Lhasa
A city that is regarded by countless people as the spiritual homeland
It is a city of faith
It grows on snowy plateaus
Majestic mountains, ancient glaciers
Majestic rivers, brilliant lakes
It is surrounded by a sacred mountain and a sacred lake
But with a modern look
Intertwined with a complex temperament
A blend of the past and the future
In the game of faith and modernity
Soul-filled Lhasa
Become the mandala of the world
The spiritual home of those who crave spiritual comfort
Jokhang Temple, see the snow-capped mountains
01
Half rock obscure cloud snow
High-topped smoke
Lhasa is located in the middle of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
North of Naqu, gaze at Nian qing Tanggula
South of the mountain, look at the Himalayas
West of Shigatse, overlooking Mount Everest in the distance
East to Nyingchi, gaze at the Brahmaputra Gorge
It is the political, economic and cultural center of Tibet
Plateau heart
2 billion years ago
All the mountains, the highlands
They are still sleeping at the bottom of the sea
This vast ocean is called the ancient Mediterranean Sea
65 million years ago
The Indian plate drifts northward
Collision with the Eurasian Plate
Powerful extrusion stress tore the earth apart
The Tibetan Plateau is uplifted
Gradually rise to more than 4000 meters
The surrounding area stretches for thousands of kilometers
Super fault zone
The roof of the world, the third pole of the earth
And this violent collision is at the forefront
It is the Himalayas
Store the power of the planet and go straight to the firmament
There are 10 peaks above 8,000 meters above sea level
Mount Everest (Dingri County)
40 million years ago
The Indian Plate is once again subducting northward
The seabed rises sharply, turning from sea to land
The rock formations flow towards the east and west ends
However, in the east, it was met with stubborn resistance from the Yangtze plot
The continent was forcibly reversed
The crust tightens and creates strong fold deformation
A series of compact mountains running north-south directions are formed
Across the mountains
Meili Snow Mountain (Border between Chayu County, Tibet and Deqin County, Yunnan)
To the south, the Himalayas stand tall
To the east, there are layers of Hengduan Mountains
Kunlun Mountain, Argin Mountain, Qilian Mountain
Superimpose the barrier from the north
Tanggula, Nianqing Tanggula, Ganges
In addition, a road level is set up inside the plateau
The mountains are blocked
Let this plateau be left behind and independent
Inaccessible
And let this plateau be mysterious and holy
View of Nianqing Tanggula from the Celestial Gate of the Sacred Elephant (Dangxiong County, Lhasa)
Kailash Peak
The existence of the Tibetan Plateau
Also radically changed
Atmospheric circulation in eastern Eurasia
Even though the South Asian monsoon comes from the Indian Ocean
It is the strongest monsoon system in the world
Nor can it cross the Himalayas
It carries warm, moist water vapor surging north
Blocked by towering mountains
As a result, the southern Tibet region is lush
The plateau became exceptionally dry
pasture
Super high altitude
It also makes it the coldest place in the middle and low latitudes
You can reach the water vapor here
Condensed directly into ice and snow
Frozen year-round
Huge glaciers have developed
Rice Pile Glacier
Glacier melts snow
Along the fault zone between the mountains
Converge into majestic rivers
The riverbed of the Brahmaputra
Some rivers are blocked by glacial mudslides
Accumulates into a plateau dammed lake
The shores of the lake are meandering and coral-like
The surface of the lake is calm and emerald blue, and the color is like a jewel
Yang zhuo yongcuo, meaning jasper lake in the pastoral area, crowns the south of Tibet
Ranwu Lake, meaning a goat's milk-like lake (in Yasu County)
Some rivers enter giant depressions left by geological movements
Forming a vast inland lake
Nam wrong
It has an area of 1920 km²
Equivalent to 300 West Lakes in Hangzhou
The water of the lake is blue and clear
It is one of the "Three Holy Lakes"
Namtso (Dangxiong County, Lhasa)
And those rivers that flow freely
It keeps flowing and cutting down
Shape a spectacular canyon
At the foot of Nanga Bawa Peak, the Brahmaputra Grand Canyon is the longest and deepest overland canyon in the world
Alluvial out of the fertile plains
Lhasa Valley
It originates from the Lhasa River in Nianqing Tanggula
All the way south
It flows into the Brahmaputra
Lhasa River
Nourished by it
On this precious river valley plain of the plateau
The holy city of Lhasa was born
Aerial photo of Lhasa from behind the Bu Palace
The altitude is 3650 meters
In the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the terrain is low and flat
There is no heat in summer, and no severe cold in winter
Sunny and rainy throughout the year
The sunshine time is more than 3000 hours
It's the city of daylight
The walls of the Barkhor Street House are sprinkled with sunlight
Oxygen content is less than 65% of that of the Mainland
The intensity of ultraviolet rays exceeds that of the mainland by 8 times
