Time: 15:00-16:30 Nov.20 2005
Interviewed at: Li Zhongde’s Home
Interviewee: Li Zhongde (Director of Huangzhong County Museum)
Recorded by: Cao Yuanzhang, Ma Youzhong, Li Yulong, Liu Zhanwen，Zhao Shengxiang

Q: What are the awards Ta’er Lamasery grand the monks?
A: There are two kinds of awards: material and eternal title. The former one including Buddha statues, sutras, pagodas, cassock, waistcoat and money nearly covers every one in the monastery but only generous and rich high-status living Buddhas can be granted the latter one.

Q: Is it true that richer the living Buddhas and Lamas are, more magnificent living place they can build?
A: No, not exactly. The red wall, green tiles, gold roof and precious vases decorated their houses are sort of award and recognition of their contributions to the monastery.

Q: What are the characteristics of the construction of Ta’er Lamasery?
A: The constructions are built along the mountains. Halls strew at random, pagodas stand in great numbers and the monks’ dorms lie closely, majestic and magnificent. And the constructions are in styles combined with Tibet and Han.

Q: What is the Ta’er’s main contribution to local economy?
A: The road toward Ta’er is called Pagoda Road along which are vendors selling various kinds of religious items attracting travelers from home and abroad. Bazaar is so famous that it is entitled one of the four largest markets of Tibetan goods together with those in Beijing, Lasa and Chengdu. In recent years, the dealing amount has reached tens of millions yuan and it contributed taxation of millions.

Q: What is the origin of the title Dalai Lama?
A: In 1576, the chieftain of the Tumet tribe of the Mongols, Al-Than Khan, whom the Ming Dynasty court had granted the honorific title of Prince Shunyi, invited Soinam Gyamco, then 33, to lecture on Buddhism in Qinghai. This made it possible for the Gelug Sect to be widely worshipped among people of the Mongolian and Tibetan ethnic groups in Qinghai. In 1578, the Mongol leader granted Soinam Gyamco the honorific title of the Dalai Lama (Dalai meaning “ocean” and Lama “superior man”), which was preceded by complex wording meaning “omniscience” and “great authority”.

Q: Could you talk about the prayer dance?
A: It plays an important role in the Buddhist festivals. It is a kind of special religious dance.

Q: What is Fawang Dance?
A: It is a kind of prayer dance. It has five parts. The first part is skeleton dance. The second part is performed by 4 or 6 monks. The third part is deer dance. The fourth part is death deity dance and the fifth is group dance and the audience take part in it.