Gaden Sangpai Norbuling Temple: a temple of Buddhist art in Kham Tibetan area.

At the foot of Bam Mountain in Xiangcheng County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, stands a Buddhist temple with a long history - Gadan Sangpi Luobuling Temple, commonly known as Sangpiling Temple. This temple is not only a holy place for the Tibetan people's religious beliefs, but also a treasure house showing the essence of Tibetan architecture, decoration, sculptures, paintings and other arts. History The Gaden Sangpai Norbuling Monastery was built in the eighth year of Emperor Kangxi's reign in the Qing Dynasty (1669). It was led by the local eminent monk Ruo Bengong Benluo in Xiangcheng and the Mongolian officer Jibu Kangzhu sent by the fifth Dalai Lama. Built on the original site of the temple. As one of the thirteen Gelug sect temples built by the fifth Dalai Lama in Kham Tibetan area, Sangpiling Temple has been carrying the important task of spreading Buddhist teachings and promoting Gelug sect culture since its establishment. After hundreds of years of vicissitudes, Sangpiling Monastery has been damaged by wars and special events. However, thanks to the joint efforts of local monks and laypeople, especially the support of the 10th Panchen Lama Erdeni Chokyi Gyaltsen, After the instructions, it was rebuilt in 1986 and moved to Tongsha Palace at the foot of Bam Mountain in 1995. Architectural layout and artistic features The architectural style of Sangpiling Temple is unique. The whole temple is a rectangular four-story watchtower building with a spacious patio in the center. The layout is scattered and spread out. The upper floor of the main hall has gold-plated copper tiles, and the golden horse stands proudly and shines brightly; the dragon's head flies high in the corner of the hall, and the yellow pagodas are row upon row, bright and eye-catching. The windows are surrounded by bulges one by one, extending outward. Each layer is painted with three-dimensional symmetry and Tibetan-style patterns. This design not only integrates the design elements of the famous Gelugpa monasteries in Tibetan areas, such as the three major monasteries in Lhasa, Amdo Kumbum Monastery and Changqingchunkeer Monastery in Litang, but also reflects the local characteristics and innovations of rural towns. The sculptures and paintings in the temple are even more breathtaking. The sculptures are mainly divided into three categories: bronze sculptures, clay sculptures, and wood carvings. Buddha sculptures such as the gold-plated bronze Buddha statue of Tsongkhapa are about 18 meters high, and the total height of the Buddha seat is nearly 30 meters. It is the largest bronze statue in the temple in a Tibetan inhabited area. One; decorative sculptures such as the Panlong Pillar, the Living Buddha's Throne, and the Three Gates in the South, East and North demonstrate the highest level of temple wood carving skills. In terms of painting art, the temple's magnificent murals and exquisite thangkas are all over the pillars, beams, corridor tops, partitions, etc., depicting various auspicious patterns and vivid story scenes common in Tibetan Buddhism. Historical significance and cultural value Sangpiling Temple is not only a holy place for Tibetan people’s religious beliefs, but also a temple carrying profound historical significance and cultural value. During the Long March of the Red Army, the monks of Sangpiling Temple provided strong support and help. Red Army leaders Xiao Ke and Wang Zhen presented brocade plaques and silver ingots with the words "Support the Ban people and independent liberation" to the temple. From then on, Sangpiling Temple The temple has become a symbol of "Tibetan-Chinese unity". In addition, Sangpiling Temple is also famous in the Kham Tibetan area for its grand scale, exquisite sculpture and painting art, and long history, and enjoys the reputation of "the first temple in Kham". Travel information For self-driving tourists, drive from the People's Government of Xiangcheng County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province to Gadan Sangpi Norbuling Temple. The distance is about 2.7 kilometers and takes about 5 minutes. The transportation is convenient. Every year on the eve of the Spring Festival, Sangpiling Temple also holds a God-Dance Festival, attracting many tourists and local religious people to participate. Here, tourists can not only appreciate the exquisite architecture, sculptures and paintings, but also feel the strong Tibetan cultural atmosphere and the Tibetan people's devout belief in Buddhism. Gaden Sangpi Luobuling Temple is a Buddhist art palace integrating history, culture and art. It is not only a holy place for Tibetan people's religious beliefs, but also a treasure house showing the essence of Tibetan architecture, decoration, sculpture, painting and other arts. For tourists, this is undoubtedly a tourist attraction not to be missed.