Considered one of the most uninhabitable places on earth
Only hardy and drought-tolerant plants and animals can survive
Highland meadows and yaks
In this "least livable" place
But a magical civilization has emerged
There have also been god-level projects
It is the creation of man
Give Lhasa a divinity
Make the city shine
Beijing East Road
02
Inuyasha is wasted
Han makes Chi Xiji
40,000 years ago
Humans have set foot on the Tibetan Plateau
Leave evidence of survival
This was the prehistoric conquest of high-altitude extreme environments
The highest and earliest record
Paleolithic stone artifacts excavated at the Nyats site in northern Tibet
However, due to the bitter cold environment and scarcity of resources
Crops and livestock are not easy to grow
It is almost isolated from outside traffic
Agriculture and handicrafts in Tibet have developed extremely slowly
The social form also stayed in the primitive tribal system
Wheat and rice are poorly hardy, and only barley can be widely cultivated on the plateau
After years of conquest and annexation
There are three main tribes that inhabit the plateau
Ali's ancient kingdom of Elephant Xiong
The Subi tribe of northern Tibet
The Yalong tribe of Shannan
Zhangxiong's location is closest to Central Asia
Take advantage of the ancient Silk Road Station
Civilization is the most developed
The earliest religion in Tibet, Bon, was developed
Today, Tibetans have the influence of Bon relics such as planting multicolored prayer flags and placing mani piles
The Yalong tribe of Shannan Qiongjie
The chief is hereditary and is called Zampu
According to the New Book of Tang and the Tale of Tubo
"Its common saying is that the male strength is praised, and the husband is known as Pu
Therefore, the name of the king is long and zampu"
The Yalong ministry built the first palace in Tibet in Shannan
Yongbrakon
Built on the top of a mountain, the façade is thick and the windows are narrow
Comes with distinct fortress attributes
6th-7th centuries
Rise of the Yalong Ministry
ChiefTain Day praise
External conquest, internal reform
The power expanded into the Lhasa River Valley
Unfortunately, he was poisoned in the rebellion of the nobility
Songtsen Gampo, 12, succeeded to the throne
Songtsen Gampo statue
He spent three years quelling civil unrest
Planning for the reunification of Tibet
The first step is to move the capital
At this time, the royal city was located in the south of the mountain
It is not conducive to the dispatch of outgoing soldiers
There are remnants of the old aristocratic forces
The new king, who had just ascended the throne, set his sights on it
Jixue Lying Pond in the north
It means the fertile dam of the lower reaches of the Jiqu River
There is an alpine barrier to the north
Head west to attack Zhangxiong
The terrain is more treacherous
The wilderness is wider
Transportation is more convenient
The Potala Mountains are condescending, easy to defend and difficult to attack
Deep in the heart of the king
The name of this piece of dam today
It was Lhasa
The history of the founding of Lhasa has begun for more than 1,300 years
In 633, the capital moved to Lhasa
The Tubo Dynasty was formally established
The buraku learned to farm
Nomadic herding gradually changed to sedentary grazing
Production has developed tremendously
Cattle and sheep are everywhere, and horses are fat
Textile and other handicraft technology improvement
The raw materials for tibetan weaving are mainly wool, and silk is very rare, so the hada woven from raw silk is used for pilgrimage or dedicated to distinguished guests
The royal family built palace forts, built rivers, and built monasteries
The relocation of the capital has created the prototype of the city of Lhasa
Also make Tibet stronghold the hinterland of the plateau
Centered to control the quad
Map of the whole region of Tibet / Ministry of Natural Resources
Tubo and Niporo (present-day Nepal) were hired
In 638, Princess Ruzun entered Tibet
Trade between the two countries has become increasingly frequent
The art of carving, painting and architecture was introduced
Songtsen Gampo also asked Tang Taizong for affection
The Fourteenth Year of Zhenguan (640)
Li Shimin enfeoffed the chambermaid of the Emperor as Princess Wencheng
Marry Tubo far away
Become Queen Zampu
The musical "Princess Wencheng" was performed at the National Centre for the Performing Arts
The King of Tibet built a castle and a palace for the princess
A thousand palaces were built on the Red Mountain
It was built on the mountainside
Large stone walls stand like shaved walls
Blended with the hills, it is magnificent
Named Potala Palace
Night view of potala palace
Tang Fan has since become a good in-law
More Han Chinese entered Tibet by the Tang Dynasty
Central Plains farming and textile technology were introduced
Tubo horses and gold and silver ware spread to the interior
705 to 822 years
Tang Bo joined the League eight times
The Huimeng Monument still stands in front of the Jokhang Temple
Witness to Sino-Tibetan friendship
After establishing good diplomatic relations with neighboring powers
