back as circa 764, "or only a little later", and is inscribed with what may be the oldest known example of Tibetan writing. The pillar contains dedications to

1886-493: Was considered by the Republic of China as a part of the new republic, which gave Tibet the status of an " Area ". With its proclamation of independence and conduct of its own internal and external affairs in this era, Tibet is regarded as a "de facto independent state" during this period. This would last until the 1950s, when Tibet was annexed by the People's Republic of China . The Kashag state structure remained in place for

Ganden Phodrang - Misplaced Pages Continue

1932-557: Was in part modelled after the Potala Palace. The palace was named by the American television show Good Morning America and newspaper USA Today as one of the " New Seven Wonders ". The nine-storey Leh Palace in Leh, Ladakh , India built by King Sengge Namgyal (c. 1570–1642), was a precursor of the Potala Palace. Lhasa Zhol Village has two stone pillars or rdo-rings , an interior stone pillar or doring nangma , which stands within

1978-489: Was inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994. In 2000 and 2001, Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka were added to the list as extensions to the sites. Rapid modernisation 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

2024-547: Was moderately damaged during the Tibetan uprising against the Chinese in 1959 , when Chinese shells were launched into the palace's windows. Before Chamdo Jampa Kalden was shot and taken prisoner by soldiers of the People's Liberation Army , he witnessed "Chinese cannon shells began landing on Norbulingka past midnight on 19 March 1959... The sky lit up as the Chinese shells hit the Chakpori Medical College and

2070-532: Was the administrator of the Sakya who deferred to the abbot in religious matters. Western historians such as Melvyn Goldstein , Elliot Sperling , and Jaques Gernet have described Tibet during the Yuan and Qing dynasties as a protectorate , vassal state , tributary , or something similar, and made clear about the subordination of Tibet to the Yuan and Qing emperors, although the de facto independent Tibetan government (1912–1951) and Tibetan exiles promote

2116-535: Was used as a winter palace by the Dalai Lama from that time. The Potrang Marpo ('Red Palace') was added between 1690 and 1694. The new palace got its name from a hill on Cape Comorin at the southern tip of India—a rocky point sacred to the bodhisattva of compassion, who is known as Avalokitesvara , or Chenrezi. The Tibetans themselves rarely speak of the sacred place as the "Potala", but rather as "Peak Potala" ( Tse Potala ), or most commonly as "the Peak". The palace

#68931