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Dargya Monastery, also known as Dargya Drashi Pungtsoling in Tibetan, means “prosperous and auspicious land.” It is commonly referred to as Dargya Monastery, which signifies “prosperous monastery.” It is a Gelug pa monastery. At its peak, the monastery housed up to 3000 monks.

Brief

The monastery was founded in 1662 AD by Angwang Pungtso, a disciple of the 5^th Dalai Lama. It is one of the most renowned monasteries among the thirteen monasteries in the Hor region,

Initially located in the Dage Loka Mountain Valley. The present location of the monastery is on a hillside in the “Rongba Cha” area of Kagon Township, about 28 kilometers from Garze County, right next to the Sichuan-Tibet Highway.

Construction

Covering an area of 148,000 square meters, the monastery faces south and is built on the mountainside, integrating Han and Tibetan architectural features. The layout of the entire monastery is well-organized and orderly, with a striking red and white color scheme, resembling a grand palace, exuding a sense of solemnity, magnificence, and grandeur.

The current main hall, with 1 ground floor and 2 upper floors, was constructed in the 1980s, modeled after the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa. It is built with reinforced concrete and houses giant statues of Shakyamuni, Tsongkhapa, and Avalokiteshvara.

Legend

According to legend, in order to expand the influence of the Gelug Pa, Angwang Pungtso, under the orders of the 5^th Dalai Lama, was tasked with building 13 Gelug Pa monasteries in the Hor region of Kham. One day, while washing his face at the Lhe-xi Ferry in Rongba Cha, Angwang Pungtso placed his prayer beads on a stone on top of a hill. At that moment, a crow picked up the prayer beads and flew to a nearby hill, placing them on another stone. Angwang Pungtso realized that the bird was an emanation of the Buddha and interpreted it as a divine sign. Consequently, he decided to relocate the monastery from its original location in Dage Loka Mountain Valley to the hill where the crow had placed the prayer beads.

Local influence

The villagers in the Rongba Cha area take great pride in Dargya Monastery, which is probably inseparable from the powerful influence of the monastery. During the Qing Dynasty (1616 AD – 1912 AD), Dargya Monastery was famous for its monk soldiers and abundant wealth. The capital for business was Between 1 to 5 million silver dollars, and there were specialized lamas engaging in business in various Tibetan areas such as Kangding, Garze, Chamdo, and Lhasa to support the livelihood of other monks in the monastery.

Festivals

The liveliest activity in the monastery is the annual summer festival in July and August in Da-lao-gou. Local villagers come to watch Tibetan opera, participate in singing, horse racing, and the Guo-zhuang dance (a dance similar to tap dance in Garze).

In addition, in June, there is a mountain circumambulation activity around the nearby sacred mountain (resembling the helmet of King Gesar), which is also one of the more lively events in this area.

Brief history

The monks strictly adhere to discipline. The main gate is closed at night, and anyone who needs to go out must obtain permission from the Ge-she.

The monastery was destroyed in 1932, rebuilt in 1940, and expanded in 1956 to cover an area of over 150,000 square meters, with over 3,000 monks and lamas. In 1958, the majority of them returned to secular life, and in 1967, the monastery was demolished.

Shouling Monastery, originally named Gaden Rabten Namgyaling, meaning “Satisfying Eternal Blessings Monastery,” and later renamed Hor Draggo Monastery, or Draggo Monastery, it eventually became known as Shouling Monastery. The word “ling” in Tibetan means to wish for longevity and peace.

Brief

Shouling Monastery is one of the “Thirteen Monasteries of Hor” and is situated on the mountainside of Xindu Town, on the north bank of the Xianshui River in Luhuo County.

Established around 850 AD as Nyingma Pa and later converted to Bon, it became a Gelug monastery in 1650 AD under the leadership of Hor Qiuje Ngawang Pengtso. In 1783 AD, the monastery began hosting the “Winter Great Puja,” and around 1817, it established a system for studying scriptures and training monks.

History

According to the monastery’s records, its largest period of expansion was in 1651 AD, during the Qing Dynasty, when it covered an area of 10,000 square meters with over 500 rooms and 13 scripture halls, overseeing 4 Dratsang and 17 branch monasteries.

The monastery is comprised of three levels and is built into the mountainside, with the main buildings being the central scripture hall which can accommodate over 2000 monks for chanting. The exterior walls of the scripture hall are adorned with murals depicting the local chieftain families of Luhuo.

Shouling Monastery has been destroyed by earthquakes several times throughout its history and has been relocated three times since its original construction. After being damaged by an earthquake in 1973, it was relocated to a site two kilometers north of the county seat, between Ransu Hill and Sedelong.

It was approved for reopening by the local government in 1982.

Reconstruction began in 1983, and by September 1988, the reconstruction was completed. In 1995, a gold-plated bronze Buddha was brought back from India.

The monastery now covers an area of over 14,000 square meters and includes a three-story Great Buddha Hall, a two-story Auspicious Hall, 277 monk rooms, and accommodations for 246 resident monks.

It oversees 10 monasteries and 12 Dratsang and is one of the main religious centers in Luhuo County.

The main hall houses a 3-meter-tall silver statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, crafted by skilled artisans of the 5^th Dalai Lama. The monastery also houses many precious scriptures, thangkas, and lifelike murals.

Buddhist activities

The monastery hosts various Buddhist activities, including the “Monlam,” “Genrou,” “Qiongchi,” “Gongre,” and “Gadeng Anque” ceremonies. The largest of these is the ” Monlam” ceremony, held annually from the 8^th to the 20^th day of the 1^st month of the Tibetan calendar. This event attracts thousands of people and has a significant impact on the local religious community.