In 644, Songtsen Gampo surrendered to Zhangxiong
His descendants continued to expand their territory
Eventually unify the entire Tibetan Plateau
In 755, the Anshi Rebellion
The western tang dynasty was defensely empty
Tubo took the opportunity to occupy Longyou, Beiting, and Anxi
Westward annexation of Buru (Kashmir region)
At one point it advanced southwest to the north bank of the Ganges
This was the most extensive period of The Territory of Tibet
Tubo, Tang and surrounding spheres of influence
Frequent conquests severely damaged the national strength
In addition, internal class contradictions are intensifying day by day
At the beginning of the 9th century, Tibet turned from prosperity to decline
Royal factions have been fighting for years
The generals of the army are the best in the armies
Slave civilians rose up
Tibet destroyed the country
The city of Lhasa was also deserted
Zigzag palace structure
Since then, no unified regime has been established on the plateau
Enter the era of division and division for nearly 400 years
Religion and local forces rely on each other
It became the prototype of the theocratic system
At the same time, the society of serfdom took shape
It has continued for nearly a thousand years
The Dharma is boundless
At the time of the Song and Yuan dynasties, the Sakya sect ba sipa returned to Kublai Khan
Wu Sizang and Duogan were incorporated into the territory of the Yuan Empire
Tibet is officially under the direct jurisdiction of the Chinese central government
Thereafter, the Yuan and Ming dynasties
The central government has set up a propaganda department and a command and envoy department in Tibet
Canonized and appointed Tibetan monks and laymen
Serve as a senior local official
The local regimes supported successively
Sakya dynasty, the capital is located in Sakya County
During the Pazhu Dynasty, the capital was Shannan Naidong
The Tibetan-Pakistani dynasty, the capital of which was Shigatse
Tibetans use yak skulls as spiritual objects
Until 1642, the Tibetan-Pa dynasty collapsed
Lhasa has been away from the core of the Tibetan regime for 800 years
The palace collapsed and the streets were dilapidated
No more weather
Its revival stemmed from the rise of the Gelugs
In 1652, the Fifth Dalai Lama went to Beijing to meet the Shunzhi Emperor
In turn, it was recognized and supported by the Qing court
Become the religious leader of all of Tibet
In Lhasa, the stronghold of the Gelugpas
Established the theocratic Gandan Pozhang regime
Lhasa once again became the capital of Tibet
The Potala Palace was renovated
A new summer palace was added, Norbulingka
Norbulingka is a summer leisure place for today's Lhasa citizens
In 1662, the Fifth Dalai Lama died after his death
Find a reincarnated child for it
Since then, the Panchen Lama has appeared
Establish the system of reincarnation of the two living Buddhas, the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama
The Dalai Lama (meaning the sea) is the embodiment of Guanyin
The Panchen Lama (meaning Master) acts as the incarnation of the Immeasurable Light Buddha
In terms of teaching ranks, the Panchen Lama is higher than the Dalai Lama
But in fact, the regime belongs to the Dalai Lama
Residence in The Potala Palace in Lhasa
Administration of Former Tibet (about 90% of The population of Tibet)
The Panchen Lama, on the other hand, is far from worldly things
Live in Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse
Administration of Hou tibet (about 10% of the population)
The Qing central government placed the two on an equal footing
They were canonized by the emperor and directly led by the Qing government
The Fifth Dalai Lama entered Beijing to see Shunzhitu
In 1717, the Dzungars invaded northern Tibet from the south
Capture Lhasa all the way
Kangxi sent the Qing army to ping Anzang
At this point, the Mongol forces basically withdrew from Tibet
Although Tibet's productive forces are backward, its grain output is low
But it is a fortress that guards the security of western China
If you throw away Tibet
The enemy can then go straight into the heart of China
So in 1727, Yongzheng set up a special minister in Tibet
Co-manage administrative affairs with the Dalai Lama
Mutual restraint and avoid ethnic contradictions
Most importantly
Clarify the principle that the decision on tibet's border national defense belongs to the central authorities
Minister of Residence in Tibet Yamen
03
There are no outsiders in the future
Victory is China
At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the empire was in turmoil
Incapable of running the frontier
Lhasa's fate is once again in turmoil
Britain occupies India
Control of Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan
Intended to touch Tibet
Infiltration in the name of worship, commerce, exploration, etc
An attempt to incite Tibet to secede from China
Rejected by the Panchen Lama and the Dalai Lama
Defense of Gyantse / Frank Dadd painting
In 1888, Britain launched a war of aggression
Capture of Mount Long Tou
In 1890, the Sino-British Tibetan-Indian Treaty was signed.
