The Relics of Guge Kingdom in Ngari
Chinese Name：古格王国遗址
English Name: The Site of Ancient Guge Kingdom
Location: Located in Zanda County(札达县), Ngari Prefecture(阿里地区),Tibet Autonomous Region, China
Admission fee: 200 RMB
Opening hours: 8：00~ 19:00
The Guge Kingdom Site (古格王国遗址) is located in Zhabu Rang Village (札布让村) by the Elephant Spring River (象泉河) in Zhada County (札达县), Ngari Prefecture (阿里地区), Tibet Autonomous Region (西藏自治区). Covering an area of approximately 18,000 square kilometers, the site features over 300 structures including caves, three stupas (佛塔), four temples (寺庙), two halls (殿堂), and two underground tunnels (地下暗道). The site is divided into three levels: the palace (王宫), temples (寺庙), and residential areas (民居). It is surrounded by defensive walls, with watchtowers (碉楼) at each corner. Notable within the Red Temple (红庙), White Temple (白庙), and Wheel of Reincarnation Temple (轮回庙) are exquisite sculptures and murals that hold significant artistic and historical value.
The Guge Kingdom (古格王国) was founded in the 10th century, after the collapse of the Tubo Dynasty (吐蕃王朝) and the death of the last Tubo King (吐蕃赞普) Langdarma (朗达玛). His grandson, Jidenima (吉德尼玛), escaped to Ngari and established the kingdom. From the mid-10th century to the early 17th century, the kingdom flourished, promoting Buddhism, resisting foreign invasions, and playing an important role in the history of Tibet after the fall of the Tubo Dynasty.
In 1630, the kingdom was destroyed in a war with the neighboring Ladakh (拉达克) kingdom, marking the end of the Guge Kingdom‘s rule. To this day, the reasons behind the kingdom’s mysterious disappearance remain unclear.
Historical Significance
Rise and Fall of the Guge Kingdom
The Guge Kingdom arose after Langdarma (朗达玛), the last king of the Tubo Dynasty, died in the mid-9th century. Following his death, a succession struggle broke out within the royal family. Jidenima, a descendant of Langdarma, lost the power struggle and fled to Ngari. There, he established a small kingdom and later divided the region into three parts, assigning them to his sons. The kingdom of Guge was granted to his third son, Degu Gun (德祖衮). This kingdom lasted for more than 700 years before it was destroyed in warfare.
In 1912, Mac Hoshan (麦克霍斯·扬), a British explorer, ascended the Elephant Spring River and conducted the first investigation of the Guge Kingdom Site. In 1979, a joint team from the Tibet Autonomous Region (西藏自治区) and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (新疆维吾尔自治区) carried out the first special investigation of the site. In 1981, the Tibet Industrial Architecture Survey and Design Institute (西藏工业建筑勘测设计院) created the first detailed survey of the site, followed by further archaeological work in 1985.
Cultural and Artistic Value
The Guge Kingdom is renowned for its unique contributions to the cultural and artistic heritage of Tibet. The murals, sculptures, and architectural designs within the temples and palaces provide valuable insights into the art and religious practices of the kingdom.
The murals found on the walls and ceilings of the Red Temple, White Temple, and Wheel of Reincarnation Temple are exceptional examples of Tibetan artistic traditions. These works represent a significant achievement in Tibetan Buddhist art, with a distinct style that has shaped the artistic landscape of Tibet. The site also contains examples of mud sculptures, carvings, and other forms of artwork that demonstrate the craftsmanship of the kingdom’s period.
In addition to its artistic value, the Guge Kingdom site is an important archaeological and architectural resource, offering detailed information on the defensive structures (防御设施) used by the kingdom to protect against external invasions. The fortifications of the capital, including the military defense buildings, provide crucial data for the study of ancient Tibetan architecture and defensive systems.
The Site’s Protection and Recognition
In 1961, the Guge Kingdom Site was listed as a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit (全国重点文物保护单位) by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China (中华人民共和国国务院). This recognition has helped preserve the site, ensuring that future generations can appreciate and learn from the remnants of this once-great kingdom.
