Taer Lamasery(塔爾寺)

Ladies and gentlemen，

I'm very pleased to meet you.When you come to Qinghai，you must visit the Taer Lamasery.So what then is the Taer Lamasery? Letme give you an introduction.

Located in the town of Lusna'er，Huangzhong County，the Lamasery's beautiful name means“Lotus Basin”in Chinese.This is because the shape of hills around it looks like a blooming eight-petal lotus.Master Zongkaba was born here.The Lamasery built after his birth is in the center of this lotus.

In Tibetan language，Taer Lamasery is called“Gumbum”，which means“100，000 figures of Buddha”.It was said that when Master Zongkaba was born，a white sandal tree grew up from where his navel was cut off.In the sandal tree there were 100，000 leaves.A Lion-roaring Buddha(one kind of images of Sakyamuni Buddha) appeared naturally on every leaf.Tibetans called the Lamasery“Gumbum”(100，000 figures of Buddha).

Master Zongkaba was a native of Huangzhong County in Xining City，Qinghai Province.He was born in 1357.At the age of3，he was brought by his father to the Xiazong Lamasery in Ping'an County.He paid a visit to Ruobaiduojie，the fourth Buddha of Gejupai Heimao sect coming to Qinghai，and had his hair cut to be amonk.At the age of 7，he was sent to the Xiaqiong Lamasery in Hualong County.He was baptized by King Ruizhirenqin，the founder of the Lamasery and named Duanyueduojie.Later he was again initiated into Shamimonkhood and named Luosangzhaba.At the age of 16，he went to study the Buddhist scripture in Tibet and then established Gelu sect.He died in 1419 at the age of 63.

After six years of studying in Tibet，Zongkaba's mother really missed him.She had a lock of her hair and letter sent to Zongkaba，in order to persuade him to return home.But he was determined not to go home and insisted on studying and spreading Buddhism.Instead，he sent his follower Zhihuajianzan to give his mother Xiangsa'aqie and sister a self-portrait of him and lion-roaring Buddha to comfort them.In his letter he told his mother:“If，with 100，000 figures of Lion-roaring Buddha and a papal as the fetal treasure，a pagoda is built in the place where Iwas born，it will be same as we see each other”.The following year，in the twelfth year of Ming Dynasty Emperor Hongwu's reign，his mother，with the help of many believers，built the lotus pagoda.

The pagoda was rebuilt and maintained for more than 180 years，but did not come into a lamasery.It was not until 39^th year of the Ming Dynasty Emperor Jiajing's reign(1560) that the master Renqinzongzhejianzan built a house beside the lotus pagoda for meditation，marking the Lamasery's foundation.17 years later，during the fifth year of the Ming Dynasty Emperor Wanli's reign，the Mi'le Palace was builton the south side of the Lotus Pagoda.From then on，the Taer Lamasery became known by this name because the construction of pagoda came before the building of the temples.The formal establishment of Taer Lamasery commenced at this point in time，giving it a 400-year-long history.

In the tenth year of the Ming Dynasty Wanli Emperor's reign(1582)，when Dalai Lama，the third generation，Suonanjiacuo，came to live in Qinghai，he instructed Master Renzongjianzan and local Tibetan tribes to enlarge the temple complex.He also gave the portraits of Buddha for devotion.Meanwhile various grand ceremonies were held for the construction.Since then，the Taer Lamasery has been successively improved and developed.The Dalai Lama，Jiujian，Yihu，and Sakyamunipalaces，scripture house and houses for lamas have been built one after another.

Now there are over 9，300 different houses and 25 palaces in Taer Lamasery.Covering an area of about40 hectares，the Lamasery is now one of the most famous Tibetan Buddhism temples.The Taer Lamasery，along with the Sela，Gandan，Zhebang，and Zhashilunbu Lamaseries in Tibet，and Labuleng Lamasery in Gansu，belongs to the Tibetan Gelu Buddhist sect.It is Qinghai's biggest Tibetan Buddhism Lamasery.After the liberation，the central governmenthas paid greatattention to the Lamasery.On March 4，1961，the Taer Lamasery was designated by the State Council as a key national protected site.Later it was listed among the first4A scenic spots in China.The people's government has paid great attention to its constru-ction and appropriated funds several times to renovate it.

