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Tashi Lhunpo Monastery

December 15, 2023

Tashi Lhunpo Monastery (Tibetan: བཀྲ་ཤིས་ལྷུན་པོ་) is an historically and culturally important monastery in Shigatse, the second-largest city in Tibet. Founded in 1447 by the 1st Dalai Lama,[1] it is the traditional monastic seat of the Panchen Lama.

Tashi Lhunpo
Tibetan transcription(s)
Tibetan: བཀྲ་ཤིས་ལྷུན་པོ་
Wylie transliteration: bkra shis lhun po
Pronunciation in IPA: [ʈáɕi l̥ympo]
Official transcription (China): Zhaxi Lhünbo
THL: Trashi Lhünpo
Other transcriptions: Tashi Lhunpo, Tashi Lhümpo
Chinese transcription(s)
Traditional: 扎什倫布寺
Simplified: 扎什伦布寺
Pinyin: Zhāshí Lúnbù Sì
Entrance to Tashi Lhunpo Monastery
Religion
AffiliationTibetan Buddhism
SectGelug
Location
LocationShigatse, Tibet Autonomous Region, China
CountryChina
Location within Tibet Autonomous Region
Geographic coordinates29°16′07″N 88°52′12″E / 29.26861°N 88.869940°E / 29.26861; 88.869940
Architecture
Founder1st Dalai Lama

The monastery was sacked in 1791, when the Gorkha Kingdom invaded Tibet and captured Shigatse. A combined Tibetan and Chinese army drove them back as far as the outskirts of Kathmandu,[2] when they were forced to agree to keep the peace in the future, pay tribute every five years, and return what they had looted from Tashi Lhunpo.[3]

The monastery is the traditional seat of successive Panchen Lamas, the second highest ranking tulku lineage in the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. The "Tashi" or Panchen Lama had temporal power over three small districts, though not over the town of Shigatse itself, which was administered by a dzongpön (prefect) appointed from Lhasa.[4]

The monastery is located on a hill in the center of Shigatse. Pilgrims circumambulate the monastery on the lingkhor (sacred path) outside the walls.

The full name in Tibetan of the monastery means "all fortune and happiness gathered here" or "heap of glory". Captain Samuel Turner, a British officer with the East India Company who visited the monastery in the late 18th century, described it in the following terms:

If the magnificence of the place was to be increased by any external cause, none could more superbly have adorned its numerous gilded canopies and turrets than the sun rising in full splendour directly opposite. It presented a view wonderfully beautiful and brilliant; the effect was little short of magic, and it made an impression which no time will ever efface from my mind.[5]

Although two-thirds of the buildings were destroyed during the Chinese Cultural Revolution, they were mainly the residences for the 4,000 monks;[6][7] the monastery itself was not as extensively damaged as most other religious structures in Tibet, for[clarification needed] it was the seat of the Panchen Lama who remained in Chinese-controlled territory.

In 1966 the Red Guards led a crowd to break statues, burn scriptures, and open the stupas containing the relics of the 5th to 9th Panchen Lamas, and throw them in the river. Some of those remains were saved by locals, and in 1985, Choekyi Gyaltsen, 10th Panchen Lama, began the construction of a new stupa to house them and honour his predecessors. It was finally consecrated on 22 January 1989, just six days before he died aged fifty-one at Tashi Lhunpo. "It was as if he was saying now he could rest."[8]

History edit

The monastery was founded in 1447 CE by Gedun Drub, the disciple of the famous Buddhist philosopher Je Tsongkhapa and later named the First Dalai Lama. The construction was financed by donations from local nobles.

Later Lobsang Chökyi Gyalsten — the Fourth Panchen Lama and the first Panchen Lama to be recognized as such by the rulers of Mongolia — made major expansions to the monastery. Since then, all Panchen Lamas have resided at Tashi Lhunpo, and have managed to expand it gradually.

The 11th Panchen Lama Choekyi Gyalpo, recognized by the Chinese government through the traditional way,[clarification needed] was enthroned under Chinese supervision at the monastery in November/December 1995.

  •  

    A view of the monastery

  •  

    Another view of the monastery

  •  

    The thangka wall overlooking the monastery

  •  

    Two novice monks. Tashi Lhunpo, 1993

  •  

    Monks hurrying to services, Tashi Lhunpo, 1993

  •  

    Tashi Lhunpo circa 1857

Bronze Buddha statue edit

The tallest and largest bronze Buddha statue in the world is in Tashi Lhunpo Monastery.[citation needed] It is the Jampa Buddha statue. Jampa Buddha in Tibetan Buddhism is the Maitreya Buddha in Chinese Buddhism. It is the Buddha in charge of the future. This Buddha statue is 26.2 meters high. Squatting on the 3.5-meter-high lotus seat, he overlooks the entire monastery. The Buddha statue is decorated with more than 1,400 precious ornaments such as pearls, diamonds and corals. According to records, the Buddha statue was cast by 110 craftsmen in four years.

Branch monasteries edit

 
The Tashi Lhunpo monastery in Bylakuppe, India.