Practical Information
Location and Accessibility
Location: Guge Kingdom Site (古格王国遗址), Zhabu Rang Village (札布让村), Zhada County (札达县), Ngari Prefecture (阿里地区), Tibet Autonomous Region (西藏自治区), China
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:30 PM (Year-round)
Entry Fee: Please inquire locally for the latest ticket prices.
Travel Tips
Best Time to Visit: The site can be visited year-round, though the best time to visit is during the spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October), when the weather is more temperate.
Guided Tours: It is highly recommended to visit the site with a knowledgeable guide to fully appreciate the historical, cultural, and artistic significance of the Guge Kingdom ruins.
Other Points of Interest
Palace Complex (王宫建筑): The palace is an excellent example of ancient Tibetan architecture, with distinctive features designed for both residential and military purposes.
Temples and Monasteries (寺庙): The Red Temple, White Temple, and Wheel of Reincarnation Temple are home to exceptional murals, statues, and relics of the Buddhist heritage of the Guge Kingdom.
Architectural Layout
Location and Features
The Guge Kingdom Site (古格王国遗址) occupies a muddy hill near the Elephant Spring River (象泉河) in Zhabu Rang Village (札布让村), Zhada County (札达县), Ngari Prefecture (阿里地区), Tibet Autonomous Region (西藏自治区). The hill is surrounded by mountains on the east, south, and west, forming a natural barrier, while the north side is relatively open. The hill rises sharply, with vertical cliffs on all sides, making it an ideal strategic location for defense. The ridge is narrow and extends from north to south, with steep cliffs on both sides, divided by narrow gorges. The northeast and northwest slopes of the hill are gentle, forming a 60-degree angle, with the peak rising about 170 meters from the base and 70 meters above the Elephant Spring River.
The Guge Kingdom Site is laid out in a terraced fashion, with buildings stacked upon each other, rising from the base of the hill to the peak. The architectural complex includes a palace area (王宫区), temple area (寺庙区), residential area (居民区), government offices (宗政府), and defensive structures (防御工程). The site utilizes the terrain effectively for strategic and defensive purposes, providing a clear example of military architectural thinking. The overall layout reflects a military strategy designed to maximize defense against external threats.
Scale and Extent
The Guge Kingdom Site stretches about 600 meters east to west and 1200 meters north to south, covering a total area of 72 hectares. The site consists of over 600 structures, including palaces, stupas, and caves. The buildings are spread across three main levels: palaces, temples, and residential areas. The lower level includes underground tunnels that connect different areas, while the outer perimeter is protected by a stone wall with watchtowers at each corner. Among the surviving structures are five important temples with well-preserved murals and sculptures, including the White Temple (白殿), Red Temple (红殿), Great Power Temple (大威德殿), Green Tara Temple (度母殿), and the Mandala Temple (坛城殿).
Key Structures
Palace Complex
The Palace Complex (宫城) is located at the top of the mountain and has a slightly S-shaped layout. It is approximately 210 meters long from north to south, with the widest point measuring 78 meters and the narrowest 17 meters, covering an area of about 7,150 square meters. The palace is surrounded by cliffs for protection, but much of the structure is in ruins, making it difficult to identify the specific rooms within the palace. The palace complex can be divided into four parts:
Royal Residence Area: This area housed the king’s summer palace (夏宫) and winter palace (冬宫). The buildings here are dense, with several two-story structures. Among them is a square hall (39 square meters) with Buddhist sculptures on the walls. Below the royal residence area is the underground palace (地下宫殿), which was used by the king during the winter and connected to a secret escape route.
The winter palace is about 12 meters below ground level and accessed by a steep staircase. It consists of a central corridor with rooms on either side, including kiln chambers (窑室) for heating. The palace also has a secret tunnel that connects to the back mountain and a water cave for emergency evacuation.
Buddhist Halls: The central area of the mountain features Buddhist temples. These include the Mandala Temple (坛城殿), which is well-preserved, measuring 34.8 square meters, and the Buddha Hall (佛殿), located 30 meters south of the Mandala Temple. The Buddha Hall is approximately 109 square meters and houses a large Buddha statue (佛像), although much of it has been destroyed.
