A Love Letter from Lhasa 7
Chapter Six: An Encounter at the Barkhor Street Market in Lhasa
31
In the morning, Zhangyang accompanied Meido and Annie on a shopping trip to the famous Barkhor Street market in downtown Lhasa. Annie stopped in front of a stall selling Buddhist portrait paintings and gazed intently at two portraits on display.
Annie thought to herself, "This portrait of Princess Wencheng really does look remarkably like me. Could it be such a coincidence?"
At that moment, a young man standing beside her was staring intently at Annie. He had regular, handsome features, a tall, athletic build, and was dressed in a traditional Han Chinese robe. This young man was Tang Huaimin, whose Tibetan name was Dage Gesang.
Annie looked up, and their eyes met. Annie felt that the young mans facial features bore a striking resemblance to Songtsen Gampo in the painting. Huaimin, in turn, felt that Annie looked just like Princess Wencheng in the painting he had copied.
Annie pointed at the two portraits.
"Excuse me, shopkeeper, how much are these two paintings?"
The shopkeeper replied, "Those two are display pieces and arent for sale. Why dont you choose something else?"
Huaimin picked up his hat with one hand and bowed slightly with a polite smile.
"Miss, please wait a moment. Let me talk to him for you."
Annie understood Chinese, but for the moment, she couldnt figure out what the young man intended to do.
Huaimin exchanged a few words in Tibetan with the vendor at the painting stall. The vendor immediately rolled up the two paintings and handed them to him. The young man then passed both paintings to Annie.
"Here you are. Consider it a gesture of goodwill and a way of forming a connection between us."
Annie accepted them with a smile. Looking at the young man, she found herself growing curious about him.
32
Annie and Huaimin strolled through the market, chatting as they went. Annie carried a paper bag containing the two rolled-up portraits. Meido and Zhangyang followed behind them, while Zhangyang kept his eyes fixed on Annie.
"My name is Dage Gesang. Nice to see you!"
"My name is Annie. Im from California."
"Just as I thought. Youre from overseas. Is this your first time returning to Tibet?"
"Yes. I came back to find my father and return to Tibet with him. This is my grandmothers homeland."
"Welcome! I grew up in Taiwan. My grandfather was Tibetan. After graduating from the Fine Arts Department at university, I returned to my homeland to serve my fellow Tibetans."
Annie asked curiously, "Youre from Taiwan?"
"Yes. In 1949, my grandfather went to Taiwan and lived in Yangmingshan, in the suburbs."
"Ive traveled to Taiwan before. Ive been to Yangmingshan. I visited during the flower season in March, and it left a deep impression on me. So how did you end up coming back here?"
"A few years before my grandfather passed away, the authorities in Taiwan opened the way for people to return to mainland China to visit their relatives. My grandfather took my father back to Tibet to visit our family. At the end of last year, I volunteered to serve as an official supporting Tibets development and returned here to help the Cultural Relics Bureau organize Tibetan Esoteric Buddhist paintings and murals."
Annie asked with interest, "Organize Tibetan Esoteric Buddhist paintings and murals?"
"The portraits youre carrying are my copies of the original paintings."
Annie looked somewhat surprised. "You copied the original paintings yourself?"
"Yes. When I first saw you, I thought your facial features bore a striking resemblance to Princess Wencheng."
"Oh? Do I really look that much like her?"
"Yes. If you have the chance, Ill take you to Ramoche Monastery to see the two original paintings from the Tang Dynasty."
"That would be wonderful! But the reason I specifically returned to Tibet is actually to collect and study Tibetan Esoteric Buddhist paintings and murals for my doctoral dissertation."
"Then Im sure I can help you. Heres the address of my research office at Ramoche Monastery and my cell phone number. Come see me whenever you have time. I have some research materials that I can make copies of for you."
Gesang handed her a small business card.
"Then Ill have to thank you properly!"
Although Annie had never met this young man before, she felt an inexplicable sense that she had known him somewhere in the past. Zhangyang, who had been watching them from the side with a guarded expression, couldnt help feeling a little jealous.
"Annie, there are a few streets up ahead that are worth exploring."
Zhangyang pointed forward.
Annie said, "Lead the way, then."
Zhangyang led Annie away, while Gesang watched the three of them walking off into the distance.
33
The three continued shopping until they reached a row of souvenir stalls. Annie browsed through the merchandise, while Meido offered suggestions. Zhangyang helped Annie bargain with the vendors. Annie bought two pairs of dzi bead bracelets and two necklaces.
