The ride on the Qingzang Railway from Naqu to Lasa takes four hours. Lasa city has a population of 500,000. It has been the political, economic, cultural and religious hub of Tibet for a long time. Early in the 7th century, Songtsan Gampo united Tibet and founded the Turpan regime. Lasa was then made the capital.
Tibetan tangka was listed as a national intangible cultural item in 2006. Although there is no record about its origin, it is known that it was very popular in the 7th century, during the Songtsan Gampo's regime. Tangka refers to religious paintings depicting fairy tales and Buddhist statues, and the New Mian Tang School is the most influential tangka stream after the 15th century. The 69-year old Tanbaramdan is the most famous tangka painter of the New Mian Tang School. His family have been court painters for four generations. His grandfather even painted for the 13th Dalai Lama. In order to pass on the art, Tanbaramdan runs his own art school in Lasa and teaches tangka for free. We are going to meet the successor to learn more about his life.
Tibetan opera was listed as a UNESCO world heritage item in 2009. The Juemulong Tibetan opera is the most profound, most influential and most popular form among all kinds of Tibetan opera. It was listed as a national intangible cultural item in 2006. Tibetan opera originated from a ceremonial dance of Tibetan Buddhism in the 7th century. It has absorbed elements from folk dance before becoming today's Tibetan opera. Many actors put of colourful masks during the performance, and different colours represent different characters. The 74-year old Tseten Dorje is the successor of Juemulong Tibetan opera at the state level. He who started learning the art at a young age was the only artist in the world who can perform the eight great classical Tibetan operas.
The Potala Palace is situated at the end of the Qingzang Railway. It was inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994. Located 3700m above sea level, it is the highest and most intact building complex in the world. This "Pearl on the Roof of the World", as it is often called, seems to have merged into the environment. It consists of 13 floors, having a height of 117m. It is immersed with the solemnity and beauty of Tibetan Buddhism. Potala is a Sanskrit pronunciation, meaning the residence of the Goddess of mercy. It was a luxurious palace built in the 7th century by Songtsan Gampo of the Turpan regime to marry Princess Wencheng. The tomb of the Fifth Dalai Lama inside one of the shrines is 12.6m tall. It is made of gold of 3721kg. It is coated with gold and inlaid with thousands of precious stones. The sandalwood Guanyin statue in the Hall of the Goddess of Mercy, i.e. Guanyin, is another valuable item in the Palace. It is believed to be made of natural wood and to have come from India by itself. We are going to visit the Potala Palace to understand more about the history, architecture, religion and culture of Tibet.
We often say culture influences man. But in Tibet, religion influences culture.
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