TIBETAN

ARCHITECTURE
 GEOGRAPHICAL INFLUENCE
• Bordered on the north and east by China
• South by India, Nepal and Bhutan
• Tibet is the highest country in the world lying at the heart of the Himalayas
• Height varies between 12 000 to 16 000 feet
• Very thinly populated – the inhabited areas are generally centered upon monastic
settlements and almost excessively in the south, where sheep, and yaks are grazed
and some agriculture is possible
• Average temperature is from -16 to 28 degrees celcius
 HISTORICAL and CULTURAL
INFLUENCE
• Mid 7th century, under King Sron-Btsang-Gampo, Buddhism got officially
introduced into the land
• King Sron-Btsang-Gampo had two wives who were Nepalese and Chinese
princesses and were both Buddhist.
• He is said to have built many Buddhist temples, including
the Jokhang in Lhasa, the city in which he is credited in one tradition with
founding and establishing as his capital
• During his reign, the translation of Buddhist texts from Sanskrit into Tibetan
began
Sron-Btsang-Gampo (centre), Princess Wencheng (right) and Bhrikuti Devi of Nepal (left)
 The Dalai Lama
• The Dalai Lama is a very high reincarnated lama in Tibet
• A "lama" simply means "religious teacher", like the word "guru" in India, and a
reincarnated lama is a lama that is considered so advanced in his wisdom and
spiritual realizations as to be able to choose his next rebirth
• Combined in 1 person temporal and spiritual authority. He is the embodiment of
hope and a symbol for Tibet
• 14th Dalai Lama is Tenzin Gyatso
• Remains are enshrined in chortens or stupas at Lhasa
TIBETAN STRUCTURES
 Building typology
• Mainly Chinese and Indian influences
• Still has many unique features brought about by its adaptation to the cold,
arid, high altitude climate of Tibetan plateau
• Buildings are generally made from locally available construction materials,
and are often embellished with symbols of Tibetan Buddhism
• private homes often have Buddhist prayer flags flying from the rooftop
• Tibetan structures are constructed of natural materials such as stone, clay,
and wood
• most desirable building sites are on elevated land facing south
• Flat roofs are used in most parts of the central and western Tibetan plateau
where rainfall is slight
• the eastern Tibetan plateau where summer rains are heavier, sloping roofs,
covered either in slate, shingles, or (increasingly) ceramic tile, are popular
• prosperous agricultural areas, private homes may have up to three stories. In
herding areas where houses may be used only part of the year, they usually
have only one story
 Religious structures
• Two main types:
• temples, (gompas) which are used for religious ceremonies and
worship
• come in a great variety of styles, generally reflecting local architectural traditions
• stupas, (chortens) which are reliquaries and symbols
• can vary, from roundish walls in Kham to squarish, four-sided walls in Ladakh. In a
few regions, one may see tall and impressive stone towers, many over a century old
 Potala Palace, Lhasa
• Chief residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th fled to India during the Tibetan
uprising
• Now a museum and World Heritage Site
• named after Mount Potalaka, the mythical abode of the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara
• Its construction was started by the fifth Dalai Lama
• It may overlay the remains of an earlier fortress called the White or Red Palace on
the site
• has the honor of being the highest ancient palace in the world, with its
highest point reaching 3,750 meters (12,300 feet) above sea level, towering
100 meters (300 feet) above the city of Lhasa
• 13-stories-high palace with more than 10 000 chambers
• general structure of the Potala Palace is in two parts: the Red Palace and
the White Palace
• beautiful murals inside the palace are not only attractive, but also tell the
story of Tibet
• Has dhavas which symbolizes the Buddha’s victory over the four maras
 Red Palace
• the higher of the two palaces, and is made up of several chapels
• Used as a house of prayer by the Dalai Lama
• this part of the Potala Palace was dedicated to the study of Buddhism and the
advancement of the religion
• Housed within the Red Palace are several mausoleums of previous Dalai Lamas
• Each mausoleum is built with stateliness and honor in mind
• The mausoleum of the fifth Dalai Lama, located in the west of the palace stands
five stories high, is overlaid with gold, diamonds, pearls, and many other precious
gems,
• consists of a complicated layout of many different halls, chapels and libraries on
many different levels with a complex array of smaller galleries and winding
passages:
• Great West Hall
• The Saint’s Chapel
• North Chapel
• South Chapel
• East Chapel
• West Chapel
• First Gallery
• Second Gallery
• Third Gallery
• Tomb of Thirteenth Dalai Lama
 White Palace
• home to ten successive Dalai Lamas and their courts
• located there are the offices of the Tibetan government, governmental
assembly halls, and other official offices
• The original White Palace was built as a present from King Songtsan Gampo
to his bride-to-be in 637, but destroyed during the ninth century
• became known as the winter estate
Dhava rooftop of Potala
