The Achievements of Songtsen Gampo

Advocate Buddhism Culture in Tibet

As a matter of fact, Buddhism culture has been introduced into Tibet by Princess Wencheng from Tang Dynasty when Bon Sect was the most great religion in Tibet. Bon Sect was the original religion of Tibet so that it owned lots of respect of Tibetan people at that time. Why introduced Buddhism culture into Tibet area since there was one unified religion? Songtsen Gampo wanted to weaken the power of Bon Sect to consolidate his reign. People argued with him and he said, both of Bon sect and Buddhism culture respectively owned large numbers of followers in Tang Dynasty, Nepal and Tibet. Let's have an equal competition. If Buddhism lost, I let it out of Tibet area. If Buddhist culture won, people could freely choose the one to believe. Then he devoted himself to advocating and developing Buddhist culture in Tibet. When the competition started, the leaders of Bon Sect and Buddhism had a very wonderful debating. Since old times, Bon Sect was succeeded by generations with oral tradition. Some classics were lost in the history. But Buddhist culture and history were both recorded in the book by characters. Finally, Buddhism culture won. Even though not many people changed to believe Buddhism, Songtsen Gampo was still the first one to introduce Buddhism culture in Tibet.

Established Potala Palace

In honor of the achievement of the unification of all the tribes in the plateau, Songtsen Gampo established Potala Palace after married Princess Wencheng of Tang Dynasty and Princess Chizun of Nepal. Potala Palace was used to the place where Songtsen Gampo lived and worked. There were 999 rooms in this magnificent palace. You will have a chance to look up at Potala Palace during Tibet tour and feel how great work it is!

Build Jokhang Temple

Princess Chizun wanted to have a building to save the Buddha statue that she brought from Nepal. The building was named Jokhang Temple. But when Jokhang Temple started to established on the first day, it would be collapsed on the second day. Every one was scared but did not know why. When Princess Wencheng came into Tibet, she was asked for help by Princess Chizun. Princess Wencheng found that the terrain of Tubo (Tibet) was shaped like a Raksasi (witch). One lake was once there which Jokhang Temple built and the lake was the heart of Raksasi (witch). That was why the building was collapsed many times. The princess Wencheng told the Princess Chizun that she had to build 12 temples respectively on the body joints of Raksasi to suppress her. And then ask the goats to fill the lake with soil and level up the land. Finally, Jokhang Temple successfully established. Because of the contribution of goats, there was a goat statue in front of Jokhang Temple. Later on, the 8-year-old Sakyamuni Statue was enshrined and worshiped in Jokhang Temple. Hence, Jokhang Temple was said to be the place where the immortals lived. In Tibetan language, the place where the immortals lived was named Lhasa. Therefore, Lhasa originally referred to Jokhang Temple.