Difference between revisions of "Shigatse Dzong"
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[[File:Shigatse_Dzong3.jpg|thumb|250px|Refurbished Shigatse Dzong, 2007]] | [[File:Shigatse_Dzong3.jpg|thumb|250px|Refurbished Shigatse Dzong, 2007]] | ||
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| − | The [[Dzong]] was destroyed completely in the 1961 Cultural Revolution, but was rebuilt in 2007 at the same location, though on a smaller scale. | + | The [[Shigatse Dzong]], also known as [[Samdruptse Dzong]], is located in [[Xigazê County]] in the Xigazê Prefecture [[In Tibet]], [[China]]. It is spelt Rikaze [[Dzong]] (official spelling: Xigazê [[Dzong]]; other spellings: Rìkāzé [[Dzong]] (Rikaze [[Dzong]]), Shigatse [[Dzong]], Shikatse [[Dzong]], Zhigatsey [[Dzong]] simplified Chinese: 日喀则ོང་; traditional Chinese: 日喀則, {gStandard Tibetan: གཞིས་ཀ་རྩེ་རྫོང་ ). |
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| + | [[Shigatse Dzong]] was originally built by [[Karma]] Phunstok Namgyal (1611–1621), the second in the line of the Nyak family who ruled [[Tibet]] from 1565–1642, after which the capital was moved to Lhasa. [[Shigtse Dzong]]’s historic importance was accentuated by the fact that the [[Mongol]] ruler [[Gusri Khan]] installed the [[Fifth Dalai Lama]] as the supreme ruler of [[Tibet]], which then covered territory from Tachienlu in the east up to the [[Ladakh]] border in the west in the 17th century. In later years, the fort became the residence of the governor of [[Tsang]]. The modern city of [[Shigatse]] has developed around the base of the [[Dzong]]. | ||
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| + | The [[Dzong]] was destroyed completely in the 1961 [[Cultural Revolution]], but was rebuilt in 2007 at the same location, though on a smaller scale. | ||
The large [[Tashilhunpo Monastery]], founded in 1447 by [[Gendun Drup]], the [[First Dalai Lama]], is close to the base of the fort in Shigatse. | The large [[Tashilhunpo Monastery]], founded in 1447 by [[Gendun Drup]], the [[First Dalai Lama]], is close to the base of the fort in Shigatse. | ||
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== Geography == | == Geography == | ||
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| + | The [[Shigatse Dzong]] and the city called [[Shigatse]] are located at an altitude of about 3,860 metres (12,660 ft), slightly higher than [[Lhasa]]. The oxygen content of the air is only 67 percent of that at sea level, while the average annual temperatures are 16 °C (61 °F) in mid-summer and −5 °C (23 °F) in mid-winter. The [[Shigatse Dzong]] is situated at the confluence of the [[Yarlung Tsangpo]] (aka [[Brahmaputra River]] and [[Niang chu]] ([[Nyang Chu]]) [[Rivers]] in West [[Tibet]]. [[Shigatse]] was the ancient capital of [[Ü-Tsang province]]. The location of the [[Dzong]] on the hilltop dominates the scenic views of the town and the [[Tashilhunpo Monastery]]. [[Shigatse]] is also the [[Name]] of the surrounding county, whose population is approximately 94,000. | ||
The city of Shigatse is the second-largest city [[In Tibet]], with a population of about 12,000. It is the hub of the road network between Lhasa, [[Nepal]], and western [[Tibet]]. The road follows both the north and south banks of the Tsongpo via the northern route of Yangpachen. It is expected that the Qinghai-[[Tibet]] railway will be extended to Shigatse by 2010.[[China]] National Highway 318 also passes through Shigatse. | The city of Shigatse is the second-largest city [[In Tibet]], with a population of about 12,000. It is the hub of the road network between Lhasa, [[Nepal]], and western [[Tibet]]. The road follows both the north and south banks of the Tsongpo via the northern route of Yangpachen. It is expected that the Qinghai-[[Tibet]] railway will be extended to Shigatse by 2010.[[China]] National Highway 318 also passes through Shigatse. | ||
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== History == | == History == | ||