In 1903, the British invaded Tibet again
After many bitter battles, the Tibetan army lost tens of thousands of people
In 1904, british troops occupied Lhasa
Signing of the Treaty of Lhasa
Targeting the parts of the treaty that undermine China's sovereignty
The Qing government insisted on not approving it
The final treaty was amended to
Britain did not occupy and hide territory
and not to interfere in all politics in Tibet
The British conspiracy to colonize Tibet did not succeed
British troops enter Lhasa / Frank Dadd painted
In 1911, the Xinhai Revolution overthrew the imperial system
The National Government established the Mongolian and Tibetan Academy
However, during the period of the Republic of China, external troubles were endless, and internal strife was frequent
Social order is chaotic
Lhasa's economic development has been relatively stagnant
Unlike many cities
At the beginning of the 20th century, it was used as a port or railway hub
Start the modernization process
Bitter cold, hypoxic, rugged plateau
The daily supply of supplies is unsustainable
Not to mention shipping machines and opening factories
Lhasa is not economically industrialized
It is still dominated by manor farming
Nor has democratization been achieved politically
And stayed in feudal serfdom
Shackled serfs
Until after the founding of New China
May 23, 1951
Tibet was peacefully liberated
The Central People's Government entered the Lhasa garrison
Propose democratic reforms in a moderate manner
The gradual abolition of serfdom through a policy of "redemption"
But the nobles and toastmasters are not willing to withdraw from the stage of history
U.S. forces have taken advantage of the void
Train spies and rebel cadres in Tibet
In 1959, the local reactionary clique in Tibet was at the top
Launched a large-scale armed rebellion with the support of foreign powers
After the People's Liberation Army put down the rebellion
Serfdom was completely abolished
The central authorities exercise full and direct jurisdiction over Tibet
September 9, 1965
The Tibet Autonomous Region was officially proclaimed
In 1951, after the liberation of Tibet, the Spring Festival was celebrated
In August 2021, the 70th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet was celebrated
To this day, Lhasa has a new look
Behind this change
It is a god-level project that never stops
Since 1950
The troops who built the "Sky Road" began to challenge the plateau
In 2004, military vehicles transporting supplies on the Sichuan-Tibet Line
To consolidate the frontier defenses
It has also strengthened exchanges between Lhasa and other provinces and cities
Two roads into Tibet
Construction began on the north and east sides of the plateau, respectively
Ultra-high altitude, extremely cold climate
Oxygen is thin and geologically complex
Every inch of the road is destined to be extremely difficult
The mountain road passes the White Tower
To the north, this one departs from Golmud, Qinghai
Over Kunlun Mountain, Tanggula, Nianqing Tanggula
The altitude along the way is extremely high
It was as if it were connected to the sky
It is a veritable "heavenly road"
Infrastructure Engineering Corps
Frozen soil that is cold all year round
It's hard to dig
It swells again in the winter and melts in the summer
This causes the roadbed to rise and sink at times
Cause "washboard road"
Road builders must pass
Raise the road surface, install heat rods, and replace the road with a bridge
Push the road forward
Due to permafrost, landslides, mudslides and other difficulties
The Qinghai-Tibet Highway took four years to complete
The beauty of life on the Qinghai-Tibet Highway
Although the altitude is high, the frozen soil is hard
Fortunately, the terrain of the Qinghai-Tibet Line is relatively gentle
The vast wilderness through which the road passes
It's called Coco Ciri
Multiple river bends across
After the convergence, it is called the Yangtze River
Then cross the Nu River and the Brahmaputra River
Finally arrived in Lhasa
It became the highest altitude in the world at that time
The longest asphalt road
It is also the road with shorter mileage and the best road conditions
It is responsible for the transportation of 80% of the goods
The wasteland is open and endless
Entering Tibet from the east is not so smooth
The starting point is the Earthly Heavenly Palace at an altitude of 500 meters
The destination is the 4000-meter Fairy Plateau
Hengduan Mountain is like a graben
The seven main ridge mountains are all above 3500 meters
Folding mountains
Between the mountains
