Lhasa - Rasa

Japanese: ラサ - らさ

A prefecture-level city in the south-central part of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. It is the largest city in the region and its capital. It is located in the middle reaches of the Lhasa River, a tributary of the Yarlung Zuangbo River (upstream of the Brahmaputra River), in the southern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It is 3,600 meters above sea level. As of 2016, it has jurisdiction over two city districts, six counties including Damxun and Nyemo, and its city boundaries include Nam Lake and Nyenchentangla Peak. It has a population of 576,100 (2011). Lhasa has long hours of sunshine, exceeding 3,000 hours a year, so it is called the "City of the Sun."

In the Lhasa River valley, the staple foods of naked oats and peas are cultivated, as well as wheat. Ethnic handicrafts make up a large proportion of industry, but the clothing, soap and other sectors are dominated by collective handicraft factories operating under the cooperative system. Immediately after the founding of the People's Republic of China, the only relatively large industrial enterprises were low-capacity hydroelectric power stations, paper mills and mints, but industrialization has progressed with the construction of a carpet factory established in 1953, as well as the Gachen Hydroelectric Power Station, which began transmitting electricity in 1960, and the construction of state-run flour mills, agricultural machinery factories, oil extraction factories and other facilities.

Within the city are the Potala Palace (registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 as the "Historic Area of the Potala Palace in Lhasa"), Nobulingka Imperial Villa, Jokhang Temple, Sera Monastery and other historical sites and temples. Four expressways run through the city, connecting Sichuan-Tibet, Qinghai-Tibet, New Tibet and Dian-Tibet, as well as expressways to Tsoe-Mo and Tsoe-Na, and there are air routes to Chengdu and Xi'an from Lhasa Gonggar Airport in the neighboring city of Lhoka.

[Masakazu Komai, Editorial Department, September 19, 2017]

history

In 640, Princess Wencheng, who came from China to marry the eldest son of the first Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo, built Ramoche Monastery (Little Johkas Temple) in Lhasa, the summer residence of the ancient Tibetan kingdom (Tuban). Later, Jokhang Monastery (Great Johkas Temple) was also built here. Princess Jincheng (?-739) also came here in 710 to marry King Thidetsugtsen, and a stone monument commemorating the alliance with the Tang Dynasty (Tangbo Alliance Monument) was erected here in 823, making Lhasa one of the political and cultural centers of Tibet. After the turmoil caused by King Langdarma's destruction of Buddhism, Buddhism flourished again around the 11th century, and Jokhang Monastery (also known as Chokhang) also gained reverence, and in 1190 King Yatse donated a golden roof to the monastery.

Thereafter, control shifted with the rise and fall of various sects and great nobles, but Gushi Khan (1582-1656), who had pacified all of Tibet, handed over full authority to the Fifth Dalai Lama (1617-1682) in 1642, who began construction of the Potala Palace in 1645, and Regent Sangyegyatso (1595-1658) completed the White Palace (a place of government and life) in 1648. Construction continued after Sangyegyatso's death, and the Red Palace (a place of religion) was completed in 1693, making Lhasa the center of politics and religion thereafter.

It was subsequently invaded by foreign troops several times, and in 1951 it came under the control of the People's Liberation Army of China and became the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

[Yu Harada September 19, 2017]

"The Culture of Tibet" by R. A. Stang, translated by Zuiho Yamaguchi and Akira Sadakata (1971, Iwanami Shoten)

Lhasa city
Located at an altitude of 3,600m in the southern part of the Changtang Plateau (Tibet Plateau), Lhasa is the seat of the Tibet Autonomous Region government. Since the construction of the Potala Palace, it has become the center of politics and religion. It is called the "City of the Sun" because of the long hours of sunshine per year. China, Tibet Autonomous Region, Lhasa ©Shogakukan ">

Lhasa city

Potala Palace
A large palace about 117 meters high on the slope of Marpo-ri (Red Mountain). The building with reddish-brown walls is Potang Marpo (Red Palace) where religious ceremonies are held, and the white building is Potang Karpo (White Palace) where the Dalai Lama lives and conducts government affairs. Part of the World Heritage Site "Historic Area of the Potala Palace in Lhasa" (China, registered in 1994, 2000, and 2001) China, Tibet Autonomous Region, Lhasa ©Shogakukan ">

Potala Palace

Barkol (Octagon Street)
The circular road surrounding the Jokhang Temple. It is a bustling shopping street lined with shops and stalls, and also a pilgrimage route. Pilgrims circle the road holding prayer wheels, a religious item. In accordance with Buddhist custom, all people who use this route walk in a clockwise direction. Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China ©Shogakukan ">