| − | The imposing | + | The imposing [[Shigatse Dzong]] was built in the 17th century as a smaller prototype of the [[Potala]] in [[Lhasa]], and had turret-like fortifications at the ends and a central Red Palace. In the 17th century, the [[Mongols]] (by [[Gusri Khan]] in 1642) supported the [[Fifth Dalai Lama]] and defeated [[Prince Tsang]] at [[Shigatse]]. After this event, the [[Tashilhunpo Monastery]] came under the control of the Yellow Hat sect. The rivalry between the [[Sakya]] and the [[Gelukpa]] orders is traced to this event; the [[Geukpa]] sect of the Dala [[Lama]] controlled from Central [[Tibet]] and the [[Panchen Lama]] controlled from [[Shigatse]]. |
| − | Shigatse was previously the seat of the kings of Ü-Tsang and the capital of the province of Ü-Tsang or Tsang. It was sacked when the Gurkhas invaded [[Tibet]] and captured Shigatse in 1791 before a combined Tibetan and Chinese army drove the Gurkhas back as far as the outskirts of Kathmandu. The Gurkhas were forced to agree to keep the [[Peace]] in future, pay tribute every five years, and return what they had looted from Tashilhunpo. | + | [[Shigatse]] was previously the seat of the kings of [[Ü-Tsang]] and the capital of the province of [[Ü-Tsang]] or [[Tsang]]. It was sacked when the [[Gurkhas]] invaded [[Tibet]] and captured [[Shigatse]] in 1791 before a combined [[Tibetan]] and [[Chinese]] army drove the [[Gurkhas]] back as far as the outskirts of [[Kathmandu]]. The [[Gurkhas]] were forced to agree to keep the [[Peace]] in future, pay tribute every five years, and return what they had looted from [[Tashilhunpo]]. |
| − | Shigatse was also the traditional seat of the Panchen Lamas. Until the Chinese arrived in the 1950s, the "Tashi" or [[Panchen Lama]] wielded temporal [[Power]] over three small districts, though not over the town of Shigatse itself, which was administered by a dzongpön (general) appointed from Lhasa. | + | [[Shigatse]] was also the traditional seat of the [[Panchen Lamas]]. Until the [[Chinese]] arrived in the 1950s, the "[[Tashi]]" or [[Panchen Lama]] wielded temporal [[Power]] over three small districts, though not over the town of [[Shigatse]] itself, which was administered by a [[dzongpön]] (general) appointed from [[Lhasa]]. |
== Destruction and rebuilding of the [[Dzong]] == | == Destruction and rebuilding of the [[Dzong]] == | ||
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[[File:Shigatse_Dzong_old.jpg|thumb|250px|Shigatse fortress or Samdrubtse Dzong. 1938]] | [[File:Shigatse_Dzong_old.jpg|thumb|250px|Shigatse fortress or Samdrubtse Dzong. 1938]] | ||
[[File:Gruschke_ShigatseDzong.jpg|thumb|250px|The reconstructed castle (dzong) of Shigatse, 2007.]] | [[File:Gruschke_ShigatseDzong.jpg|thumb|250px|The reconstructed castle (dzong) of Shigatse, 2007.]] | ||
| − | During the Chinese Cultural Revolution [[In Tibet]] in 1961, the [[Dzong]] was demolished "stone by stone". This destruction was instigated by the Chinese and resulted in the complete razing of the [[Dzong]], which held an imposing view above the | + | During the [[Chinese Cultural Revolution]] [[In Tibet]] in 1961, the [[Dzong]] was demolished "stone by stone". This destruction was instigated by the Chinese and resulted in the complete razing of the [[Dzong]], which held an imposing view above the [[Shigatse]] town; only a few ramparts were left. |
| + | |||
| + | Between 2005 and 2007, the building was reconstructed, financed by donations from [[Shanghai]]. The basis of the reconstruction were old photos, yet reconstruction was executed in cement/concrete. Since then, the outside has been wainscotted with natural stones. The [[Dzong]] has become a museum on Tibetan culture. | ||
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== Nearby attractions == | == Nearby attractions == | ||
| − | Within the precincts of the [[Dzong]] and the city of | + | |
| + | Within the precincts of the [[Dzong]] and the city of [[Shigatse]] are many monuments of religious importance, such as the [[Tashilhunpo Monastery]] and the [[Shalu Monastery]]. Another important structure is the Narthang [[Monastery]], a 12th-century [[Monastery]] of the [[Kadampa]] [[Order]] which housed the first [[Printing]] establishment in Central [[Tibet]]. | ||
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=== [[Tashilhunpo Monastery]] === | === [[Tashilhunpo Monastery]] === | ||
