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History of the Potala Palace  |
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 The Potala Palace was originally built in the seventh century. At that time, the Tibetan hero Songtsam Gambo defeated other tribes, and established the Tufan Kingdom in Tibet. Lhasa was the capital.
In order to learn from the prosperous Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 AD) in the east, Songtsam Gambo sent envoys to Tang to propose twice. In the year of 641 AD, Songtsam Gambo married the Tang Dynasty Princess Wencheng, thus formed close economic and cultural relations between the Tibetan and the Han people. In memory of the event, he decided to build this grand palace for his wife on the Red Hill.
However, the 1000-room palace was gradually destroyed by fire, lightening strike, and especially warfare in the ninth century. Only two of the original rooms survived.
During the 17th century, the Potala Palace was repaired and expanded by the Fifth Dalai Lama. By 1648, the White Palace was completed. And the Red Palace was added between 1690 and 1694. More than 7000 workers and 1500 artists and craftsmen joined the construction.
In the early 20th century, the 13th Dalai Lama renovated many chapels and assembly halls in the White Palace and added two storeys to the Red Palace, which made the palace into today's scale.
After the establishment of People's Republic of China, the Potala Palace has been well protected by Chinese government. In 1989, the government appropriated a large sum of fund for the maintenance of the Potala Palace. The whole project lasted five years, which recovered the Potala Palace's splendid historical and cultural brightness.
Today, the palace remains a sacred shrine for thousands of Tibetan Buddhists, and has also become a state museum containing many precious works of art.
Editor: Rebecca & Ronnie
Source: CCTV.com
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