Ancient Palace in Xizang is a Strong Trace of Tibet-Han Relations for Centuries

JAKARTA - The Lhagyari Palace Complex in Chusum Regency, Tibet Autonomous Region, preserves the traces of the long relationship between the local Tibetan rulers and the central dynasties in China. The traces are not only recorded in history, but also still stand in the form of buildings, courtyards, and architectural details that survive across the centuries.

According to a report by China Daily quoted on Thursday, April 23, the 13th-century royal complex is considered important by historians and academics because it shows cultural exchange and the mix of Tibetan and Han ethnicities. This is seen from the style of the building which combines Tibetan architecture with Han craft details, something that is rare in historic palaces in Xizang.

The most prominent building is the Ganden Lhatse Palace which was built in the 17th century. Researchers call this palace a strong evidence of a long-standing relationship between the Tibetan and Han ethnic groups. Its value is not only historical, but also important for researching architectural developments in the region.

Sonam Yontan, a doctoral student at Xizang University who is researching the Lhagyari royal lineage, traces the family's origins to the 9th century, after the collapse of the Tubo Kingdom. One branch of the royal lineage later settled in what is now Chusum in the 13th century and became local rulers until the peaceful liberation of Xizang in 1951.

In 1658, Depa Lhagyari was officially given the authority to rule the Ae region, a broader historical name for Chusum. At that time, the Ganden Lhatse Palace was built and became the marker of the peak of the lineage's influence.

The Lhagyari Palace complex also shows three phases of Tibetan palace architectural development. The early phase is seen in the remains of the walls and gates of the Tashi Chodzong Palace from the late 15th century. The middle phase is represented by Ganden Lhatse in the 17th century. While the final phase is seen in the Summer Palace built in the mid-20th century by Lha Namgyal Gyatso, with a blend of Han and Tibetan styles.

Sonam Yontan said the palace design combined Tibetan style with dougong, a typical Han carpentry stacking bracket system. Ganden Lhatse also serves not only as a palace, but also as a fortress, cultural center, and trading center. Inside it there are servant rooms, horse stables, a library of sacred texts, and a ceremonial square or karshal.

The square is paved with black-and-white pebbles arranged to form the symbol of Tibetan Buddhism's good luck, as well as containing elements that are said to be inspired by the Great Wall. In addition to symbolic value, the arrangement also helps drainage during rain.

But longevity also brings problems. Environmental damage and neglect over the years have left some of the complexes in a fragile state. Therefore, the site was designated as a regional level cultural heritage object protection unit in 1996, then rose to become a national level major cultural heritage site in 2001.

China Daily's report said more than 20.5 million yuan was allocated for restoration. The work, which took place from 2010 to 2012, included strengthening the structure, restoring the square, cleaning debris, strengthening the underground passage, and securing the slopes around the complex.

For remote areas such as Xizang, this palace shows the important thing that political and cultural relations with the center of power have been established since hundreds of years ago. And sometimes, the clearest history is actually stored in buildings that are still able to survive.