Guge seems to be an encyclopedia, with a long history, deeply-rooted culture, mystic legends and many unfathomable enigmas. The ruins of the Guge Kingdom, standing on the desolate land, silently relate the art and history.
Capital of Guge Kingdom
Location: Zada County, Tibet Autonomous Region
Period: mid of 10th century-beginning of 17th century
Excavated in 1985
Significance: It has offered important materials for the study of the history, art, religion and military conditions of Guge Kingdom.
Introduction
About 1,000 years ago, a powerful kingdom with a splendid civilization was born here. But after 700 years of rule, the kingdom was destroyed by internal disorder and invasion from outside. The ruins of the capital of Guge Kingdom(古格王朝Gǔgé wángcháo), located in Zhada County, are well-known throughout the world.
The ruins cover an area of 200,000 square meters. The buildings follow the hill to its top in a rigid layout and an imposing manner. The 11-storeyed castle is more than 300 meters high. It is home to houses, caves, pagodas, blockhouses, defense works and tunnels. The previously stylish caves are now seriously damaged. Few works of architecture remain intact, but Guge’s appearance is still imposing.
There are five well-preserved temples full of beautiful murals, which combine Han painting skills with Indian and Nepal styles. Besides, two caves with murals, three barns, tombs and one weapon storage. Around the Site scatters a large quantity of iron corselets, shields and arrows.
History
Guge is a miracle. For years it strongly attracted numerous explorers, scholars, artists and journalists who traveled from afar to investigate and search for treasures. According to historical records, after the last king of the Tubo Dynasty, Lang Darma, died, the royal family began to fight for the throne. Gyide Nyimagun, Long Darma’s descendent, lost the war and ran away to Ngari, where he established a small kingdom. Later, Gyide Nyimagun divided Ngari into three parts and gave them to his three sons.
The Guge Kingdom was ruled by Dezogun, Gyide Nyimagun’s third son. His regime ran for more than 700 years before being destroyed in a war. According to the Annals of Kings and Officials in Tibet, a total of 16 kings ruled the Guge Kingdom, and Guge Castle was accomplished through constant construction between the 10th and 16th century. Guge has a very significant position in the history of economic and cultural development of Tibet. Many significant Buddhist doctrines of ancient India were passed on to hinterland Tibet via Guge. Guge was also one of the important commercial ports linking ancient Tibet with the outside world. After the Tubo Dynasty died out, Tibet entered a 400-some year period of isolation. Guge was always a large and powerful kingdom. Even the dust of time cannot hide its prosperity and past glory.
Cultural Heritage
There are a total of 1,416 surviving pieces of architecture, including 879 caves, 445 houses, 60 blockhouses, 28 pagodas, and four tunnels, which lead in all directions inside the architectural group. At the outer ring there are walls made of loess, which are decorated with many figures of Buddha, scriptures and incantations in Tibetan, and Sanskrit engraved on large cobbles. The houses within the ruins have wooden structures and level roofs.
The larger works of architecture include the Red Temple, the White Temple, the king’s palace and the meeting hall. The White Temple and the Red Temple are about the same size, covering about 300 square meters. Within the temple there are 36 square pillars. The pillars and the ceiling are covered with colored drawings of patterns and figures of Buddha, and all the walls are covered with frescoes of different subjects. The White Temple boasts a precious mural painting of successive kings of Tubo and the genealogy of the Guge king. Even with the passing of several hundred years, the frescos remain bright and lustrous. Having been neglected for years, both the Red Temple and White Temple are dilapidated.
The only path from the base of the hill to the palace halls on the hilltop is a man-made tunnel. The upper part of the Guge Castle holds the Winter Hall and Summer Hall, where the royal family lived. They are empty now. Only the frescos and wooden engravings in Tancheng Hall are well preserved. Guge’s colored paintings, frescos and sculptures are rich works of a high artistic level and immense research value.