• The former quarters of the Dalai Lama. The figure in the throne represents
Tenzin Gyatso, the incumbent Dalai Lama
• Snow Lions protect the entrance to the Potala Palace
Monastery
 Tashi Lhunpo Monastery
• Shows heavy Mongol influence
• founded in 1447 by the 1st Dalai Lama,[1] is a historic and culturally
importantmonastery in 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 Gelug tradition of Tibetan
Buddhism
• the full name in Tibetan of the monastery means "all fortune and happiness
gathered here" or "heap of glory"
 Norbulingka
• Means “Jewelled Park”
• Palace and surrounding park in Lhasa
• Served as the traditional summer residence of the successive Dalai Lamas
• Part of the “Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace”
• Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• built by the 7th Dalai Lama and served both as administrative centre and
religious centre. It is a unique representation of Tibetan palace architecture
• situated in the west side of Lhasa, a short distance to the southwest of Potala
Palace
• covers an area of around 36 hectares (89 acres) and considered to be the
largest man made garden in Tibet
 Deden Tsuklagkhang, Lhasa
• a magnificent example of Tibetan religious architecture, displaying some of the finest
work done by Norbulingka artists, and the perfect place for prayer and reflection
• Adorning the walls are thangka frescoes depicting the deeds of the Buddha, the Fourteen
Dalai Lamas, and other great Buddhist masters
• An applique thangka, over two stories high, hangs from the ceiling, displaying the Buddha
and the 16 arhats, the work of dozens of artists and thousands of hours of dedicated labor
• the centerpiece of the temple is a 14ft gilded statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, the largest
of its kind outside Tibet, lovingly crafted by Norbulingka artists from hand-hammered
copper sheets
• thangka
 Johkang
• also known as the Qoikang Monastery, Jokang, Jokhang
Temple, Jokhang Monastery and Zuglagkang
• Buddhist temple in Barkhor Square in Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet
• Tibetans, in general, consider this temple as the most sacred and
important temple in Tibet
• has a sizable, significant collection of cultural artifacts, including Tang-
dynasty bronze sculptures and finely-sculpted figures in different shapes
from the Ming dynasty
• covers an area of 2.51 hectares (6.2 acres). When it was built during the
seventh century, it had eight rooms on two floors to house scriptures and
sculptures of the Buddha
• had brick-lined floors, columns and door frames and carvings made of wood
• Its architecture features the Tibetan Buddhist style, with influences from
China, Indian vihara design and Nepal
 Samye Monastery
• first Buddhist monastery to be founded in Tibet
• also notable as the site of the "Great Debate" (792-794) between the Indian
Mahayanists and Chinese Chán (Zen) Buddhists.
• famous for its sacred mandala design: the central temple symbolizes the
legendary Mount Meru, center of the universe
• popular pilgrimage destination for Tibetan Buddhists, some of whom travel
on foot for weeks to reach it
• A unique monastery and village rolled into one, situated amidst breathtaking
scenery
• layout of the huge monastery complex is modeled after the Indian temple
of Odantapuri in Bihar
• complex is surrounded by a strong wall topped by 108 (108 is a sacred
number) tiny chortens and pierced by gates at the four cardinal points
• main temple in the center represents Mt. Meru, the mythical mountain at the
center of the Buddhist universe.
• The four continents in the ocean around Mt. Meru are represented by the
four lingshi temples at the cardinal points, each flanked by two smaller
temples (lingtren) to symbolize islands in the ocean
• There are four large chortens at the corners of the main temple in, four
different colors, (black, red, white and green)
• there is a nyima (Sun) temple in the north
• and adawa (Moon) temple to the south
 Ramoche Temple
• Buddhist monastery second most important in Lhasa after the Jokhang
Temple
• Residing within the Ramoche Monastery is the life-sized statue of the 8-
year-old Sakyamuni
• The original building complex reveals a strong Tang architecture influence
as it was first built by Han Chinese architects in the middle of the 7th
century (during the Tang Dynasty)
• Han Princess Wencheng took charge of this project and ordered the
temple to be erected facing towards her home in the east to show her
homesickness
• The golden peak of the temple with the Han-style upturned eave is a famous
landmark and can be seen from much of Lhasa city
• The temple's combination of Han and Tibetan architectural styles
makes it a particular interesting study and a popular attraction
 Secular Structure
• include private homes, multi-family dwellings, and shops
• herding families live in tents for part of the year
 Wooden Houses in Larung Gar, Tibet
• Homes of monks, nuns and religious students cover the hillside Buddhist
Academy. Nestled amid the rolling mountains, deep within the Larung Gar
Valley, thousands of tiny wooden homes form one of the world’s largest
Buddhist institutes
Stone Houses in Yangda Village