Tibetannet

Twenty seven year-old Basang Tersingis the manager of the Gugeruins. Graduating from the University of Tibet, majoring in fine arts, he goes to each and every exhibition hall of the ruins everyday to learn the stories behind each of the mural. You will strum a chord with him anytime you bring up the characteristics, history or representative historical schools of the murals.

Tourists that come to the Guge ruins do not number very high. Life is lonely for Basang Tersingliving amongst the historical relics. Yet even after staying for four years, he plans to continue staying longer. That is because he feels there are still things to learn about the murals.

Basang Tersing wakes up early every day, then he patrols around the Guge ruins, protecting them from rains in summer and snow in winter. He keeps the environment sanitary, limits the number of visitors, explains things to tourists, and takes care of the Buddhist statue and murals inside of the ruins exhibition room. During free time, he paints, does still life drawings and reads books. If he encounters any experts researching the Guge dynasty he will seize the opportunity to talk in depth with them and learn from them.

Basang Tersing pays careful attention to the Guge ancient ruins work. He has always emphasized that cultural relic protection work should be done well as when they disappear they can never be seen again.

Basang Tersing lives in a small cabin just below the Guge ruins. His life is simple, and he lives off of things such as potatoes, cabbage and such, generally non-perishable items. His small cabin is only about 6 square meters. He says that this is the best room in the area. That is because concrete was laid on the ground below it while other cabins have dirt floors. Just below the window in the cabin is the bed the Basang Tersing uses both for sleeping as well as painting.

A desk was arranged on the ground, and in the corner of the cabin was a five step book case, being filled to the brim with books the bookcase had become rounded, it was “lavish”. In the book case were all kinds of books regarding philosophy, art, aesthetics, literature, history and more, Basang Ciren said that these are all books that he likes to look at, his reading interests were very broad. The room because of random placement and the master’s interest had a thick atmosphere of literature and art.

Basang Tersing said calmly “Because I am enthusiastic and love what I do, this is something to possess and guard.”