There are also six large rivers running through it
Erosion of flowing water, thousands of gullies
The road needs to cross the river at the bottom of the valley
The Jinsha River, which has the largest amount of water in the six rivers, is huge
From the towering mountain pass
to the deep river valley
The height difference can reach several thousand meters
It needs to be constantly going to heaven and earth
In the era when there were no tunnel boring machines
The road can only wind on the hillside
The famous "Seventy-Two Turns of the Nu River"
It took 4 years
More than 2,000 soldiers and civilians were sacrificed
The total length of the road is 2255 km
Finally, the whole line was completed
It stretches from Ya'an in the east to Lhasa in the west
This is the Kangzang Highway
Put the distance between Lhasa and the Sichuan Basin
It takes half a year to transport people and livestock
Shorten to a few days
(Today, the reconstructed road conditions only take 3 days one way)
On December 25, 1954, the Kangzang Highway and the Qinghai-Tibet Highway were fully opened to traffic on the same day
The following year, Xikang Province was abolished
The Kangzang Highway was renamed the Sichuan-Tibet Highway
The starting point extends east to Chengdu
Construction of the Sichuan-Tibet South Line began
The Ya River crosses the great river
Climb the mountains in Litang
Passing through Lulang Linhai, Tongmai Tianwei, Linzhi Taoyuan
Arrival in Lhasa
It was officially opened to traffic in 1958
Years later, the road connected eastward to Shanghai
Connect to camphor to the west
This is known as the "landscape avenue of Chinese"
National Highway 318
Today, it's the home of travelers, explorers, photographers
Bliss is there
Litang Scissors Bay Pass
Later, Lhasa headed west
The road was built to Shigatse
Further west, go straight to the northern foothills of Mount Everest
Everest Highway, completed in 1978
In 1957, the Xinzang Highway connected Yecheng-Ali
Reconnect to the Lhasa-Shigatse Highway
In 1976, the Yunnan-Tibet Highway connected Lijiang-Mangkang
Then connect to the Sichuan-Tibet Highway
Lhasa was finally realized with four neighboring provinces
All docked to national highways
The Xinzang Highway runs through the Karakoram Mountains
Roads were built
It opens up the talent and resource channels
Mainland craftsmen, cadres and intellectuals aiding Tibet
Hundreds of enthusiastic young people poured into Lhasa
In 1955, the central government sent engineers and technicians
Repair of the Lhasa Duodigou Hydropower Station
Lhasa ended up being illuminated by butter lamps to achieve electricity
Hydropower station
In the 1960s and 1970s, urban construction entered the fast lane
Lay wires, water supply and drainage pipes
Construction of auditoriums, office buildings, dormitories, and religious activity areas
Opened the Tibet People's Radio
Opened a state-run shop of the Tibet Trading Corporation
Paving
In 1978, Tibet carried out reform and opening up
Implementation of "land return to households, private raising of livestock, independent management"
As well as policies such as exempting agriculture and animal husbandry from taxes
Mobilize the enthusiasm of farmers and herdsmen
Street of Lhasa/ Thomas Nebbia, April 1980
The geothermal resources of Yangbajing in northern Lhasa are utilized
The largest geothermal power station in China was built with 24,000 kilowatts
Become the main power source of the whole Tibet
Yangbajing thermal power station
Since the end of the 1970s, the highway has been upgraded and rebuilt
The standard of the Qinghai-Tibet Highway was raised to a secondary highway
Asphalt pavement
The driving speed was increased from 20km/h to 60km/h
Several new bridges and tunnels were built along the Sichuan-Tibet Highway
The traffic conditions known as "natural insurance" are improving day by day
Thong Mait Bridge
Paving roads has overcome all difficulties
The construction of railways requires higher geological conditions
American travelers have asserted
"With the Kunlun Mountains, the railway will never reach Lhasa"
The first phase of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway
Construction began in Xining in 1958
It was not until May 1984 that it reached Golmud
I haven't crossed the Kunlun Mountains yet
And when the railway actually entered Tibet
A new century has entered
Hop on the train and meet the snow-capped mountains
The large-scale development of the western region is in full swing
In 2001, the second phase of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway project was approved