The Taer Lamasery has the following main highlights:

Firstly，there are many architectural structures and tour spots.When entering the Lamasery，you can see a straight row of pagodas.They are eight pagodas in commemoration of eight benevolences of Sakyamuni's life.From the east to west stand the Goodness，Bodhi，F(xiàn)our-Noble-Truths，Conquering Heresies，Reborn，F(xiàn)orthright Criticism，Victory，and Nirvana Pagodas.Then you can visit the minor Gold-tiled Hall，also known as the Hall of Guardian of Buddha，Shilun Big Pagoda，the Hallof Prayer for Longevity，the Sutras Printing Courtyard，and Hallof Manjushvi.After that you can visit the Great Hall of Sutras，the Lamasery's main structure.It is the largest building，which serves as the meeting place for lamas to chant sutras and scriptures，listen to sermons，and study Buddhism.Finally，you can visit the Big Kitchen，Medicine，Shilun，and Esoteric Colleges，Sakyamuni，DalaiBianzhi，Yihu，Nine-Room，Big Larang，and Mi'le Palace( the oldest structure in the complex)Mysterious Butter Sculptures，and Great Gold-tiled Halls.

Secondly，you can appreciate special and colourful architectural styles.Taer Lamasery mainly shows Tibetan style in architecture，but also displays Han Chinese style and local fashion，full of colorful characteristics.It is constructed on a mountain slope and its halls，glowing golden walls，and sutras houses stand in a neat row.

Thirdly，you can experience themysterious and rich Tibetan Buddhism culture.Travelling in the Lamasery，every tourist can learn the mysterious system of Buddha's Samsara.You can observe the four great Zhacang，reflecting the traditional culture，and four religious festivals.

Fourthly，you can appreciate the Three Unique Artistic Treasures，well-known both home and abroad.Butter sculptures，murals，and embossed embroideries are known as the Taer Lamasery's Three Unique Artistic Treasures.The butter sculpture，the use of butter as a medium for sculpture，is especially strange and precious.They are the outstanding representatives of Taer Lamasery arts and culture.

Ladies and Gentlemen，Taer Lamasery has more religious culture and scenic spots.Only when you approach it，you can understand its magnitude and accuracy.You will be deeply astonished in your heart.

各位朋友，大家好!到青海來旅游一定要參觀游覽塔爾寺，因?yàn)樗査潞颓嗪：际乔嗪Ｂ糜蔚南笳骷按?，可以說，不游覽塔爾寺就是枉來青海。那么，塔爾寺是怎樣的一座寺院呢?讓我給大家做個(gè)介紹。

塔爾寺位于西寧市湟中縣魯沙爾鎮(zhèn)，這里還有一個(gè)美麗的漢語名字--蓮花坳，因其周圍山丘的形狀如盛開的八瓣蓮花而得名，宗喀巴大師就誕生于此，以后修建的塔爾寺恰好便坐落在了這蓮花的中心。

塔爾寺在藏語中稱為“袞本賢巴林”，意思是“十萬佛像彌勒洲”。相傳在宗喀巴大師誕生時(shí)，從剪斷其臍帶滴血之處生長(zhǎng)出了一株白旃檀樹，樹上有十萬片非常茂密的樹葉，每片葉子都自然顯現(xiàn)出一尊獅子吼佛像(釋迦牟尼身像的一種)，藏語因此稱之為“袞本”(十萬身像)。

宗喀巴大師是今青海省西寧市湟中縣人，生于1357年。宗喀巴3歲時(shí)，其父親把他帶到今平安縣境內(nèi)的夏宗寺，拜見來青的噶舉派黑帽系第四世活佛若白多杰，受近事戒;7歲時(shí)被送到今化隆縣境內(nèi)的夏瓊寺，受到該寺創(chuàng)建者法王端智仁欽的罐頂，取密宗名端月多杰，后又受到沙彌戒，取法名羅桑扎巴;16歲赴西藏學(xué)習(xí)佛經(jīng)直到創(chuàng)立格魯派。大師于1419年63歲時(shí)在西藏拉薩甘丹寺圓寂。

宗喀巴大師去西藏學(xué)佛6年之后，其母香薩阿切盼兒心切，托人捎去一束白發(fā)和一封家書，讓宗喀巴大師回來探望老母。大師接到母親的家書之后，為堅(jiān)持學(xué)業(yè)和弘揚(yáng)佛法而決意不歸，派弟子智華堅(jiān)贊攜帶給母親香薩阿切和姐姐各一幅自畫像和獅子吼佛像，以慰老母和姐姐，并在信中告訴母親:“若能在我出生的地方用十萬獅子吼佛像和菩提樹(指大師誕生地的那株白旃檀樹)為胎藏修建一座佛塔，就猶如與兒見面一樣?！睘榇?，第二年，即明洪武十二年(公元1380年)，香薩阿切在信徒們的支持下建成了一座塔，取名蓮聚塔。