Public Gathering Halls: There is a large hall located to the south of the palace complex, near a plaza (广场), which is approximately 314.3 square meters in size. This hall is believed to have been used for religious ceremonies and public gatherings, particularly dances during festivals.
Defensive and Utility Buildings: The Guge Kingdom also had various utility and defensive structures, including kiln storage (兵甲库), arrow storage (箭库), and salt storage (盐库).
Mandala Temple (坛城殿)
The Mandala Temple is one of the best-preserved structures, located to the south of the mountain. The temple’s architectural features include four large beams, each 4 meters long, painted in black, red, green, and white. The temple’s ceiling features a cross-shaped structure with a “Nine Palaces” design, and the walls are covered in vibrant murals depicting Buddha and other deities.
The temple also contains a circular platform (园台) with a wooden pavilion (木制园亭) at its center, housing a seated statue of the Buddha. The murals are rich in color, depicting Buddhist deities and tantric figures.
Cultural and Historical Significance
The Guge Kingdom played a significant role in Tibetan history from the 10th century to the 17th century, with a rich culture that combined Buddhism and military defense. The architectural layout of the site demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of defensive strategy, utilizing the natural terrain for protection. The murals and sculptures left behind in the temples are of immense artistic and historical value, reflecting the kingdom’s spiritual and cultural achievements.
The Guge Kingdom Site provides a fascinating glimpse into the ancient Tibetan kingdom, offering insights into the region’s artistic heritage, religious practices, and military strategies.
Temple Architecture
Temple Area Layout
The Temple Area (寺院区) is located on the northeast slope of the Guge Kingdom Site (古格王国遗址), forming a triangle-shaped cluster of buildings that follow the natural terrain. This area includes pebble-painted walls (卵石画墙), temples, stupas, monastic dwellings, and defensive walls.
Pebble-Painted Wall
The Pebble-Painted Wall (卵石画墙) is a unique structure built from a long, earthen wall embedded with pebbles. Located at the foot of the northern mountain, the remaining wall measures over 100 meters long, 0.5 meters thick, and 2.77 meters high. It is divided into three sections vertically. The base is formed by pebbles, while the middle section is constructed with earth bricks. The upper part is sealed with mud and embedded with pebbles, which are flat and engraved with scriptures, mantras, Buddha images, and stupas. These engravings and shallow carvings create a striking visual effect. To support the wall’s stability, side walls were added at intervals of about 4.45 to 5.0 meters.
Cave Temples
Cave Temples (窑洞殿堂) are commonly seen at the site. One well-preserved cave temple is located near the top of the temple area, approximately 90 meters above the ground. The floor plan is roughly square, covering 9.3 square meters, with the entrance facing east. The ceiling is slightly arched, and the walls are covered with vibrant murals.
Combined Cave and Room Temples
Situated near the cave temple, this building faces west and east and is divided into two parts. The western section features a carved niche where a Buddha statue once stood (now destroyed), and the eastern section is a room-like structure attached to the cliff. This building has two columns, is 2.2 meters high, and covers 45.5 square meters. The structure’s northern side features two additional small cave openings. Some murals on the remaining walls depict Tantric double Buddha images, though most have been weathered and the painting technique is rough.
Wooden and Mud-Structured Temples
The Red Temple (红佛殿) and White Temple (白佛殿) are the largest and best-preserved of the wooden and mud-constructed temples.
Red Buddha Hall (红佛殿)
The Red Buddha Hall (红佛殿), known in Tibetan as “Lakang Ma Bu” (拉康马布), is located on the northern slope of the site, 35 meters above the base. This temple faces east-southeast and is 22 meters wide, with a total area of 426.8 square meters. Inside, there are 30 upright columns arranged in a regular grid, with red-painted square columns topped with lotus petal designs. The doorframe is carved with images of Buddhas, figures, elephants, peacocks, and monkeys, making it one of the most exquisite wood carvings at the site.
