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The site was used as a meditation retreat by Emperor Songtsen Gampo, who in 637 built a first palace there. Destroyed by lightning and war, the Potala Palace had been rebuilt by the 5th Dalai Lama in 1645. Since then, the Potala Palace has become the seat of Dalai Lamas and also the political center of Tibet. The 13th Dalai Lama extended it to the present size. Mainly comprised by the White Palace and the Red Palace, the Potala Palace is famous for its grand buildings, complicated constructions, devotional atmosphere and splendid artworks.

Upon entering the East Portal, visitors will come into the Deyang Shar courtyard where Dalai Lamas watched Tibetan opera. West of the courtyard is the White Palace. As the winter palace of Dalai Lamas, the White Palace is a seven-floor building originally built in 1645. The wall of the palace was painted to white to convey peace and quiet. The Great East Hall on the fourth floor is the largest hall in White Palace. This hall was also the site for holding momentous religious and political events.

In the middle of the Potala Palace the Red Palace exists. Built in 1690 after the death of the Fifth Dailai Lama, the wall of the palace was painted to red, representing stateliness and power. The Red Palace is renowned for its religious status, gorgeous stupas and precious culture relics. The Great West Hall in the middle is the largest hall of Potala Palace with an area of 725 sq meters.

Altogether, the Potala Palace contains 1,000 rooms and some 200,000 images. Unfortunately, there are no photos here from the interior of the Potala Palace. Photography was heavily restricted and the Chinese attendants demanded unfair fees for those photos that were allowed.

From as early as the eleventh century the palace was called Potala. This name probably derives from Mt. Potala, the mythological mountain abode of the Bodhisattva Chenresi (Avilokiteshvara / Kuan Yin) in southern India. The Emperor Songtsen Gampo had been regarded as an incarnation of Chenresi. Given that he founded the Potala, it seems likely that the hilltop palace of Lhasa took on the name of the Indian sacred mountain. The Potala Palace is an immense structure, its interior space being in excess of 130,000 square meters. Fulfilling numerous functions, the Potala was first and foremost the residence of the Dalai Lama and his large staff.

チベットをもっと知りたい方へ
�@「映画から知る」
セブン・イヤーズ・イン･チベット
原作：ハインリヒ・ハラー
監督：ジャン＝ジャック・アノー
出演：ブラッド・ピット、デビッド・シューリス、Ｂ．Ｄ．ウォン等
(ストーリー)
１９３９年、オーストリアの登山家ハラー（ブラッド・ピット）は、アウフシュナイターと共にヒマラヤ登頂を目指して旅立った。しかし雪崩によって踏破を断念。折しも第２次世界大戦が激化。インドで捕らえられたハラーたちは捕虜収容所送りとなる。脱走した２人は逃避行を続け、禁断の聖地チベットのラサにたどり付く。歴史に巻き込まれていく激動のチベットに滞在した７年間、若き日のダライ・ラマとの魂の交流を描いたロマン溢れる感動の一大叙事詩。
�A「音楽から知る」
チベタン・フリーダム・コンサート
(主旨)
チベタン・フリーダム・コンサートは、中国政府によるチベット占領事実の認識度を高めるため、また非暴力主義の重要性を世界中に訴えるために開催されています。基金はコンサートを1994年に始め、過去にサンフランシスコ、ニューヨーク、ワシントンDC、シカゴ、アムステルダム、シドニー、東京（２回開催）で計８回国際的に開催されました。計８回のコンサートを通し、約２６０万ドルを収益、コンサートに参加した総人数は２６万人以上となります。
(今までの出演者)
BEASTIE BOYS, SMASHING PUMPUKINS, U2, R.E.M, FOO FIGHTERS, BLUR, RUN D.M.C.,PAVEMENT, RADIOHEAD, PEARL JAM, JOHN LEE HOOKER, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, SONIC YOUTH, ALANIS MORISETTE, PATTI SMITH, BECK, BJORK, DE LA SOUL, FUGEES, YOKO ONO ,Hi-STANDARD, 忌野清志郎,BRAHMAN, UA, THEE MICHELLE GUN ELEPHANT etc.
�B「本から知る」
ダライ・ラマ その知られざる真実
ジル・ヴァン・グラスドルフ (著), 鈴木 敏弘 (翻訳)
(内容)
父母の実像、家族の運命、権力と暗殺、抵抗と独立…。20世紀を通じてチベットが歩んできた苦難の道を、ダライ・ラマ14世を中心に描く。神秘のベールに包まれたチベット仏教を背景として、現代チベット史の光と陰に迫る。
�C「おすすめ日本語サイト」　
ダライ・ラマ法王日本代表部事務所
チベット仏教普及協会
チベット旅行の基礎知識
チベット