Time: 13:00-14:00 Nov. 6 2005
Interview at: Ta’er Lamasery
Interviewee: Pengmaocaidan (a monk in Ta’er Lamasery)
Recorded by: Cao Yuanzhang

Q: Why Ta’er Lamasery holds butter sculptures exhibition in lamp festival every year?
A: There are two legends. One is Wencheng princess came to Tibet with a statue of Sakyamuni in 12 years old. But at that time all the flowers were withered up, so the monks had to make flowers with butter for sacrifice. The other is one night Tsongkhapa dreamed of bramble becoming lighting lamp and weed becoming flowers. After he woke up, the made the monks shaped flowers with butter and enshrined them before the Buddha with the butter lamps.

Q: How many people are needed to make a pattern of butter flowers?
A: It usually needs a few dozens or even more than 100 people. So making butter flowers takes a lot of time and hard work.

Q: What does the butter sculptures include?
A: They include images of Buddha, ancient ministers, and even flowers, birds, fish and insects, and pavilions.

Q: Does Ta’er Lamasery has special place for displaying butter sculptures?
A: Ta’er has a butter sculpture exhibition house. The sculptures are renewed on every 15th day of fifth lunar month.

Q: When are the sculptures made usually?
A: Normally they are made in winter time.