Tibet opens museum to commemorate 6th Dalai Lama

LHASA, April 27 (Xinhua) -- A museum dedicated to the sixth Dalai Lama opened Thursday in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

The museum has collected over 100 publications, books and records of the legendary spiritual leader and poet, said Basang Norbu, head of the association for Tsangyang Gyatso research.

The museum has also solicited and displayed over 100 pieces of calligraphy and 50 poems from fans of Tsangyang Gyatso by way of contests.

"For more than three centuries, Tsangyang Gyatso has been not only remembered by Tibetans, but liked and studied by people around the world," said Basang Norbu.

Born in 1683, Tsangyang Gyatso wrote more than 60 poems in Tibetan that have been passed down for generations.

He was also regarded as a victim of a political struggle, deposed by the Qing emperor, with his end remaining a mystery.

Some historians believe that he died, or was murdered, on the way to Beijing after being arrested, but there are anecdotes that he escaped and lived in freedom thereafter.