Jokhang Monastery, situated on Bargor Street in downtown Lhasa, is a prime seat of the yellow sect of Tibetan Buddhism. With a history of 1,355 years, the monastery, which houses the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni, was added to the world cultural heritage list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 2000.

Living Buddha Bomi Qambalozhub, aged 85, who is vice-chairman of the Buddhist Association of China (BAC) and president of BAC Tibetan Branch, said many traditional Tibetan architectural and cultural sites enjoyed key protection in the old city areas, with Jokhang Monastery at the center.

"However, an overwhelming majority of these old buildings have the hidden danger of collapsing due to long years of disrepair, which has seriously affected the safety of the ancient architecture and threatened the lives of residents," said the Living Buddha.

Bomi Qambalozhub is an eminent lama in the Chinese Buddhist community. He presided over the ceremony to decide the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama by drawing lots from the golden urn in 1995 and acted as the first master for the 11th Panchen Lama.

There were few houses around Jokhang Monastery more than 50 years ago, with mainly officials and notables of old Tibetan government residing there, he said.

"The present-day Lugu neighborhood not far from the monastery used to be a renowned den of beggars," recalled Qambalozhub, who was appointed the first Bomi Living Buddha in his hometown, Zayu County of Tibet, when he was eight years old. He moved to Gandain Monastery, one of three major temples in Tibet, at the age of 16 and devoted himself to learning Buddhist sutras henceforth.

When he was 42, Qambalozhub was received the Lha-Ram-Pageshe degree, the highest academic degree of Tibetan Buddhism, by winning a debate with a number of eminent lamas in an annual examination rite, sharing first place honors with the 14th Dalai Lama.

According to the Living Buddha, the civilian residential houses in the old city were mostly built in the early 20th century.

"In old Tibet, the wealth was controlled by a small number of people, so ordinary civilian houses could in no way be compared with the private estates of officials or notables either by building materials or quality," said Qambalozhub, "but the ordinary civilian houses nowadays pose a serious threat to the lives of the common people.

"Buddhism treasures life and has the savior of all human beings as its aim. So repairs to dilapidated houses that might endanger life fully conforms to the teachings of Buddhism," said the Living Buddha.

"If those endangered houses are not repaired in time, ancient buildings in the old city area, some with hundreds of years of history, will succumb to inestimable losses," he added.

Akang residential compound, which was built on the southern wall of the Jokhang Monastery, has been moved south by two to three meters and is now completely separated from the monastery.

"Akang compound carried hidden perils directly to Jokhang Monastery, including fire risks, which had long worried lamas," said the living Buddha. "I am fully confident that moving the residential compound conforms with the requirements set forth in the pact for protection of the World Cultural Heritage List."

Jokhang Monastery itself is not included in the reconstruction scheme, but local government departments have planned to keep all the original architecture's style, height and color in repairing or rebuilding buildings close by.

"I believe normal repairs will have no negative impact on Jokhang Monastery and its adjacent architecture, but will help protect the monastery," said the Living Buddha.

In the past, the government has lavished 300 million yuan (US$36.15 million), along with large amounts of gold and silver, on repairing and rebuilding more than 1,700 monasteries and religious places across Tibet.

(Xinhua News Agency July 28, 2002)