蓮聚塔修成后180多年間，幾經(jīng)改建和維修，終未形成寺院。直到明嘉靖三十九年(公元1560年)，由禪師仁欽宗哲堅(jiān)贊在蓮聚塔旁倡議修建了靜房1座，用于修禪，至此寺院才有了雛形。17年之后的明萬歷五年(公元1577年)，人們又在蓮聚塔的南側(cè)建造了彌勒殿。從這時(shí)起，塔爾寺不僅初具規(guī)模，而且因先建塔后建寺而得名塔爾寺。所以，塔爾寺的正式建立一般都是從這一年算起，其歷史應(yīng)是400多年。

到了明萬歷十年(公元1582年)，三世達(dá)賴?yán)锼髂霞未雭砬嗪ｑv錫時(shí)，指示禪師仁欽宗哲堅(jiān)贊以及當(dāng)?shù)夭刈宀柯溥M(jìn)一步擴(kuò)建塔爾寺，并賜贈(zèng)供奉佛像，同時(shí)進(jìn)行了各種隆重的建寺儀式。自此以后，塔爾寺不斷擴(kuò)大和發(fā)展，先后建成達(dá)賴行宮、九間殿、依怙殿、釋迦殿、經(jīng)院和僧舍等，直至發(fā)展到今天的巨大規(guī)模。

塔爾寺現(xiàn)有各類建筑9300余間、殿堂25座，占地約40公頃，成為一座著名的藏傳佛教寺院，它與西藏的色拉寺、甘丹寺、哲蚌寺、扎什倫布寺和甘肅的拉卜楞寺被稱為藏傳佛教格魯派的六大叢林(寺院)，是青海最大的藏傳佛教寺院，新中國(guó)成立后，塔爾寺受到國(guó)家的高度重視，于1961年3月4日，被國(guó)務(wù)院公布為第一批國(guó)家重點(diǎn)文物保護(hù)單位，后又評(píng)為我國(guó)第一批4A級(jí)旅游景區(qū)(點(diǎn))，人民政府一直重視塔爾寺建設(shè)，多次撥款修葺，使之具有了今天的壯觀恢弘氣勢(shì)。

游覽塔爾寺的主要看點(diǎn)有如下幾點(diǎn):

第一，塔爾寺主要建筑及參觀游覽景點(diǎn)眾多。進(jìn)入塔爾寺，大家首先看到的是一組佛塔，它就是紀(jì)念佛祖釋迦牟尼一生中八大業(yè)績(jī)的如來八塔，從東向西依次是蓮聚塔、菩提塔、初轉(zhuǎn)法輪塔、降魔塔、降凡塔、息諍塔、祈壽塔、涅槃塔。之后參觀游覽的是小金瓦寺，也叫護(hù)法神殿。然后依次參觀游覽時(shí)輪大塔、祈壽殿、印經(jīng)院、時(shí)輪壇城等。接著重點(diǎn)參觀游覽塔爾寺主體建筑大經(jīng)堂，它是整個(gè)寺院規(guī)模最大的殿宇，是全寺僧人集體誦經(jīng)、講法和學(xué)習(xí)佛法的場(chǎng)所。緊接著參觀游覽大廚房、依怙殿、醫(yī)明學(xué)院、釋迦佛殿、大金瓦寺、彌勒殿、九間殿;遍知殿、時(shí)輪學(xué)院、密宗學(xué)院、大拉讓以及神秘的酥油花館等。

第二，欣賞塔爾寺特色鮮明的建筑風(fēng)格。塔爾寺以藏式建筑為主，又兼容了漢式建筑與地方建筑風(fēng)格，特色鮮明。整個(gè)建筑依山而建，錯(cuò)落有致，殿宇經(jīng)堂，金碧輝煌。

第三，領(lǐng)略神秘而豐富的藏傳佛教文化。游覽塔爾寺，游客可了解神秘的活佛轉(zhuǎn)世制度，參觀游覽反映傳統(tǒng)文化的四大扎倉(cāng)，考察宗教色彩濃郁的四大法會(huì)等。

第四，欣賞享譽(yù)海內(nèi)外的塔爾寺藝術(shù)三絕。酥油花、壁畫、堆繡被稱為塔爾寺的藝術(shù)三絕，尤其是酥油花更為奇特而珍貴，是塔爾寺文化藝術(shù)的杰出代表。

各位游客，塔爾寺的宗教文化及看點(diǎn)遠(yuǎn)不止這些，只有當(dāng)你走進(jìn)它，才會(huì)體會(huì)到它的博大與精深，你的心靈也才會(huì)受到一種深深的震撼。