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[[Tashilhunpo Monastery]] (Tibetan: བཀྲ་ཤིས་ལྷུན་པོ་), founded in 1447 by [[Gendun Drup]], the [[First Dalai Lama]], is a historic and culturally important [[Monastery]] next to Shigatse, the second-largest city [[In Tibet]]. | [[Tashilhunpo Monastery]] (Tibetan: བཀྲ་ཤིས་ལྷུན་པོ་), founded in 1447 by [[Gendun Drup]], the [[First Dalai Lama]], is a historic and culturally important [[Monastery]] next to Shigatse, the second-largest city [[In Tibet]]. | ||
| − | The [[Monastery]] is the traditional seat of successive Panchen Lamas, the second-highest-ranking [[Tulku]] | + | The [[Monastery]] is the traditional seat of successive [[Panchen Lamas]], the second-highest-ranking [[Tulku lineage]] in the [[Gelukpa]] tradition. The [[Monastery]] is one of the six great [[Gelukpa-Order]] [[Monasteries]] founded in 1447 by [[Gendup Drup]]. On the eastern side of the [[Monastery]] stands the old living quarters of the [[Panchen Lama]] — the [[Panchen Lama]]'s Palace, known as Gudong. Within, a narrow courtyard gives access to the temple containing the [[Fourth Panchen Lama]]'s tomb. |
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| + | In the 1960s many senior [[lamas]] and monastics left [[Tibet]] and established new [[Monasteries]] in [[India]], [[Nepal]] and [[Bhutan]]. However, the [[Panchen Lama]] stayed [[In Tibet]], and many of the senior [[lamas]] from the [[Tashilhunpo Monastery]] therefore stayed as well. In 1972 a new campus of [[Tashilhunpo Monastery]] was built by [[Tibetan]] exiles at a settlement in [[Bylakuppe]], [[Karnātakā]], in southern [[India]]. Since the early 1980s, parts of the [[Tashilhunpo Monastery]] have been open to the public and it is an important tourist attraction [[In Tibet]]. | ||
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=== [[Shalu Monastery]] === | === [[Shalu Monastery]] === | ||
| − | The [[Shalu Monastery]], established in the 11th century, became famous in the 14th century as a centre of learning under | + | |
| + | The [[Shalu Monastery]], established in the 11th century, became famous in the 14th century as a centre of learning under [[Butön Rinpoche]], its [[abbot]]. He was an authoritative translator of his Times [[In Tibet]] and interpreter of [[Sanskrit]] [[Buddhist texts]]. The title of '[[Butön]]' was prefixed to his [[Name]], [[Rinchen Drup]]. The [[Monastery]] was famous for psychic learning of trans-walking and [[thumo]] (generating internal heat to survive in cold weather). Located 40 km south of [[Shigatse]], it was also famous for [[Pala Art]] paintings of the [[Newari-Tibetan-Mongol school]]. This [[Art]], which developed in the 13th century, is traced to Arniko of the court of [[Kublai Khan]] in [[Beijing]]. This style influenced [[Art]] in Northern and Eastern Asia for several centuries. Some of the paintings are still well preserved. Repair and reconstruction of the [[Monastery]] began in May 2009 to preserve the heritage monument and its famed paintings. | ||
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=== [[Kora]] === | === [[Kora]] === | ||
| − | [[Kora]], a [[Pilgrimage]] and a type of [[Meditation]] in the Tibetan [[Buddhist tradition]], is performed in Shigatse along a set route covering the [[Tashilhunpo Monastery]], the Mani walls, sacred rocks, a small temple, the | + | |
| + | [[Kora]], a [[Pilgrimage]] and a type of [[Meditation]] in the Tibetan [[Buddhist tradition]], is performed in Shigatse along a set route covering the [[Tashilhunpo Monastery]], the Mani walls, sacred rocks, a small temple, the [[Shigatse Dzong]], and back to the [[Monastery]] through the town. It is a walking circumambulation starting with the [[Tashilhunpo's]] entrance and moving round along a set route in a clockwise [[Direction]]. | ||
