Gyantse
Encyclopedia
Gyantse is a town
located in Gyangzê County
, Shigatse Prefecture. It was historically considered the third largest and most prominent town in the Tibet
region (after Lhasa
, and Shigatse
), but there are now at least ten larger Tibetan cities.
Valley on the ancient trade routes from the Chumbi Valley
, Yatung and Sikkim
, which met here. From Gyantse, routes led to Shigatse downstream and also over the Karo La (Pass) to Central Tibet. The fortress (constructed in 1390) guarded the southern approaches to the Tsangpo
Valley and Lhasa. The town was surrounded by a wall 3 km long.
valley and on the Friendship Highway
, which connects Kathmandu, Nepal
to Lhasa
, China
. Gyantse was the third largest city in Tibet before being overtaken by Qamdo
. It is often referred to as the "Hero City" because during the British Younghusband
Expedition
of 1904, Tibetan forces battled the British for all of two months despite technological disparities in Younghusband's favor.
or fort, and its magnificent tiered Kumbum
(literally, '100,000 images') of the Palcho Monastery
, the largest chörten in Tibet. The Kumbum was commissioned by a Gyantse prince in 1427 and was an important centre of the Sakya
school of Tibetan Buddhism. This religious structure contains 77 chapels in its six floors, and is illustrated with over 10,000 murals, many showing a strong Nepal
i influence, which have survived almost entirely intact. They are the last of its kind to be found in Tibet. Many of the restored clay statues are of less artistry than the destroyed originals - but they are still spectacular.
The town was nearly destroyed by flooding in 1954. After rioting in 1959, local industries were dismantled and artisans fled while others were placed in workcamps. Some 400 monks and laypeople were imprisoned in the monastery. During the Cultural Revolution
the fort, the monastery and Kumbum were ransacked. Precious objects were destroyed or sent out of Tibet. Fortunately, the chorten was spared.
The main building of the Pelkor Chode or Palcho Monastery
and the Kumbum have been largely restored but the dzong or fort is still largely in ruins but there is an "Anti-British Imperialism Museum" there which gives the Chinese version of the 1904 British invasion. The Gyantse Guesthouse
is one of the hotels of note.
Town (China)
When referring to political divisions of China, town is the standard English translation of the Chinese 鎮 . It is a fourth-level administrative unit, i.e...
located in Gyangzê County
Gyangzê County
Gyangzê County or Gyantse County is a county of the Xigazê Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Its main town is Gyangzê Town known for its monasteries....
, Shigatse Prefecture. It was historically considered the third largest and most prominent town in the Tibet
Tibet Autonomous Region
The Tibet Autonomous Region , Tibet or Xizang for short, also called the Xizang Autonomous Region is a province-level autonomous region of the People's Republic of China , created in 1965....
region (after Lhasa
Lhasa
Lhasa is the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China and the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau, after Xining. At an altitude of , Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world...
, and Shigatse
Shigatse
Shigatse is a county-level city and the second largest city in Tibet Autonomous Region , People's Republic of China, with a population of 92000, about southwest of Lhasa and northwest of Gyantse...
), but there are now at least ten larger Tibetan cities.
Location
The town is strategically located in the Nyang RiverNyang River
The Nyang River is a major river in south-west Tibet and the longest tributary of the Yarlung Tsangpo river....
Valley on the ancient trade routes from the Chumbi Valley
Chumbi Valley
Chumbi Valley is a valley in Tibet at the intersection of India , Bhutan and China in the Himalayas. Two main passes between India and China open up here: the Nathu La Pass and Jelep La Pass....
, Yatung and Sikkim
Sikkim
Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayan mountains...
, which met here. From Gyantse, routes led to Shigatse downstream and also over the Karo La (Pass) to Central Tibet. The fortress (constructed in 1390) guarded the southern approaches to the Tsangpo
Yarlung Zangbo River
Yarlung River is a watercourse that originates upstream from the South Tibet Valley and Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon, in Tibet. It then passes through the state of Arunachal Pradesh, India, where it is known as the Dihang....
Valley and Lhasa. The town was surrounded by a wall 3 km long.