The three passed a shop selling traditional Tibetan clothing. Annie went inside, followed by Zhangyang and Meido.
Annie browsed through the clothes, with Meido offering suggestions. Annie selected a traditional Tibetan outfit, while Zhangyang, clearly familiar with the shopkeeper, struck up a friendly conversation with him.
"Shes like my own little sister, Bacha. Give her a fair price."
"Brother Zhangyang, Ill give it to her at the wholesale price plus ten percent. I cant exactly sell it at a loss."
"No way, Bacha! Think of how many customers Ive brought to your shop. You have to do me this favor."
Bacha gave a wry smile.
"All right, all right! I give up. Two hundred yuan, even. Thats the factory wholesale price. I cant go any lower."
Zhangyang said with satisfaction, "All right! Thats what I call a good friend, someone who knows how to show loyalty. Put it on my tab."
Annie immediately spoke up.
"No! Im the one buying the clothes."
Zhangyang took out his wallet and pulled out two one-hundred-yuan bills, intending to hand them to Bacha. Annie stopped him.
Bacha looked at the two of them and hesitated for a moment before accepting the money Annie offered.
Behind them, Meido watched the scene and couldnt help frowning.
34
With Zhangyang leading the way, the three climbed the long approach to the Potala Palace.
Zhangyang asked considerately, "Are you still able to keep walking, Annie?"
Annie nodded breathlessly, one hand resting against her chest. Meido walked beside her and occasionally reached out to support her.
Zhangyang said, "Slow down a little. Just think of it as taking a leisurely walk."
The three entered the Red Palace. Annie carefully examined the Tibetan Esoteric Buddhist artifacts and frequently asked Zhangyang and Meido questions. Both answered her questions attentively.
The three then reached a long corridor lined with prayer wheels. The two women followed Zhangyang, turning the prayer wheels as they walked. After passing through the corridor, they arrived in the courtyard.
Zhangyang asked, "Meido, do you know what prayer wheels are used for?"
Meido replied, "I read about this in a book. The merit gained from turning prayer wheels helps create all the favorable conditions needed to accomplish spiritual practices, removes the karmic obstacles accumulated over previous lifetimes, and protects people from illness and suffering."
Zhangyang nodded with a smile.
"You have a general understanding of it. Thats basically how it works!"
Annie asked curiously, "Are they really that miraculous?"
Zhangyang said, "Thats what our elders have always told us!"
At the same time, in a guest room inside the Red Palace, Zashi was sitting cross-legged opposite a small square table with a steward lama from the palace whom he knew well, Sralang Tsering. The two men sat facing each other.
"Professor, is the purpose of your return to the Tibetan region this time the same as before?"
"Yes, Brother Tsering. I intend to continue searching for the manuscript of the love poems written by our ancestor, Tsangyang."
Tsering spoke with an air of mystery.
"Some time ago, while observing the stars at night, I discovered that a young man and a young woman, the reincarnations of Songtsen Gampo and Princess Wencheng, have appeared in Tibet. I have a premonition that your visit this time will bring some results. If you can locate these two young people first, you may be able to find the lost manuscript of Tsangyang Gyatsos love poems."
Zashi felt his spirits lift when he heard this.
The lama Tsering took a token from a sandalwood box and handed it to Zashi.
"Professor, if you need to visit any monasteries on your way to Shigatse, show this token to the abbots. They will welcome you as an honored guest."
Zashi accepted the token respectfully with both hands.
"Thank you, Brother Tsering, for your generous assistance."
35
After returning to the hotel where they were staying, Annie and Meido shared a room.
After washing up, Annie stood by the window, gazing absentmindedly at the hazy mountain silhouettes under the moonlight.
From across the street, she could faintly hear a song playing at a shop selling Buddhist supplies. The shop was playing a music CD, and the female singers voice was gentle and clear.
Beside her, Meido had just finished washing her hair and was drying it with a large bath towel.
"This love song is based on one of the love poems written by the monk-poet Tsangyang Gyatso."
Annie asked, "Oh? Have you read the love poems written by the so-called Monk of Love, Meido?"
Meido replied, "Yes! If Tsangyang Gyatso hadnt been reincarnated as the Dalai Lama, he would have been a romantic poet. Have you heard of Li Yu, the Southern Tang emperor who was also a poet?"
Annie nodded. "Yes, I have."
"Tsangyang Gyatsos romantic yet tragic life was similar to Li Yus. Neither of them could escape the trials of love."