One of its branch monasteries was the famous Drongtse Monastery, 14 km north of Tsechen.[9]

In 1972, the monastery was re-established[clarification needed] in Bylakuppe, India, by the Tibetan population in exile.

See also edit

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ Chö Yang: The Voice of Tibetan Religion and Culture. (1991) Year of Tibet Edition, p. 79. Gangchen Kyishong, Dharmasala, H.P., India.
  2. ^ Chapman, Spencer F. (1940). Lhasa: The Holy City, p. 128. Readers Union Ltd., London.
  3. ^ Richardson (1984), p. 69.
  4. ^ Chapman (1940), p. 141.
  5. ^ Captain Samuel Turner, Embassy to the Court of the Teshu Lama, p. 230. Cited in: Das, Sarat Chandra (1902). Lhasa and Central Tibet. Edited by W. W. Rockhill. p. 45, n.
  6. ^ Dowman (1988), p. 273
  7. ^ Chapman (1940), p. 140.
  8. ^ Sun (2008), pp. 84–85.
  9. ^ Dorje (1999), p. 261.

Sources edit

  • Chapman, Spencer F. (1940). Lhasa: The Holy City. Readers Union Ltd., London.
  • Das, Sarat Chandra. Lhasa and Central Tibet. (1802). Reprint: Mehra Offset Press, Delhi (1988).
  • Das, Sarat Chandra. Lhasa and Central Tibet. (1902). Edited by W. W. Rockhill. Reprint: Mehra Offset Press, Delhi (1988), pp. 40, 43 ff., 69, 114, 117, 149, 237; illustration opposite p. 50.
  • Dorje, Gyurme. (1999) Tibet handbook: with Bhutan, 2nd Edition. Footprint Travel Guides. ISBN 1-900949-33-4, ISBN 978-1-900949-33-0.
  • Dowman, Keith. 1988. The Power-places of Central Tibet: The Pilgrim's Guide. Routledge & Kegan Paul, London and New York. ISBN 0-7102-1370-0
  • Richardson, Hugh E. Tibet & its History. Second Edition, Revised and Updated. (1984). Shambhala Publications, Boston Mass. ISBN 0-87773-376-7.
  • Sun, Shuyun (2008). A Year in Tibet. HarperCollins Publishers, London. ISBN 978-0-00-728879-3.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tashilhunpo.
  • Website of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Bylakuppe
  • Life on the Tibetan Plateau Tashi Lhunpo Monastery
  • Le Tibet par la G219: bouddhisme, monastères et temples tibétains Photos made in 2012 (text in French).
  • Grand Monastery of Tashi-Lhunpo 1902, Perry–Castañeda Library Map Collection, University of Texas, Austin
  • Tashi Lhunpo Monastery UK Trust, a charity based in Salisbury, set up in 2003 to support the work of the monastery in exile

