Temple of Princess Wencheng Travel Guide

Brief Introduction
Located 20 kilometers from Jiegu Town of Yushu Prefecture, the Temple of Princess Wencheng is hemmed in by mountains and streams.

It is exquisitely designed. On top of the rock over the front gate of the main hall there are nine statues of Buddha, displaying the excellent technique of carving and painting of the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

The temple with delicate design and novel pattern, is backed up by high mountains and bright brook. Seen from the outside, it is divided into three layers, but in fact, it is one hall inside. In the rock straight above the hall are carved nine relief Buddha statue, the central one is a leader at the height of 7.3m, also called Big-Sun Buddha. The Buddha is vivid, plain, serene, stable and kind with hands crossed on the stomach, feet crossed on the lotus seat with two lions carved in the arches, top carved with six-character truth, and with head covered by colorful halo as a symbol of sunshine and universal mercy.

Beside are eight serving Buddha at the height meters arranged in two levels, orderly Puxian, Wenshu, Jingangshou, Chugaizhang, Xukongzang, Guanyin, Mile and Dizang. They footed on lotus in order. All of them were rationally carved in line with the mountain range with beautiful design, rich body, elegant appearance and strong 3D sense.

On the two sides of the statue are finely and delicately carved with patterns of Tibetan style laces at the width of one meter from the up side to the low side, which together with the stone Buddha statues, constitutes a complete art entity, fully displaying the state-of-art craftsmanship of carves and paintings in Tang Dynasty of China, and forming a crystal integrating Tibetan and Han nationalities.

Features
It is said that when she passed through here on her way to marry the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo, Princess Wencheng was deeply moved by the hospitable local Tibetans. She thus ordered her artisans and craftsmen to build Buddhist pagodas and make statues of Buddha.

In 710 when she passed through the same place on her way to marry the Tibetan king Chide Zugdan, Princess Jincheng saw the statues of Buddha and asked her craftsmen to rebuild the temple, granting the name of the Temple of Princess Wencheng.