After permafrost testing, the Kunlun Mountain Tunnel was excavated
In 2003, the paving project passed coco siri
In 2005, the track was laid through The Tanggula Mountains
July 1, 2006
The entire Qinghai-Tibet Railway was opened for trial operation
The Qinghai-Tibet Railway passes through Coco Siri, a Tibetan wild donkey outside the window
Despite the fragile ecological environment
This prevented Lhasa from developing industry on a large scale
Only build some
Food processing, Tibetan medicine processing
Wind power, thermal power, solar energy and other industries
But it also makes this a pure land without pollution
As well as a very distinctive cultural landscape
Lhasa is blessed with unique tourism resources
The tertiary industry has great potential
power line
solar panel
With the expansion of Gonggar Airport
The Qinghai-Tibet Railway was opened
The state of traffic congestion has completely changed
"Get on the train to Lhasa" became
The fashionable way of traveling back then
Beijing-Lhasa, 40 hours in total
In July 2011, Lhasa Airport was opened to traffic on high speed
Became the first highway in Tibet
In September 2015, the Lhasa-Nyingchi Expressway was opened to traffic
Linla Expressway
June 25, 2021
The "Hulk" climbs the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
The Lalin section of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway was opened to traffic
This is the first electrified railway in Tibet
Lhasa is no longer the only provincial capital without high-speed rail
The Fuxing departs from Lhasa
Down the Lhasa River
Through Shannan, Lang County, Milin
Eventually arrived at Nyingchi
The road crosses the Brahmaputra River 16 times
The highest altitude is 5136 meters
Walk through multiple unit landforms
Bridges and tunnels account for up to 75%
Compress the ride between the Lynlas from 1 day to 3 hours
The scenery along the way is picturesque
Highway to highway
Railway to EMU
Modern transportation construction allows Lhasa
It is no longer just a distant and mysterious city in the hearts of urban people
Travelers who covet the beauty or explore the Dharma
From all over the world
In 2020, Lhasa received 23.37 million tourists
Achieved tourism revenue of 34.8 billion yuan
Tourists are weaving
February 27
China Mobile opens its first 5G base station in Lhasa
Tibet has entered the 5G era
Alipay data shows
At present, the penetration rate of mobile payment in Tibet exceeds 90%
Ranked first in the country for 5 consecutive years
Starting in 2016
Restaurants, small shops, buses in Lhasa
Gradually achieve cashless payments
Now into tibet travel guide
Little emphasis on "be sure to bring cash"
Internet finance became
A strong guarantee for "smart tourism" in Lhasa
In December 2018, Lhasa Traffic opened a scan code ride
In 2017, shared bicycles entered Lhasa
Online shopping, takeaway, sharing electric vehicles
Everywhere
The live broadcast trend set off in 2019
At the same time scrape to Lhasa
Shops promote souvenirs and handicrafts through the platform
The owner solicits business for hotels and restaurants
Tourists broadcast live in front of the Bou Palace Square
Anchor Fanzo Dolma takes goods with goods in the live broadcast at an altitude of 4,000 meters
This city was once left behind in the industrial age
In the digital age
In the era of mobile Internet
Lane change overtaking
Not at all behind the eastern cities
Let the estrangement of Hu Huanyong's line gradually blur
The hustle and bustle of Lhasa, romantic and modern
04
The worldly and the complete Dharma
Don't live up to the secretary
During the Tubo Dynasty
Princess Ruzun and Princess Wencheng
Brought from Nepal and Datang respectively
Statues of Shakyamuni 8 and 12 years old
King Zao took refuge in Buddhism under the influence of two princesses
For the sake of offering Buddha statues
Construction of the Jokhang Temple and the Jokhang Temple
The Jokhang Temple is located in a low-lying lake
During construction, the lake was filled with goat negative soil
Here it is named RA (sheep) SA (ground)
It means land built by goats
The temple enshrines Buddha statues
Also renamed LA (Buddha) SA (earth)
Later people put the jokhang Temple as the center of the city
Also known as Lhasa, it is regarded as a Buddha's land
Jokhang Temple, the first shrine on the plateau
Spiritual beliefs profoundly shape the face of the city
Believers, merchants and craftsmen near and far
Gather here to worship
Around jokhang Temple
There are many shops, workshops and hostels
Gradually form a circle of square streets
