Potala Palace is located on the red hill at an altitude of 3,700 meters in the center of Lhasa. "Potala" is actually a transliteration of the Sanskrit "Putuo", which refers to the island where Guanyin Bodhisattva lives.
Guided by the tour guide, we carefully looked at the horse wall, only to find that it was originally thought to be only a decorative ochre wall, not just painted ochre. The wall material is as thick as the local unique shrub-flat horse grass chopsticks, which is bound by special treatment and can also reduce the weight of the wall top.
Outside Potala Palace, 13 floor. In Buddhism, 13 is considered an auspicious number. Buddhism was introduced into China, and it was divided into three sects: Tantric Sect and Zen Sect. Pagoda is also 13 floor. 13 represents the perfection of merit in Buddhism, which is just the opposite of the western Christian cultural concept. Isn't it interesting?
The next four floors are earth walls supported by rocks, but there are actually only nine floors. The whole building is made of wood and stone, and the outer wall is red, white, yellow and black. Red symbolizes authority, white symbolizes peace, black symbolizes solemnity and yellow symbolizes prosperity.
The white main building is called the White House, and the red one is called the Red Palace. The White House is where the Dalai Lama lives and engages in political activities. The Red Palace is the highest and most central position in the Potala Palace, and it is the Lingta Hall of the Dalai Lama and various Buddhist temples.
Every year after the rainy season and before the "God Festival" on September 22 in the Tibetan calendar, monks and the masses will paint the outer wall of Potala Palace. Therefore, the exterior of Potala Palace looks brand-new, neat, elegant and solemn, without the vicissitudes of more than 400 years of history.
Walking in, a heavy sense of vicissitudes arises spontaneously. The thick log door, which is two people high, has left traces of the help of passers-by for many years: this part of the door is obviously bright and clean, and the worn edges and corners of the door frame become rounded. I can't think of any other factors except the feel. Water drops wear out, and water has an impact. Just passing by, casual touch, you can have such a big "power"?
Looking at the pillars of the palace roof that have not been maintained and renovated for many years, it is strange to think of painting the external walls every year. Why not maintain it here?
Guess what this place is? How do you feel?
These are the small black framed windows on the white wall of Potala Palace. The wall of Potala Palace is 2 to 5 meters thick, and some interlayers of the wall are filled with iron juice. There is also a window frame fence inside the wall. I took it with a fence. This is the first time I have seen the thickness of the wall. So the sunshine outside is dazzling, and I sweat when I walk, while the temple is cold and dark.
Visit Potala Palace by appointment. Visitors who get tickets will visit for one hour according to the time period specified in the tickets. This is the sunshine hall. Lhasa is called the city of sunshine, and the sunshine hall is on the top floor of the White House, where the sunshine is the most abundant.
After entering the Sunlight Temple, there are sacred and solemn palaces, Buddhist temples and stupas. No photos, hats and sunglasses are allowed.
After entering the temple, the light suddenly dimmed. Our tour guide is a responsible, experienced and conscientious female tour guide. In order to let us see and understand the history and collection of Potala Palace to the greatest extent, she explained it to us in the car. After entering the temple, she spared no effort to take us to every open place and explain it in detail. The monk guarding the temple urged her several times. Urged by her, the tour guide immediately agreed and took us away with great scruples. She explained that it was a waste of time.
Besides Songzan Gambu and Princess Wencheng, there is also the 6th Dalai Lama Cangyang Gyatso, and other historical figures are little known. Even in these open places, we have seen many cultural relics and amazing treasures.
There are eight pagodas in the main hall of Hongta. Lingta is a burial place.
The pagoda of the fifth Dalai Lama's Lingta is 14.85 meters high, and its shape is completely built according to the Bodhi Pagoda. The tower is wrapped in a gold jar. The gold wok on the tower surface should use 372 1 kg of gold (we all remembered this figure at the guide's prompt). The tower is inlaid with tens of thousands of jewels and jade, such as dzi beads, agates, turquoise and red corals. Although only the corridor in the hall is illuminated by bright butter lamps, you can also see its glittering golden light and brilliance.
