Description
Gyantse is known as the last Tibetan town because the Han colonization somehow skirted the city. It used to be the third-largest town in the country and its famous Kumbum are proofs of this glorious past. Kumbum, means “100000 images” and its numerous chapels are packed with painted and sculpted deities.
The Kumbum is the most important building in Gyantse. The Kumbum is an original structure. Similar structures existed before but they were destroyed by the fury of the Cultural Revolution and only one remained beside Gyantse nowadays in Tibet.
The Kumbum is a pyramidal structure commissioned by a Gyantse prince in 1427 and organized on six floors accessed by an interior staircase. On each floor exist lots of chapels full of statues, many of them destroyed today, the name Kumbum meaning literally “100000 images” On each level, there are about 4 chapels one near another on each side, a total of 16 chapels on the first floors all being open. In total the Kumbum has 77 chapels.
Even that the statues were destroyed and built anew the painting is original from the 14th century showing Nepali Newari style surviving almost intact.
On the first floor of the Kumbum are the chapels of the protectors at the cardinal points being positioned Buddha statues.
Follow us on Instagram