Called Barkhor Street
Eight silhouettes, meaning to turn in a circle
That is, the passage of good men and women to seek Buddhahood
Jokhang Temple prayer circle
After the jokhang Temple was completed
Songtsen Gampo sent his envoys to Tianzhu
Learn Sanskrit and study Buddhism
Translation of Buddhist scriptures introduced into Tibet
He also created the Tibetan language
The legislation explicitly ordered the people to believe in Buddhism
Tibetan
Since then, successive generations of Zampu "Xingfo benzene suppression"
Establish Buddhism as the state religion
It is stipulated that the subjects have the obligation to provide for the monks
Buddhist temples own land, livestock, and slave households
Because the monastery occupies the means of production
The population gathers here
Developed the Tera City Commercial District
It grew into a town
Jokhang Temple around Barkhor Street
Extends outward from the four corners of the southeast, northwest, and southeast of the turning road
Form several streets that are wide or narrow
Lhasa as a religious center
The largest population is gathered
Barkhor Street
But the status of Buddhist monks is getting higher and higher
Began to intervene in the government
Caused resentment among the nobility
The last Zampu launched a campaign to destroy Buddhism
He was eventually assassinated by a Buddhist monk
Tibet fell apart
For the next hundred years
Chinese Buddhism, Indian Buddhism
Combined with indigenous Bon
Developed into Tibetan Buddhism
The monk's robes follow the red and yellow colors of primitive Buddhism
However, due to the cold in Tibet, the sunshine is strong
The tropical custom of "favoring the right shoulder" of India is not preserved
Monk's uniform
The monk recites the six-word mantra
"Hum Ma Ma Mi Mi"
The pronunciation is basically similar to that of Chinese Buddhism
Except for oral chanting
The scrolls are also packed in prayer cylinders
Each turn is equivalent to one chant
Warp cylinder
Thangka of Tibetan Buddhism
A synthesis of Indian religious landscapes
and features of Han Chinese scroll paintings
Pigments are precious
Saffron, pearls, malachite, etc. are mostly used
to show holiness
Thangka
Tibetan stupas can also be seen
Ancient Indian bowl-clad stupas and
The shadow of an early Chinese Tabuan-style pagoda
The color is white
From the bottom up, respectively
Square foundation, water balloon, fire cone, air tray
Corresponding to the four realms of Buddhism, earth, fire, water and space
The White Pagoda in front of the Cloth Palace
Lamaism was advocated in the Yuan and Qing dynasties, and the iconic White Pagoda Temple was also built in Beijing
Despite the 800 years of the partition era
Lhasa is no longer the political center
But it still attracts a large number of believers
In 1409, guru Tsongkhapa of the Gelug school
Held a prayer ceremony in Lhasa
The Gelugpa wear a yellow peach-shaped monk's hat, hence the name "Yellow Religion"
The Gelugpas built around Lhasa
Ganden Monastery, Drepung Monastery, Sera Temple
The power is growing
It has become the most widely influential faction in Tibet
Ganden Monastery
Sera Temple
The Gelugs came to power among the successive rulers
The most famous in the literary and artistic circles should be Cangyang Gyatso
After the death of the Fifth Dalai Lama
He was chosen by the Prince Regent to be the reincarnated spirit child
A sit-in ceremony is held at the Potala Palace
Became the Sixth Dalai Lama
But he was only a puppet of the Prince Regent
He is imprisoned in life and manipulated politically
As he wrote the poem
"Living in the Potala Palace, I am the greatest king of the snowy realm."
Wandering the streets of Lhasa
I am the most beautiful lover in the world."
He later fell prey to political conflicts
He was only 23 years old when he died
The poetry he composed throughout his life
Full of yearning for nature, longing for love
It was moving and still widely circulated today
The poem was used as lyrics by Limo's Cloister
Today, in the desolate and indifferent mechanical world
Lhasa's divine tradition is particularly precious
It is regarded as the spiritual homeland by the confused
It is regarded as a spiritual symbol by literary and artistic youth
People are willing to believe
The holy lake can wash the heart
Snowy mountains can awaken the soul
So Zheng Jun called
"Come on, let's go back to Lhasa."
Back to our home where we have been away for a long time."
Zhao Lei chanted
"The door of the Jokhang Temple is paved with sunlight
Hit a pot of sweet tea and we chatted about the past."
