As we know, Chinese civilization has a history of 5,000 years, with many cultures and ancient architectural works passed down to this day, the most famous of which are the Forbidden City in Beijing and the Potala Palace.
In particular, the Potala Palace was established earlier and has been well-preserved, boasting a history of over 1,300 years. Located in Tibet on Red Mountain at an altitude of approximately 3,700 meters, it has consumed vast amounts of resources, and there are rumors that half of the world’s gold is housed in the Potala Palace?
So, how much jewelry was spent to build this majestic palace? One can only wonder how much effort the builders had to invest to create a grand castle complex like the one we see today.
The King of Tibet expanded the Hongshan Palace and named it “Potala Palace.” (Illustrative image).
1. Why was the Potala Palace built?
There is a story behind the construction of each majestic palace. The Forbidden City served as the residence for emperors, so why was the Potala Palace built? To understand the completion of the Potala Palace, we must start from the era of the Tubo Dynasty in Tibet, when there was a great king named Songtsen Gampo. In a challenging place like Tibet, he was able to ensure that his people would not suffer from hunger, which was significant in creating an era of unity and history for Tibet.
Before the Potala Palace was built, it was originally known as “Red Mountain Palace,” which served as the daily dwelling of the Tibetan king. At this time, Songtsen Gampo married Princess Chizun of Nepal to solidify his status as the king of Tibet, and he sought a marriage alliance with the prosperous Tang Dynasty, requesting to marry “Princess Wencheng.” Emperor Taizong of Tang agreed to Songtsen Gampo’s request and betrothed Princess Wencheng to him. To express his goodwill towards the Tang Dynasty, Songtsen Gampo decided to hold a grand wedding by expanding the Hongshan Palace once more and renaming it “Potala Palace.”
As Buddhism flourished during the Tang Dynasty, Princess Wencheng brought many Buddhist items with her to Tibet, and Princess Chizun of Nepal also believed in Buddhism in her homeland, bringing along some Buddhist-related items. Under the influence of his two wives, Songtsen Gampo, who initially had little interest in Buddhism, gradually developed a belief and decided to build the Potala Palace with Buddhist elements.
2. How much jewelry was used to build the Potala Palace?
The Potala Palace was constructed to be extremely magnificent and grand. It features a design of 13 stories with over 1,000 small rooms. From the floors to the ceilings and the wall paintings, everything sparkles with golden light and exudes an aura of splendor and luxury.
The palace is divided into three areas: the palace complex, the palace halls, and the lake area. The palace complex is located at the front of the mountain, consisting of three gates: east, west, and south, along with staircases leading to the top of the palace.
The palace hall area is the center of the palace, including two main halls: the White Palace and the Red Palace.
The White Palace is the residence of the Dalai Lama, while the Red Palace contains Buddhist halls with stupas (where the remains of the Dalai Lamas are interred).
Regarding the construction of the Potala Palace, Songtsen Gampo was not stingy; he ordered craftsmen to build it according to Buddhist definitions and living spaces, covering a total area of 360,000 square meters. Finding such a vast area in the majestic high mountains to build a palace was a remarkable achievement, integrating the characteristics of temples based on traditional palaces, the Potala Palace shone even before its completion.
According to Songtsen Gampo’s vision for the Potala Palace, the palace should rise at least 200 meters high, with 13 stories on the outside and 9 stories on the inside, from the roof to the floor to the wall paintings.
After the Potala Palace was completed, the Buddhist items brought by his two wives, as well as numerous precious treasures and gold and silver jewelry from their dowries, were placed within the Potala Palace. Such a lavish scene was astonishing, but within the Potala Palace, the most precious item is a “spiritual stupa,” which stands 14.85 meters tall. The construction of this stupa alone cost 1.04 million silver coins and 110,000 taels of gold, as well as over 15,000 pearls, gemstones, and agate.
In addition to these valuable treasures, the most notable relics include the amnesty books of the Ming and Qing emperors, as well as plaques left by great emperors who reclaimed the land and Buddhist scriptures. The construction funds were astronomically high, but the specific amount was never confirmed for a long time. However, according to more reliable rumors among the people: half of the world’s gold is in the Potala Palace; although the amount of gold at that time was not as much as it is today, it was still very precious. The splendor of the Potala Palace lies not only in its appearance but also in its historical significance and economic value.
Historically, the Potala Palace was guarded very strictly.
3. No one steals from the Potala Palace
Many people wonder, with so much gold hidden within, has the Potala Palace ever been robbed?
Throughout history, the Potala Palace has been guarded very strictly by the military, and today it is protected by security personnel along with an advanced surveillance system. Therefore, it is very challenging to access and steal items from here.
Moreover, the Potala Palace is located at a very high altitude, and the gold is firmly affixed to the walls. Thus, stealing items would require a lot of time, and the palace’s difficult climbing location makes it even more challenging to steal and transport items down.
Additionally, according to the beliefs of many people, the Potala Palace is a spiritual place where one should not touch any objects when visiting. As this is a site for worship and the dissemination of Buddhist ideology, visitors possess a high level of self-discipline, maintaining tranquility in their souls.
Conclusion
After a long historical journey, the Potala Palace has now become a sacred site in the eyes of many. However, it has also suffered significant damages and has been restored with the wisdom of future generations, with further expansions made by the Tibetan kings. The height of the Potala Palace now reaches 110 meters, truly representing 13 stories. Key areas of construction include the golden roof and walls adorned with Tibetan paintings. Protecting the soft cultural aspects of this nation also safeguards national pride and serves as a “pilgrimage” destination in the hearts of tourists.
