World's longest Tibetan calligraphy scroll finds new home

The Deyangshar platform of Tibet’s Potala Palace was more lively than usual on Dec 24 as many pilgrims and tourists gathered to see a giant Tibetan calligraphy scroll.

Potala Palace was conducting a ceremony to accept a record-breaking Tibetan calligraphy scroll from two Tibetan artists.

The giant Tibetan calligraphy scroll was included in Guinness World Records as the world’s longest in August 2013.

The creators and donors of the scroll are renowned

Gemang Jampal said the two worked for four years to complete the 206-meter-long scroll.

"I have been engaging with Tibetan calligraphy for 33 years, and I am very pleased that my hard work ended with this long calligraphy scroll," he said.

Gemang Japal said they decided to donate the scroll to the Potala Palace as its value would be better shared there than in a private collection.

"It will get better protection at Potala Palace, and can have reference value for academic researchers and whoever wants to learn the history of and knowledge about Tibetan calligraphy," he said.

Nyanshul Dorje Dondrup said the scroll contains 177 Tibetan font styles and also includes the evolution of Tibetan letters and portraits of 32 Tibetan calligraphers.

"We consider the Potala Palace a museum of Tibetan culture, and we think it is the right home for our calligraphy scroll," he said.

The pair traveled to many Tibetan sites in China to research and find materials for their creation.

"I feel honored and pleased that the Potala Palace agreed to accept our work, and I hope people from around the world who come to the Potala Palace will learn more about Tibetan calligraphy culture," the 47-year-old said.

Officials of Potala Palace were also pleased to have receive the artwork.

"It is the first such large-sized Tibetan calligraphy scroll in the Potala Palace," said Sonam Wangdan, deputy head of the Potala Management Office. "We are very pleased to receive it, and we hope to show to as many people as possible."

"I am awestruck to witness such a historic moment," said Shi Dangxian, a nun from China’s Wenzhou Buddhism College. I have never seen such a large Tibetan calligraphy scroll before."