Tibet Changzhu Monastery, Lhasa China

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Changzhu Monastery

Built in the 7th century, the Changzhu Monastery is situated at the east bank of the Yalonghe River in the south of the Dong Prefecture of the Shannan District in Tibet. Legends say the place founded by the famous ancient Tibetan king --- Srongtsan Gamio. You see the resplendent and magnificent monastery and forest form a very beautiful painting.

In Tibetan, "Chang" means a big roc bird and "Zhu" means dragon, so the Changzhu Monastery means the honorable monastery. Originally, the Changzhu Monastery was the villa of the Tibetan king Srongtsan Gamio and the imperial concubine Wencheng Princess. Its main construction is the Cuoqin Palace enshrined the Sakyamuni Buddha and the Guanyin Bodhisattva Buddha, inside the palace there is a winding corridor, and many scriptures are carved on the wall inside the winding corridor, very graceful and solemn.

In the side palace Qujilakang, the statues of Srongtsan Gamio, Wencheng Princess, Chizun Princess and some royal members are mainly worship. There are still a lot of statues and mural paintings with simple and colorful models in the palace.

During the 5th Dalai whose political achievements are always praised by the Tibetan ruled Tibet. He once repaired and rebuilt the Changzhu Monastery and added to build a gold top on the top of the monastery for grand sightseeing showing the respect to Srongtsan Gamio and Wencheng Princess. Until the 13th Dalai also having good political achievements, the monastery gained repair and renovating again.

There was once a famous hanging bell which was made by the Chinese monk Renqing Master in late of the 8th century, on the bell there are 12 Tibetan sentences, praised by the people at that time. Later in Ch'ing Dynasty when China was invaded by big powers, the Tibetan areas were influenced, they destroyed the Changzhu Monastery. Those 12 Tibetan sentences ball were gone at the same time, but the two Indian style Buddhist tower behind the monastery was preserved perfectly till now.

From ancient to now, the Tibetan history and the big program of Tibetan districts accept Chinese culture and customs. This has close relation with the Wencheng Princess married to Tibet in Tang Dynasty. Including the Jokhang Monastery, this Changzhu Monastery which was once a palace of Wencheng Princess and Srongtsan Gamio is one of the places missing her for the descendents. It was list Chinese emphatic preservation of cultural relics in 1961.