The tour guide said that these gold and silver jewelry were presented by devout believers. They exchanged their family money for gold, silver and jewels. They traveled thousands of miles from all parts of Tibet, even from Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan and other places, worked tirelessly, crossed mountains and mountains, and slept in the wind for months or even years, just to offer their sincerity to the Buddha in Lhasa and pray for the afterlife for their own people, families and themselves.
The lighting in the hall is not very good, and the lighting and ventilation are insufficient. It's cold after staying for a long time. Walking out of the palace, I saw the blue sky between heaven and earth, white clouds dancing like snow, wild flowers blooming on the palace wall, and my mood suddenly became clear. I prefer the freedom and freshness of nature.
There is a saying among Tibetans that "Jokhang Temple comes first, then Lhasa City", and Jokhang Temple is as important as Potala Palace in the hearts of Tibetans. Jokhang Temple is near Potala Palace, about 1.4 km, and it takes 20 minutes to walk. Standing in the southeast of Potala Palace, the golden Jokhang Temple.
Relatively speaking, there are many tourists in Potala Palace and many letters in Jokhang Temple.
There are four turning lanes in Lhasa. Among them, the inner ring turns to Jokhang Temple, which is called "Langkuo"; The vicinity of Barkhor Street (Bajiao Street) in Jokhang Temple is called "Barkhor Street"; The outer ring surrounds the whole city of Lhasa and is called "Lin kuo". There is another one around Potala Palace called Zikuo.
Walk around Jokhang Temple and knock your head as long as it's you.
There are many believers kowtowing in Jokhang Temple at night.
When I left the Potala Palace, I was suddenly startled by a child who walked by my feet. The child in shock has stood up, looked in his own direction and saw a believer kowtowing around the Potala Palace in the scorching sun. He moved three steps to the left, silently, folded his hands and held his head high, moved to his chest, and then moved away from his chest. He stretched forward parallel to the ground, lying on the ground, tapping his forehead on the ground and folding his hands.
For me, Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple are to appreciate their grandeur, grandeur and solemnity, or to explore their mystery. For believers, they are gods, and they want to be there. When facing the great difficulties and obstacles in this world, they must dedicate their pious hearts forward.
Returning to Lhasa from Linzhi, I had lunch in a small restaurant and caught a glimpse of a beggar begging for money at the next table. When he turned to our table, he found that he was different from the beggar. His 3354 clothes are torn, but they are clean. Inch board, firm and dark skin, very energetic. He is wearing a pair of semi-new sneakers and carrying a baggy backpack. He saw a dusty apron hanging on his chest with a torn hem.
Really or not? When I look at his face carefully again, although Tibet was bronzed by ultraviolet rays in the nearest place to the sun, I can still clearly see a one-dollar coin with a dark color, irregular size and a birthmark in the center of his forehead!
He accepted the money we gave him with a little shyness and said his blessing to us again. His teeth are as white as bone China, and his black and white eyes stand out on his dark face, so I no longer doubt that he is really a real pilgrim!
The elder sister at the next table remembered the eggs and steamed bread that she didn't eat for breakfast and took them back to the car to give them to him. He lowered his head, held out his hand, then held them, then turned and disappeared out of my sight.
After dinner, we continued to return to Lhasa. It's time for a nap. Close your eyes, but you can't sleep. Thinking of this pilgrim, his dark face and bright eyes, thinking that he will measure the earth with his forehead in three steps, thinking that he doesn't know where he came from, how many roads he has traveled, how many kilometers to Lhasa, how many days to cross, the hardships along the way, and their firm peace, tears can't help but flow down the corner of his eyes.
When we laugh at their ignorance, our beliefs are far less firm than theirs; When we think they are stupid, our souls are far less abundant than theirs; When we pity them, our hearts are far away from their purity. When we were moved by their piety and firmness, we found that maybe we were stupid and sad ourselves. They live a happier and more peaceful life than we do, and they are immortal in spirit.