Barkol (Octagon Street)

Drepung Monastery
It is known as one of the "Three Great Monasteries of Tibet" along with Ganden Monastery and Sera Monastery. It is said that there were once more than 10,000 monks. China, Tibet Autonomous Region, Lhasa ©Shogakukan ">

Drepung Monastery

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

中国、チベット自治区中南部にある地級市。同自治区最大の都市で、自治区の首府である。青蔵(せいぞう)高原南部、ヤルンズアンボ江（ブラマプトラ川上流）支流のラサ河中流域に位置する。標高3600メートル。2市轄区、ダムション、ニェモなど6県を管轄下に置き（2016年時点）、ナム湖、ニェンチェンタンラ峰などを市域に含む。人口57万6100（2011）。ラサの日照時間は長く、年間3000時間を超えるため「太陽の町」とよばれる。

　ラサ河の河谷では主食とされる青稞(チンコー)（ハダカエンバク）やエンドウのほか小麦の栽培も盛んである。工業は民族手工業の割合が高いが、衣服、せっけんなどの部門は協同組合方式による集団制手工業工場が多い。比較的大きな工業企業としては、中華人民共和国成立直後には能力の低い水力発電所、製紙工場、造幣所のみであったが、1953年に設立されたカーペット工場をはじめ、1960年送電を開始したガチェン水力発電所を基礎に、国営製粉工場、農機具工場、搾油工場などが建設され、工業化が進んでいる。

　市内にはポタラ宮（1994年「ラサのポタラ宮歴史地区」として世界遺産の文化遺産に登録）、ノブリンカ離宮、大昭寺、セラ寺などの旧跡、寺院がある。川蔵・青蔵・新蔵・滇蔵(てんぞう)の四つの自動車道や、ツォモ、ツォナへの自動車道が通り、隣接するロカ市のラサ・クンガ空港からは成都(せいと)や西安(せいあん)への航空路が開かれている。

［駒井正一・編集部　2017年9月19日］

歴史

古代チベット王国（吐蕃(とばん)）の夏の住地であったラサに、640年、中国から初代チベット王ソンツェンガンポの長子に嫁いできた文成(ぶんせい)公主はラモチェ寺（小昭寺）を建立した。のちにトゥルナン寺（大昭寺）もここに建立された。金城公主（？―739）も710年ティデツクツェン王に嫁ぐためこの地に至り、唐との会盟を記念した石碑（唐蕃会盟碑）も823年にここに立てられ、チベットの政治と文化の一中心地となった。ランダルマ王の破仏による混乱を経て、11世紀前後にふたたび仏教が盛んになると、トゥルナン寺（別称チョカン）に対する尊崇も集まり、1190年にはヤツェ王が黄金の屋根を献じている。

　その後、各宗派と大貴族の消長に応じて支配権も移動したが、チベット全土を平定したグシ・ハン（顧実汗。1582―1656）は、1642年に全権をダライ・ラマ5世（1617―1682）にゆだね、5世は1645年ポタラ宮の造営を開始し、摂政(せっしょう)サンギェギャツォ（1595―1658）が1648年白宮（政治と生活の場）を完成させた。サンギェギャツォの死後も工事は続き、1693年に紅宮（宗教の場）が完成、ラサは以後の政教の中心地となった。

　その後も何度か外国軍の侵入を受け、1951年には中国人民解放軍に支配され、チベット自治区の首府となった。

［原田　覺　2017年9月19日］

『R・A・スタン著、山口瑞鳳・定方晟訳『チベットの文化』（1971・岩波書店）』

ラサ市街

ポタラ宮
マルポ・リ（紅山）の斜面にある高さ約117mの大宮殿。壁面を赤褐色に塗った建物は宗教儀式を行うポタン・マルポ（紅宮）、白い建物はダライ・ラマの住居および政務を執るポタン・カルポ（白宮）。世界文化遺産「ラサのポタラ宮歴史地区」の一部（中国・1994、2000、2001年登録）　中国　チベット自治区　ラサ©Shogakukan">

ポタラ宮

バルコル（八角街）
大昭寺（チョカン）を取り囲む環状路。商店や露店が続く繁華街であるとともに、巡礼の道でもある。巡礼者は宗教具のマニ車を手に周回する。仏教の約束事に従い、この道を通るすべての人は右回りに進む。中国　チベット自治区　ラサ©Shogakukan">

バルコル（八角街）

デプン寺

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