Demographics
In 1952, Gyantse had a population of perhaps 8,000 people, about the same as in 2008. It is 3,977 meters (13,050 ft) above sea level, and is located 254 km southwest of Lhasa in the fertile plain of the Nyang RiverNyang River
The Nyang River is a major river in south-west Tibet and the longest tributary of the Yarlung Tsangpo river....
valley and on the Friendship Highway
Friendship Highway
There are several Friendship highways:*China-Nepal Highway, also known as the Friendship Highway*Mittraphap Road , literally "Friendship Road"*Khmer-American Friendship Highway , Cambodia...
, which connects Kathmandu, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
to Lhasa
Lhasa
Lhasa is the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China and the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau, after Xining. At an altitude of , Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world...
, China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. Gyantse was the third largest city in Tibet before being overtaken by Qamdo
Qamdo
Qamdo , Chamdo , 昌都 can refer to:* Chamdo, a town in Tibet* Qamdo Region, a former administrative region in western Kham, Tibet - see Qamdo Prefecture...
. It is often referred to as the "Hero City" because during the British Younghusband
Francis Younghusband
Lieutenant Colonel Sir Francis Edward Younghusband, KCSI, KCIE was a British Army officer, explorer, and spiritual writer...
Expedition
British expedition to Tibet
The British expedition to Tibet during 1903 and 1904 was an invasion of Tibet by British Indian forces, whose mission was to establish diplomatic relations and trade between the British Raj and Tibet...
of 1904, Tibetan forces battled the British for all of two months despite technological disparities in Younghusband's favor.
Landmarks
Gyantse is notable for its restored Gyantse DzongGyantse Dzong
Gyantse Dzong or Gyantse Fortress is one of the best preserved dzongs in Tibet, perched high above the town of Gyantse on a huge spur of grey brown rock....
or fort, and its magnificent tiered Kumbum
Kumbum
A Kumbum is a multi-storied aggregate of Buddhist chapels in Tibet. It forms part of Palcho Monastery.The first Kumbum was founded in the fire-sheep year 1427 by a Gyantse prince. It has nine lhakangs or levels, is 35 metres high surmounted by a golden dome, and contains 77 chapels which line...
(literally, '100,000 images') of the Palcho Monastery
Palcho Monastery
The Palcho Monastery or Pelkor Chode Monastery or Shekar Gyantse is the main monastery in Gyantse, Gyangzê County, Shigatse Prefecture, Tibet, in the Nyangchu river valley...
, the largest chörten in Tibet. The Kumbum was commissioned by a Gyantse prince in 1427 and was an important centre of the Sakya
Sakya
The Sakya school is one of four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, the others being the Nyingma, Kagyu, and Gelug...
school of Tibetan Buddhism. This religious structure contains 77 chapels in its six floors, and is illustrated with over 10,000 murals, many showing a strong Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
i influence, which have survived almost entirely intact. They are the last of its kind to be found in Tibet. Many of the restored clay statues are of less artistry than the destroyed originals - but they are still spectacular.
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
the fort, the monastery and Kumbum were ransacked. Precious objects were destroyed or sent out of Tibet. Fortunately, the chorten was spared.
The main building of the Pelkor Chode or Palcho Monastery
Palcho Monastery
The Palcho Monastery or Pelkor Chode Monastery or Shekar Gyantse is the main monastery in Gyantse, Gyangzê County, Shigatse Prefecture, Tibet, in the Nyangchu river valley...
and the Kumbum have been largely restored but the dzong or fort is still largely in ruins but there is an "Anti-British Imperialism Museum" there which gives the Chinese version of the 1904 British invasion. The Gyantse Guesthouse
Gyantse Guesthouse
Jiangzi Zhen Di Yi Zhaodaisuo Guesthouse or Gyantse Guesthouse is a truck-stop hotel located about 250 metres on the left beyond the crossroads on the road reaching the Tibetan town of Gyantse from Lhasa in western Tibet. The guesthouse is Gyantse No.1 hotel and has more than 50 beds in rooms...
is one of the hotels of note.