Songzanlin Lamasery Picture

The Fifth Dalai Lama chose Songzanlin as the site of the lamasery through divination and named Gedan Songzanlin. The Songzanlin Lamasery is four kilometres north of the county and has a long history. The architecture is magnificent; it faces north built along the mountains. In the 2nd year of Emperor Yongzheng's rule (1724) in the Qing Dynasty, Deqing was brought under the jurisdiction of Yunnan Province, and the lamasery was renamed the "Guihua Lamasery". Occupying an area of over 500 mu, it has strong walls and five gates. The two main lamaseries Zhacang, and Jikang command the highest position in the architectural complex. They are both Tibetan style watchtowers and are surrounded by eight sub-lamaseries and the dormitories or the lamas. In the distance, one can see the gilded copper stupa at the top of the main lamasery. The 16 colourful pictures hanging high in the lamasery are said to have been painted by renowned lamas with the golden liquid given by the Fifth Dalai Lama…