Tibetan Buddhist heritage in the Forbidden City
- By Zhang Xue & staff reporter Li Yuan
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E-mail China Today, June 22, 2017
Status of Tibetan Buddhism
The rich collection of Tibetan Buddhist artifacts in the Palace Museum is due to their accumulation at the height of Tibetan Buddhism in China.
In 1653 Emperor Shunzhi of the Qing Dynasty welcomed the fifth generation of the Dalai, then leader of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism, and dubbed him the title "Dalai Lama." In 1713 Emperor Kangxi gave the fifth generation of Panchen the title "Panchen Erdeni," thereby formally acknowledging the political and religious status of the Dalai and Panchen in Tibet. The influence of Tibetan Buddhism spread, and the number of Tibetan Buddhist halls in the Forbidden City expanded.
In 1780 the Sixth Panchen Erdeni arrived at the Forbidden City to congratulate Emperor Qianlong on his 70th birthday, coinciding with the peak of Tibetan Buddhist activity in the royal court. Thereafter, the influence of Tibetan Buddhism in the imperial court waned as the Qing Dynasty began to decline.
"After waking up, the emperors would light incense in one hall after another, before having breakfast in Qianqing Palace," explained Luo. "The complex of Buddhist halls was very important to the court."
Through Zhaofu Gate to the north of Yuhua Pavilion is a square where large-scale Buddhist ceremonies were held. The prayer flags used during these ceremonies still remain. At the end of each year, the emperor would take part in an exorcism ceremony, the most important Buddhist event in the imperial court. On that day, the emperor would sit beside the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama, as well as other senior monks, demonstrating the prominent status of Tibetan Buddhism in the Qing Dynasty.
Preservation of Artifacts and Cultural Exchange
After graduating from Peking University in 1989 with a degree in archeology, Luo Wenhua went to work at the Palace Museum. Today, as an internationally renowned scholar of Tibetan Buddhism, he is competent in English, Tibetan, Sanskrit, and German.
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The mysterious Yuhua Pavilion in the Forbidden City. |
"Many artifacts are scattered throughout monasteries in Tibetan-inhabited regions," said Luo, voicing his concerns about the preservation of Tibetan Buddhist artifacts. "Owing to a lack of funds and professionals, there has never been a systematic survey and many artifacts have not been catalogued. Preservation work is just beginning."
To better protect Buddhist artifacts in Tibet, the Palace Museum signed an agreement with the government of Tibet Autonomous Region. The two parties will cooperate to build museums, study and restore artifacts, hold exhibitions and publish research. Archaeological research will gradually be carried out in Tibet Autonomous Region, and experts from the Palace Museum have already begun contributing to the preservation of artifacts at Jokhang Monastery.
"Along the Silk Road: Gupta Sculptures and Their Chinese Counterparts, 400-700 AD," an exhibition held at the Palace Museum, finished its successful run early this year. Luo Wenhua acted as the independent curator of the exhibition. He had visited India, the birthplace of Buddhism, many times and each time brought back Buddhist texts. "India has a wealth of artifacts and cultural sites," said Luo. "Historically, China and India conducted frequent exchanges, but in modern times, people of the two countries know little about each other." Luo added that China and India should strengthen cultural communication.
When commenting on the international influence of Tibetology, Luo observed that Western countries are very interested in Tibetan Buddhist artifacts. People in the West have been studying Tibetology for over a century. The U.S., the U.K., France, and Germany have all made significant progress in Tibetan Buddhist studies, especially on Buddhism in Himalayan areas. China should cooperate with these countries.
Shan Jixiang, director of the Palace Museum, hopes the organization can take advantage of the palace's rich resources and artifacts and make it China's center for Tibetology, promoting cooperation between domestic and international experts.
Zhang Xue is a reporter at China Pictorial.
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