Deqing Pozhang in Samzhubzê District, Shigatse
Deqing Pozhang is the National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units and Autonomous Region Key Cultural Relics Protection Units. Located in the west of Sanzhuzi District of Shigatse City, 1.5km away from the city center of Shigatse, it is the summer palace of the newly built for Panchen after the original Gongjuelinka was washed out by floods in 1954. At that time, according to Premier Zhou Enlai’s instructions, the government allocated funds to build a new building, which was named as the “new palace.” The whole building consists of the old palace and new palace. The main building contains master Panchen’s living room, office, five large and small sutra halls, and more than 100 Buddha statues.
The architectural style is a combination of tradition and modernity, plain and elegant, but also grand and magnificent. On the southeast side of the new palace is the new palace Linka (Linka means garden in Chinese) which is one of the four major Linkas in Shigatse city. During festivals, the urban residents set up tents in Linka or sit on the ground in the garden. Relatives and friends gather together, bring their own meals and tea for picnics, play the piano and sing and dance. All of these are peaceful scenes.
Deqing Gesang Pozhang (德庆格桑颇章) is the the summer palace of the Panchen Lama. the summer palace was originally built in Gongjue Linka (贡觉林卡/Dongfeng Linka), called Gongjuelingong. It was built by the 7th Panchen Lama Danbainima in the 24th year of Daoguang in the Qing Dynasty (1844). It contained buildings such as Buddha Hall, Golden Hall and Dharma Temple. In 1954, it was destroyed by floods. According to Premier Zhou Enlai’s (周恩来) instructions, the state allocated 500,000 yuan for the construction of the Deqing Gesang Pozhang, which is also called the new palace(新官).
The new palace are located in the west of Xigaze, about 500 meters north of Tashilhunpo Monastery (扎什伦布寺). And the whole building consists of the old palace and new palace. The main building contains master Panchen’s living room, office, five large and small sutra halls, and more than 100 Buddha statues. The architectural style is a combination of tradition and modernity, plain and elegant, but also grand and magnificent.The yard lush trees, flowers throughout, what a pleasant scenery.
The front eave of the first gate is topped by four large octagonal red lacquer pillars. The gate temple is embossed with fierce beasts, soaring dragons, and various flower designs. On both sides of the door wall are painted cirrus clouds, tigers, dragons, figures, flowers, mangcao and murals about Buddhist story , with exquisite brushwork and vivid and lifelike appearance. Entering the second gate is the vestibule courtyard house of the new palace, facing the splendid and solemn new officials. beside the palace is a garden with green seedlings and pleasant scenery. inside the palace are the dormitory and reception hall of the Panchen Lama, as well as the sutra hall, the Buddhist hall, the dharma temple, etc. On the southeast side of the new palace is the new palace Linka (Linka means garden in Chinese) which is one of the four major Linkas in Shigatse city. During festivals, the urban residents set up tents in Linka or sit on the ground in the garden. Relatives and friends gather together, bring their own meals and tea for picnics, play the piano and sing and dance, having all kinds of interesting and recreational activities.