December 15, 2023
tashi, lhunpo, monastery, tibetan, བཀ, historically, culturally, important, monastery, shigatse, second, largest, city, tibet, founded, 1447, dalai, lama, traditional, monastic, seat, panchen, lama, tashi, lhunpotibetan, transcription, tibetan, བཀ, wylie, tran. Tashi Lhunpo Monastery Tibetan བཀ ཤ ས ལ ན པ is an historically and culturally important monastery in Shigatse the second largest city in Tibet Founded in 1447 by the 1st Dalai Lama 1 it is the traditional monastic seat of the Panchen Lama Tashi LhunpoTibetan transcription s Tibetan བཀ ཤ ས ལ ན པ Wylie transliteration bkra shis lhun poPronunciation in IPA ʈaɕi l ympo Official transcription China Zhaxi LhunboTHL Trashi LhunpoOther transcriptions Tashi Lhunpo Tashi LhumpoChinese transcription s Traditional 扎什倫布寺Simplified 扎什伦布寺Pinyin Zhashi Lunbu SiEntrance to Tashi Lhunpo MonasteryReligionAffiliationTibetan BuddhismSectGelugLocationLocationShigatse Tibet Autonomous Region ChinaCountryChinaLocation within Tibet Autonomous RegionGeographic coordinates29 16 07 N 88 52 12 E 29 26861 N 88 869940 E 29 26861 88 869940ArchitectureFounder1st Dalai LamaThe monastery was sacked in 1791 when the Gorkha Kingdom invaded Tibet and captured Shigatse A combined Tibetan and Chinese army drove them back as far as the outskirts of Kathmandu 2 when they were forced to agree to keep the peace in the future pay tribute every five years and return what they had looted from Tashi Lhunpo 3 The monastery is the traditional seat of successive Panchen Lamas the second highest ranking tulku lineage in the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism The Tashi or Panchen Lama had temporal power over three small districts though not over the town of Shigatse itself which was administered by a dzongpon prefect appointed from Lhasa 4 The monastery is located on a hill in the center of Shigatse Pilgrims circumambulate the monastery on the lingkhor sacred path outside the walls The full name in Tibetan of the monastery means all fortune and happiness gathered here or heap of glory Captain Samuel Turner a British officer with the East India Company who visited the monastery in the late 18th century described it in the following terms If the magnificence of the place was to be increased by any external cause none could more superbly have adorned its numerous gilded canopies and turrets than the sun rising in full splendour directly opposite It presented a view wonderfully beautiful and brilliant the effect was little short of magic and it made an impression which no time will ever efface from my mind 5 Although two thirds of the buildings were destroyed during the Chinese Cultural Revolution they were mainly the residences for the 4 000 monks 6 7 the monastery itself was not as extensively damaged as most other religious structures in Tibet for clarification needed it was the seat of the Panchen Lama who remained in Chinese controlled territory In 1966 the Red Guards led a crowd to break statues burn scriptures and open the stupas containing the relics of the 5th to 9th Panchen Lamas and throw them in the river Some of those remains were saved by locals and in 1985 Choekyi Gyaltsen 10th Panchen Lama began the construction of a new stupa to house them and honour his predecessors It was finally consecrated on 22 January 1989 just six days before he died aged fifty one at Tashi Lhunpo It was as if he was saying now he could rest 8 Contents 1 History 2 Bronze Buddha statue 3 Branch monasteries 4 See also 5 References 5 1 Citations 5 2 Sources 6 External linksHistory editThe monastery was founded in 1447 CE by Gedun Drub the disciple of the famous Buddhist philosopher Je Tsongkhapa and later named the First Dalai Lama The construction was financed by donations from local nobles Later Lobsang Chokyi Gyalsten the Fourth Panchen Lama and the first Panchen Lama to be recognized as such by the rulers of Mongolia made major expansions to the monastery Since then all Panchen Lamas have resided at Tashi Lhunpo and have managed to expand it gradually The 11th Panchen Lama Choekyi Gyalpo recognized by the Chinese government through the traditional way clarification needed was enthroned under Chinese supervision at the monastery in November December 1995 nbsp A view of the monastery nbsp Another view of the monastery nbsp The thangka wall overlooking the monastery nbsp Two novice monks Tashi Lhunpo 1993 nbsp Monks hurrying to services Tashi Lhunpo 1993 nbsp Tashi Lhunpo circa 1857Bronze Buddha statue editThe tallest and largest bronze Buddha statue in the world is in Tashi Lhunpo Monastery citation needed It is the Jampa Buddha statue Jampa Buddha in Tibetan Buddhism is the Maitreya Buddha in Chinese Buddhism It is the Buddha in charge of the future This Buddha statue is 26 2 meters high Squatting on the 3 5 meter high lotus seat he overlooks the entire monastery The Buddha statue is decorated with more than 1 400 precious ornaments such as pearls diamonds and corals According to records the Buddha statue was cast by 110 craftsmen in four years Branch monasteries edit nbsp The Tashi Lhunpo monastery in Bylakuppe India One of its branch monasteries was the famous Drongtse Monastery 14 km north of Tsechen 9 In 1972 the monastery was re established clarification needed in Bylakuppe India by the Tibetan population in exile See also edit nbsp China portal nbsp Asia portalPanchen Lama Sera MonasteryReferences editCitations edit Cho Yang The Voice of Tibetan Religion and Culture 1991 Year of Tibet Edition p 79 Gangchen Kyishong Dharmasala H P India Chapman Spencer F 1940 Lhasa The Holy City p 128 Readers Union Ltd London Richardson 1984 p 69 Chapman 1940 p 141 Captain Samuel Turner Embassy to the Court of the Teshu Lama p 230 Cited in Das Sarat Chandra 1902 Lhasa and Central Tibet Edited by W W Rockhill p 45 n Dowman 1988 p 273 Chapman 1940 p 140 Sun 2008 pp 84 85 Dorje 1999 p 261 Sources edit Chapman Spencer F 1940 Lhasa The Holy City Readers Union Ltd London Das Sarat Chandra Lhasa and Central Tibet 1802 Reprint Mehra Offset Press Delhi 1988 Das Sarat Chandra Lhasa and Central Tibet 1902 Edited by W W Rockhill Reprint Mehra Offset Press Delhi 1988 pp 40 43 ff 69 114 117 149 237 illustration opposite p 50 Dorje Gyurme 1999 Tibet handbook with Bhutan 2nd Edition Footprint Travel Guides ISBN 1 900949 33 4 ISBN 978 1 900949 33 0 Dowman Keith 1988 The Power places of Central Tibet The Pilgrim s Guide Routledge amp Kegan Paul London and New York ISBN 0 7102 1370 0 Richardson Hugh E Tibet amp its History Second Edition Revised and Updated 1984 Shambhala Publications Boston Mass ISBN 0 87773 376 7 Sun Shuyun 2008 A Year in Tibet HarperCollins Publishers London ISBN 978 0 00 728879 3 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tashilhunpo Website of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Bylakuppe Life on the Tibetan Plateau Tashi Lhunpo Monastery Le Tibet par la G219 bouddhisme monasteres et temples tibetains Photos made in 2012 text in French Grand Monastery of Tashi Lhunpo 1902 Perry Castaneda Library Map Collection University of Texas Austin Tashi Lhunpo Monastery UK Trust a charity based in Salisbury set up in 2003 to support the work of the monastery in exile Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tashi Lhunpo Monastery amp oldid 1179511107, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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