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| + | [[The Kora]] first covers the boundary wall of the [[Tashilhunpo Monastery]] (90 m), then proceeds north to the [[Prayer Wheels]], climbs up the hills to another row of [[Prayer Wheels]], passes a large [[Chorten]], visits the small [[Gyelwa Jampa Temple]] (maroon-coloured) on the Right, passes through a series of rocks which are worshiped by pilgrims by rubbing against the rocks and [[Offering]] [[Incense]] [[tsampa]] or [[chang]] to a sacred fireplace, and then climbs up and passes through a stone edifice in the [[Form]] of a cinema screen where a large [[Koku]] ([[Thangka]] religious painting) is displayed on particular occasions (in late July corresponding to the fifth [[Tibetan]] month during an annual festival held at [[Tashilhunpho Monastery]]). | ||
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| + | Further up, the route forks towards the [[Dzong]] to continue [[The Kora]] and is completed past a [[Mani temple]], returning to the entrance of the [[Tashilhunpho Monastery]] after passing through the town. | ||
{{W}} | {{W}} | ||
Revision as of 17:07, 30 August 2018
The Shigatse Dzong, also known as Samdruptse Dzong, is located in Xigazê County in the Xigazê Prefecture In Tibet, China. It is spelt Rikaze Dzong (official spelling: Xigazê Dzong; other spellings: Rìkāzé Dzong (Rikaze Dzong), Shigatse Dzong, Shikatse Dzong, Zhigatsey Dzong simplified Chinese: 日喀则ོང་; traditional Chinese: 日喀則, {gStandard Tibetan: གཞིས་ཀ་རྩེ་རྫོང་ ).
Shigatse Dzong was originally built by Karma Phunstok Namgyal (1611–1621), the second in the line of the Nyak family who ruled Tibet from 1565–1642, after which the capital was moved to Lhasa. Shigtse Dzong’s historic importance was accentuated by the fact that the Mongol ruler Gusri Khan installed the Fifth Dalai Lama as the supreme ruler of Tibet, which then covered territory from Tachienlu in the east up to the Ladakh border in the west in the 17th century. In later years, the fort became the residence of the governor of Tsang. The modern city of Shigatse has developed around the base of the Dzong.
The Dzong was destroyed completely in the 1961 Cultural Revolution, but was rebuilt in 2007 at the same location, though on a smaller scale.
The large Tashilhunpo Monastery, founded in 1447 by Gendun Drup, the First Dalai Lama, is close to the base of the fort in Shigatse.
Geography
The Shigatse Dzong and the city called Shigatse are located at an altitude of about 3,860 metres (12,660 ft), slightly higher than Lhasa. The oxygen content of the air is only 67 percent of that at sea level, while the average annual temperatures are 16 °C (61 °F) in mid-summer and −5 °C (23 °F) in mid-winter. The Shigatse Dzong is situated at the confluence of the Yarlung Tsangpo (aka Brahmaputra River and Niang chu (Nyang Chu) Rivers in West Tibet. Shigatse was the ancient capital of Ü-Tsang province. The location of the Dzong on the hilltop dominates the scenic views of the town and the Tashilhunpo Monastery. Shigatse is also the Name of the surrounding county, whose population is approximately 94,000.
The city of Shigatse is the second-largest city In Tibet, with a population of about 12,000. It is the hub of the road network between Lhasa, Nepal, and western Tibet. The road follows both the north and south banks of the Tsongpo via the northern route of Yangpachen. It is expected that the Qinghai-Tibet railway will be extended to Shigatse by 2010.China National Highway 318 also passes through Shigatse.
History
The imposing Shigatse Dzong was built in the 17th century as a smaller prototype of the Potala in Lhasa, and had turret-like fortifications at the ends and a central Red Palace. In the 17th century, the Mongols (by Gusri Khan in 1642) supported the Fifth Dalai Lama and defeated Prince Tsang at Shigatse. After this event, the Tashilhunpo Monastery came under the control of the Yellow Hat sect. The rivalry between the Sakya and the Gelukpa orders is traced to this event; the Geukpa sect of the Dala Lama controlled from Central Tibet and the Panchen Lama controlled from Shigatse.
Shigatse was previously the seat of the kings of Ü-Tsang and the capital of the province of Ü-Tsang or Tsang. It was sacked when the Gurkhas invaded Tibet and captured Shigatse in 1791 before a combined Tibetan and Chinese army drove the Gurkhas back as far as the outskirts of Kathmandu. The Gurkhas were forced to agree to keep the Peace in future, pay tribute every five years, and return what they had looted from Tashilhunpo.
