近距离欣赏

近距离欣赏, originally uploaded by crassus08.

The namesake of the temple actually means the temple of the 100 thousand lions' roar buddha matreiya. (十万狮子吼佛像的弥勒寺)

As the guide told us, " 塔尔寺有三绝！"

So what are the 3 wonders?

1. The wall paintings
2. Embroidery
3. Butter sculptures

According to research, the wall painting were made up of materials like precious stones and minerals like gold and pearl and even thousand-year-old coral. In the making process, these precious materials were grounded into powder and put into the construction of the murals.

As for the embroidery, fur from the yaks and other animals as well as precious stones were put together to produce images of deities and buddhas. It was said that the eyes of a protective deity from a set of work was so vivid that no matter which angle you look at it, they seemed to be staring right at you. The guide told us that it was a way to remind devotees to constantly do good lest punishment befall on them. Interesting!

The last is also the most amazing! Butter Sculpting has to be done in the winter months when the Lamas have to go to the top of hills in very well-ventilated rooms and immerse their fingers in ice cold water. Thus their fingers will reach near zero degrees and then sculpting can take place. (of statues and structures, etc) As blood circulation means fingers will gain back warmth eventually (and damage the easily-melting yak butter), frequent dipping in ice water is necessary in the construction process. As a result of their resilence, the works are really awestrucking and unbelievable as i have seen with my very eyes, but at the same time, the Lamas suffer from frost bites and rhematism and even amputation in extreme cases...

The worst of it all is that the sculptures will melt in the course of the year and come winter, another round has to begin! Imagine how much suffering and hardship the lamas have to go through each year?

Yet faith can do wonders!