Inside, a Buddha throne (佛座) is positioned against the western wall, with smaller statues of Buddha symmetrically arranged along the walls. The Buddha throne features a main Buddha statue, now destroyed, with earth towers (土塔) on the northern side. The Red Buddha Hall stands 5.2 meters tall, with windows at the center of the western wall. The walls and ceilings are covered with exquisite murals, spanning 380 square meters—the most stunning paintings in the entire site.
White Buddha Hall (白佛殿)
The White Buddha Hall (白佛殿), known in Tibetan as “Lakang Ga Bu” (拉康嘎布), is located 10 meters south of the Red Buddha Hall and faces southwest. It is 383.2 square meters in size and divided into two sections: the southern part is a scripture hall (经堂), and the northern part is the Buddha hall (佛殿). The hall contains 32 columns arranged in a regular grid, with decorations similar to the Red Buddha Hall. The Buddha Hall is 8.5 meters tall, slightly higher than the scripture hall. The internal beams and columns are richly painted with floral patterns and Buddhist motifs, making it one of the finest examples of architecture at the site. The total area of murals in the White Buddha Hall exceeds 500 square meters.
Kye Lakang (吉界拉康)
The Kye Lakang is a temple dedicated to the Great Vajra (大威德), a principal deity in Tantric Buddhism, also known as Vajra Bhairava (怖畏金刚). The statue of Vajra Bhairava was once a nine-headed, 34-armed, and 16-legged figure, though it has since been destroyed. The temple is divided into a front room, scripture hall, and Buddha hall.
Monastic Residences
The monastic residences (僧居) at the site have mostly turned to ruins. However, the types of monastic dwellings found at the site include cave-style residences, combined room-and-cave residences, and independent dwellings. In Toling Monastery (托林寺), a few well-preserved buildings still stand. These monastic residences typically consist of two floors: the ground floor contains storage and winter living spaces, while the upper floor houses the monks during the summer, complete with living quarters, kitchens, and a small courtyard.
Stupas
Several stupas (佛塔) remain at the Guge Kingdom Site. One collapsed stupa lies at the foot of the north slope, and another two on the northwest slope are known as the Bodhi Stupa (菩提塔) and the Heavenly Descent Stupa (天降塔), with the latter still relatively intact. The stupa styles vary, and long stupa formations (长塔) are particularly unique to this region, with up to hundreds of similar-sized stupas lined up in rows.
The Zhabu Rang Religious Government Site
The Zhabu Rang Religious Government (扎布让宗) complex is located at the northeast foothill of the site, adjacent to the temple area. After the fall of the Guge Kingdom, the Ganden Phodrang Dynasty (噶丹颇章王朝) established a local government here. The complex was primarily composed of a scripture hall, Buddha hall, prison, storage, and offices for administrative staff.
The Buddha Hall within this complex is well-preserved. It features four columns, with the roof open to the sky for lighting. The walls are made from mud bricks, and the doorframe is carved with scenes from the life of Sakyamuni (释迦牟尼), offering a glimpse into the kingdom’s religious practices.
Residential Area Overview
The residential area (民居居民区) of the Guge Kingdom Site (古格王国遗址) is primarily concentrated along the northern slope of the site, where the houses are scattered along the foothills. Though the buildings are largely in ruins, some layouts of the buildings are still distinguishable. By comparing with residential styles in places like Toling (托林) and Purang (普兰), a general picture of the housing structures can be drawn.
The residential structures at the Guge Kingdom site can be categorized into three main types: cave-style dwellings, house-cave combination dwellings, and independent courtyard dwellings.
Cave-Style Dwellings
Due to the scarcity of wood and stone in the Guge Kingdom region, and the lack of natural building materials, most dwellings were built into the cliffs, using caves as primary living spaces. The Ngari (阿里) region, having a shortage of fuel for large-scale brick-making, favored cave dwellings (窑洞民居). These caves were primarily cliff caves, and they vary in form: single-hole caves, double-hole caves, and multi-hole caves.
Single-Hole Caves
A single-hole cave typically refers to one room that serves as a home. Some of these caves include an additional storage room called ear caves (耳窑). The shapes of these caves are generally square, rectangular, or round, with areas ranging from 12 to 18 square meters. The most common dimension is 4×4 meters.