Shigatse was also the traditional seat of the Panchen Lamas. Until the Chinese arrived in the 1950s, the "Tashi" or Panchen Lama wielded temporal Power over three small districts, though not over the town of Shigatse itself, which was administered by a dzongpön (general) appointed from Lhasa.
Destruction and rebuilding of the Dzong
During the Chinese Cultural Revolution In Tibet in 1961, the Dzong was demolished "stone by stone". This destruction was instigated by the Chinese and resulted in the complete razing of the Dzong, which held an imposing view above the Shigatse town; only a few ramparts were left.
Between 2005 and 2007, the building was reconstructed, financed by donations from Shanghai. The basis of the reconstruction were old photos, yet reconstruction was executed in cement/concrete. Since then, the outside has been wainscotted with natural stones. The Dzong has become a museum on Tibetan culture.
Nearby attractions
Within the precincts of the Dzong and the city of Shigatse are many monuments of religious importance, such as the Tashilhunpo Monastery and the Shalu Monastery. Another important structure is the Narthang Monastery, a 12th-century Monastery of the Kadampa Order which housed the first Printing establishment in Central Tibet.
Tashilhunpo Monastery
Tashilhunpo Monastery (Tibetan: བཀྲ་ཤིས་ལྷུན་པོ་), founded in 1447 by Gendun Drup, the First Dalai Lama, is a historic and culturally important Monastery next to Shigatse, the second-largest city In Tibet.
The Monastery is the traditional seat of successive Panchen Lamas, the second-highest-ranking Tulku lineage in the Gelukpa tradition. The Monastery is one of the six great Gelukpa-Order Monasteries founded in 1447 by Gendup Drup. On the eastern side of the Monastery stands the old living quarters of the Panchen Lama — the Panchen Lama's Palace, known as Gudong. Within, a narrow courtyard gives access to the temple containing the Fourth Panchen Lama's tomb.
In the 1960s many senior lamas and monastics left Tibet and established new Monasteries in India, Nepal and Bhutan. However, the Panchen Lama stayed In Tibet, and many of the senior lamas from the Tashilhunpo Monastery therefore stayed as well. In 1972 a new campus of Tashilhunpo Monastery was built by Tibetan exiles at a settlement in Bylakuppe, Karnātakā, in southern India. Since the early 1980s, parts of the Tashilhunpo Monastery have been open to the public and it is an important tourist attraction In Tibet.
Shalu Monastery
The Shalu Monastery, established in the 11th century, became famous in the 14th century as a centre of learning under Butön Rinpoche, its abbot. He was an authoritative translator of his Times In Tibet and interpreter of Sanskrit Buddhist texts. The title of 'Butön' was prefixed to his Name, Rinchen Drup. The Monastery was famous for psychic learning of trans-walking and thumo (generating internal heat to survive in cold weather). Located 40 km south of Shigatse, it was also famous for Pala Art paintings of the Newari-Tibetan-Mongol school. This Art, which developed in the 13th century, is traced to Arniko of the court of Kublai Khan in Beijing. This style influenced Art in Northern and Eastern Asia for several centuries. Some of the paintings are still well preserved. Repair and reconstruction of the Monastery began in May 2009 to preserve the heritage monument and its famed paintings.
Kora
Kora, a Pilgrimage and a type of Meditation in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, is performed in Shigatse along a set route covering the Tashilhunpo Monastery, the Mani walls, sacred rocks, a small temple, the Shigatse Dzong, and back to the Monastery through the town. It is a walking circumambulation starting with the Tashilhunpo's entrance and moving round along a set route in a clockwise Direction.
The Kora first covers the boundary wall of the Tashilhunpo Monastery (90 m), then proceeds north to the Prayer Wheels, climbs up the hills to another row of Prayer Wheels, passes a large Chorten, visits the small Gyelwa Jampa Temple (maroon-coloured) on the Right, passes through a series of rocks which are worshiped by pilgrims by rubbing against the rocks and Offering Incense tsampa or chang to a sacred fireplace, and then climbs up and passes through a stone edifice in the Form of a cinema screen where a large Koku (Thangka religious painting) is displayed on particular occasions (in late July corresponding to the fifth Tibetan month during an annual festival held at Tashilhunpho Monastery).
Further up, the route forks towards the Dzong to continue The Kora and is completed past a Mani temple, returning to the entrance of the Tashilhunpho Monastery after passing through the town.