Pure rustic laughter
05
A place full of laughter
A few people came to me to the west
Human piety and faith
Gilded Lhasa
In the city
Sacred and secular coexist
Divinity and humanity mingle
This extreme of "dancing with man and god" takes place
The most indulgent festival of the Tibetans
Shelton Festival
June 30 in the Tibetan calendar
It's not yet light
The crowd has gathered at Drepung Monastery at Mount Genpei Uz
When the first rays of morning light shine into Lhasa
The huge thangka on the mountain unfolded
Thousands of believers
Offer Hatta and worship
Pray to God for blessings
Drepung Monastery
And then six days
People changed the solemnity of the day before
Wear a gorgeous hideout
Helping the old and the young, pouring into Norbulingka
Everyone sat on the floor and ate yogurt
In Tibetan, snow is yogurt and dung is a feast
The "Snowton Festival" is a festival to eat yogurt seeds
On the Norbulingka lawn
Fermented yogurt with yak milk has a unique flavor
At the same time, there are Tibetan opera performances and Buddhist rituals
Heaven and earth man god
In the noisy atmosphere of gongs and drums, joy revels
Tibetan drama
Perhaps it is the enlightenment of the Buddha who loves sentient beings
Maybe it's been too hard to survive on the plateau for millennia
Tibetans have compassion
Cherish all life
The origin of the Festival of Shelton is
Because there are many mosquitoes in the grassland in summer
Monks are reluctant to trample on innocent lives
Strictly abide by the tradition of "summer residence" without leaving the temple
Until the end of June of the Tibetan calendar, the ban was lifted and a night tour was held
Ai Xuan's Highland Maiden and Horse
Today, Tibetans still revere nature
I also basically adhere to a simple diet
Poor soil, harsh climate
Let barley become the most important crop in Tibetan areas
Brewing barley wine
But barley lacks high molecular weight gluten
Therefore, the taste is relatively bland
Gluten cannot be formed either
It is difficult to knead into dough and make bread or noodles
Spring wheat can be planted in a small number of areas in Tibetan areas, and the Tibetan noodles made are somewhat sandwiched
The Tibetans grind the fried barley into powder
Made of rice dumplings (zān ba)
In pursuit of a sweeter and more mellow taste
Then mix the rice dumplings, puff pastry, milk residue, sugar, etc. well
Eat by kneading into small balls by hand
Because it is rich in calories, it is full of hunger and cold
It is also easy to store and carry
From the Tibetan era to the modern era
Rice has always been the most important staple food for herders in Tibetan areas
Make rice dumplings
The most important meat product in Lhasa is air-dried meat
In early winter, yak beef is cut into small strips
Hang in a cool, ventilated place
Let it freeze and air dry gradually and naturally
When eaten in February or March of the following year
The flesh is dark red in color, the flesh is firm and the meat is fragrant
Grilled or raw
The entrance is dry but not astringent, and the elasticity is chewy
beef jerky
The diet of Lhasa
It is also deeply influenced by Shudi
With the frequent exchanges between Sichuan and Tibet
The People of Lhasa call Chengdu the back garden of tibetan areas
Many Tibetans buy property in Chengdu
Sichuan cuisine also quickly captured the stomachs of the people of Lhasa
Hot and spicy hot pots, stewed vegetables, skewers
You can eat it in Lhasa
Skewer hot pot
Food accompanies the flow of people
The most important drink in Tibetan areas is milk tea
Tea plants were not planted in Tibetan areas
During the Tang and Song dynasties, the tea and horse market began
Horse Gang along the Tea Horse Trail
Transport the brick teas of Ya'an and Pu'er to the plateau
Vegetables are scarce here, and the diet is mainly meat-eating
Piping hot brick tea is a good product for degreasing and degreasing
It is also an important source of vitamin supplementation for Tibetans
The fire where the tea is boiled
And the encounter between tea and milk
It is destined to trigger a carnival of taste buds on the tip of the tongue
When the people of the plains city
Feverishly while queuing up at the milk tea shop
There was another group of people on the distant plateau
The same milk tea is fatal
Popular milk tea in Lhasa
It is boiled with a mixture of yak milk, ghee and brick tea
When drinking, add salt, which is butter tea
Add sugar and it's sweet tea
Butter tea
The famous Gangqiong Tea House is crowded and lively
The boss takes turns to add tea to the tea guests
It seems that there is only a bowl of warm sweet tea under the belly
The city has only just started its day
In a teahouse
The Buddha lit up his own statue
"My stand-in will live forever
Where the statue was erected
It's the center of the world."
Later, this Buddha statue came to Lhasa with the Princess of the Tang Dynasty
The Buddha statue calls the believer
Lhasa became the center of the world
When modern civilization came pouring in
Lhasa also owns cars, tall buildings, and networks
There are also cafes, bars, and KTV
But Tibetan culture was reincarnated in the storm of modernity
Still keeping his soul
Maintained a spiritual height in the snowy highlands
In July 2021, the first McDonald's in Lhasa opened, and Western-style fast food has become distinct
Tibetans who use mobile phones, their beliefs and the good life will not contradict each other
-end-
Planning | Wang Haitao, Lai Haoning
Written by | Qian Qiyao
Map Editing | Qian Qiyao
Typography | Qian Qiyao
Illustration source | Visual China