Double-Hole Caves
Located on the northeast slope of the site, the double-hole caves consist of two rooms, each with a width of 3.8 meters and a depth of 4.7 meters. The entrance faces east, and the central partition runs along the door’s centerline. The corners are rounded, and the cave walls are equipped with niches for storage, with ear caves on either side.
Multi-Hole Caves
Multi-hole caves are formed by combining several single-hole caves. For example, a three-hole cave has a main room shaped like a semicircle, built with earth bricks, with the door facing southeast. The western and northern walls each have a square cave. The orientation of most caves is east-facing, as this region is dominated by western winds, making it favorable for protection against wind.
House-Cave Combination Dwellings
This type of dwelling is still commonly used in rural areas like Toling (托林) and Purang (普兰). These homes are built into earth mounds or cliff walls, with caves carved out in the cliffs. One such example is the village of Xue (雪) located at the foot of Zong Mountain (宗山) in Purang. In the region, the remains of cave-like dwellings clearly reflect the house-cave combination style.
Artifacts and Relics
Mural Art
The most abundant and well-preserved relics at the Guge Kingdom Site (古格王国遗址) are its murals. The murals are grand in scale, unique in style, and offer a comprehensive depiction of various aspects of social life at the time. The characters are full of personality, with particularly lively and dynamic female figures being prominent. Influenced by external cultures, the art style of the Guge Kingdom bears clear features of Kashmir (克什米尔) and Gandhara (犍陀罗) art.
Gold and silver were abundant in the Guge Kingdom, and scriptures written with gold and silver ink have been discovered at places like Toling Monastery (托林寺), Zhabu Rang (札不让), and Piyang Dongga (皮央东嘎). These luxurious scriptures were written in gold and silver ink on slightly bluish-black paper, displaying the kingdom’s wealth.
Mural Significance
The murals in the Guge Kingdom Site have high artistic and historical value. They are influenced by both Tibetan (卫藏) and neighboring Nepalese, Indian, and Central Asian styles. These murals hold an important place in the history of Tibetan art. The architecture, murals, sculptures, and carvings throughout the site are representative of the Guge Kingdom’s art and culture, and these buildings provide valuable insight into ancient Tibetan architecture and defensive structures.
Preservation and Cultural Value
In March 1961, the Guge Kingdom Site was designated as one of the first batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units (全国重点文物保护单位) by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China. The site was later included in the “13th Five-Year Plan” for the preservation of major archaeological sites in 2016. In 2021, it was further recognized in the “14th Five-Year Plan” as one of the major sites for preservation.
The murals, colorful ceilings, and sculptures found in various buildings represent the Guge Kingdom’s golden age. The Guge Kingdom was a major cultural force in Tibet for several centuries, and its golden manuscripts (金银经书) serve as an invaluable cultural treasure.
Historical and Cultural Significance
According to “Records of Tibet’s Ministers” (西藏臣记), the Guge Kingdom (古格王国) had a dynasty of 16 kings. The Guge Kingdom expanded its fortresses from the 10th to the 16th century, and it held a prominent position in the cultural history of Tibet. Not only was it a major site for the spread of Buddhism (佛教) into Tibet, but it also served as an important trade hub connecting Tibet with other regions.
The Guge Kingdom mysteriously vanished overnight, leaving only ruins behind, which adds to the mystique and intrigue surrounding its sudden disappearance.
Travel Information
Location
The Guge Kingdom Site (古格王国遗址) is located on a dirt hill about 2 kilometers from Zhabu Rang District (札布让区) in Zanda County (札达县), Ngari (阿里), Tibet Autonomous Region. It is situated approximately 18 kilometers west of Zanda County Town.
Visiting Hours
Opening hours: 08:00 AM – 07:00 PM
Ticket price: 50 CNY per person
How to Get There
From Zanda County Town (札达县城), take Cultural Road (文化路) towards National Highway 219 (219国道), and continue towards the Guge Kingdom Site (古格王国遗址).
