Dege Sutra-printing House located at east of Tibet is the largest Tibetan printing house and home to more than 300,000 ancient engraved blocks. Thanks to this printing house, Tibetan culture has been inherited and protected from generation to generation. Tibetan culture dates back hundreds of years. Much of the written culture of Tibet has been preserved for today’s modern generation. If you travel to Tibet, you are highly recommended to pay a visit to the Dege Sutra-printing House.
It is one of the greatest treasures of the Tibetan Region. Talk of the Buddhist scriptures of Dege and people are filled with awe and respect. Building work of Dege Sutra Printing House began in 1729 – It took four generations to complete. Today, the Dege Sutra Printing House, or Dege Parkhang, as it is known in the Tibetan language, is famous for its numerous collections, fine materials, and high-quality printing. It is home to nearly three-quarters of all ancient Tibetan scriptures and is a unique cultural center.
Chen Lin, director of Dege Sutra-Printing House, said,"This printing house is precious. All the classical doctrines of the five major Buddhist sects are kept in it. It’s a holy place for the whole Tibetan people and of high importance for the country."
Phuntsok Tsering began to study sculpture when he was just 5 years old. When he was 23 he came to work here. Over the past 30 years, he has finished more than 50,000 blocks. Hi calluses hands, his wrinkled face and his painful back tell us how hard the work is. But he says there is faith in his heart which encourages him to continue.
Phuntsok Tsering, Inheritor of Tibetan Block Printing, said,"I love my work. I hope I can keep on engraving, so that this traditional handicraft, as well as the Tibetan culture can be passed down."
Deep and delicate nicks have been left in the wood by the carvers. Although they’ve been used thousands of times, the characters on the blocks are still very clear. Director Chen Lin told us all the blocks were of superior wood. Each block was marked with page numbers and chapters on the top. Some are black, others are red. So, what’s the difference? The answer is that more important and sacred scriptures were carved on blocks of red cinnabar.
Chen Lin said, "There are three languages on it: Sanskrit (ancient Indian), Urdu and Tibetan. Altogether there are 555 blocks. It is unique in the world."
Compared to the silence of the store house of scriptures, the printing workshop on the second floor is in full swing. Workers are busy in pairs, coloring the blocks and rolling the paper. After all the process of cutting, printing, drying, grouping, proofreading and binding, the scripture books will be sent to major temples and into the hands of religious people at home and abroad. Under the efforts and protection of generations of devout Tibetan people, an eternal thread of culture and an immortal legend is preserved for the world.
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