Kongmar Monastery also known as “Khangmar Monastery”, its full name is “Doma Khangmar Gedan Samdrubling.” The monastery was built around the year 1400 AD and originally belonged to the Kagyu Pa. In 1662, it converted to the Gelug Pa.

The monastery is located in Si-e Village, about 2 kilometers from Luhuo county, accessible by road and with electricity.

In 1985, it was approved for opening by the People’s Government of Garze County

Cogri Monastery, also known as Kasa Monastery, is one of the larger Gelugpa monasteries in Luhuo County. Its full name is “Cogri Gaden Shadrub Phelgyaling”

Brief

It was founded in 775 AD by Cogri · Loyi Jiangcun, one of the seven great Sanskrit-Tibetan translators of the Tubo Dynasty. Originally belonging to the Nyingma sect, it was later converted to the Gelugpa in 1650 AD (the 7^th year of the Qing Dynasty’s Shunzhi Emperor). It is one of the thirteen major Yellow Hat sect monasteries in the Kham region.

Located to the west of Luhuo County town, near the border with Garze County, the monastery is situated in Dupa Village, at an altitude of 3441 meters. The majority of the followers are engaged in agriculture for their livelihood.

Scale

In the past, Cogri Monastery had over 800 monks, but currently, there are 266 monks residing in four kang cun (Dratsang). The monastery covers an area of over 15,000 square meters. The orderly and tightly arranged double-story wooden houses indicate its size. The spacious platform within the monastery is used for hosting debates, prayers, exorcisms, and other major religious events, accommodating tens of thousands of people.

Every year, during the 1^st month of the Tibetan calendar, the monastery holds the grand prayer ceremony “Molam-Chenpo”, during which devotees from all directions come to pray to the deities and listen to scriptures. The scene is grand, and the musical instruments of the monastery produce magnificent music.

Architecture

The main hall is the place where all the monks gather to recite scriptures and practice rituals. In the center is a large gilded statue of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelugpa sect. On the right are various protector deities, and on the left are the stupas of the monastery’s past masters and living Buddhas. The colorful murals on the walls are rich in content.

Visitors can also see the Maitreya Hall by entering through the side door. The 10-meter-high statue of Maitreya, also known as the Jampa Buddha, is a significant figure in Tibetan Buddhism. According to Buddhist legend, Maitreya was originally born into a Brahmin family in India and later became a disciple of Sakyamuni, eventually inheriting the position of the future Buddha. The left side of the main hall houses the auspicious hall, where scriptures are recited throughout the year, while the kitchen and guest room are located on the right. Behind the monks’ quarters, there is a courtyard where young lamas study scriptures and Buddhist doctrines. The scripture hall is filled with shelves holding Buddhist scriptures.

The Han Temple, also known as “Degongbo“, was built in 1274 AD and has a history of more than 700 years, making it the oldest ancient building in the current Garze County.

Brief

“The establishment of the Han Temple may be related to the establishment of the ‘Left Wing Mongol and Han Army Wanhu Prefecture’ by the Yuan Dynasty in this area (Garze county).” The “Daru Huachi” (garrison commander) under the Wanhu Prefecture was responsible for leading the Mongol and Han armies. They certainly held great respect and reverence for the “God of War” Mahakala, so they built the Han Temple to worship him.

Mahakala

In the inner part of the main hall of the temple, there are over a thousand gold-threaded paintings of the Mahakala (Great Black One) deity on the Yuan Dynasty walls. “The technique is exquisite and is a typical work of the Yuan Dynasty. New murals have been painted on the walls, and some of the old murals have been damaged.” The main deity enshrined in the temple is also a statue of Mahakala.

Named the Maha (Ga) La Temple after the Mahakala deity, it is the only well-preserved Yuan Dynasty Mahakala temple in China. During the Mongol and Yuan periods, Mahakala was worshipped as the “God of War,” and many stories of Mahakala’s manifestations have been passed down.

During the Yuan Dynasty, over 100 Mahakala temples were built in Dadu (present-day Beijing) and throughout the country, but none remain. “The Han Temple in Garze County is the only preserved Yuan Dynasty Mahakala temple, making it extremely precious.” According to existing documentary records, the merit holder of the temple should be “Zhenjin (1243-1285),” the son of Kublai Khan.

Architecture and Structure

Regardless of the scale and location of Chinese Buddhist temples, their architectural layout follows a certain pattern: a square plan, organized along a north-south axis of Shanmen Hall, Hall of the Heavenly Kings, Main Buddha Hall, Hall for the Principal Bodhisattva of the Temple, Dharma Hall, and Scripture Hall, presenting a symmetrical, stable, and rigorous composition. Along this central axis, the buildings are interconnected and form a harmonious unity.

The entire Han Temple faces south. Legend has it that the 3^rd living Buddha of the temple was a Han Chinese, and during his tenure, he made modifications to the architectural style, adding a round roof similar to the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, albeit with some changes.

After several expansions over hundreds of years, the temple now covers an area of 3875 square meters, with a building area of 1350 square meters, spanning three stories and constructed with timber and earth. There is a large courtyard in front of the main hall.

The ground floor includes a front porch, scripture hall, and the Hall of the Guardians, while the main hall is grand in scale, serving as the primary hall of the Han Temple and the largest hall in the temple. It is supported by 102 square columns, with 63 bays and 54 columns in the scripture hall. On the 4^th and 3^rd columns from the left and right in the scripture hall, there are 4 characters ” peace in the world in Chinese” inscribed, which were granted by Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty after the completion of the expansion of the Hall of the Guardians. These four long columns support skylights, allowing ample natural light into the interior.

In front of the main hall, there is a broad platform, and the roof beams of the hall are majestic. The interior of the hall features a variety of bracket systems, representing a traditional wooden structure with Chinese characteristics. The structure of the main hall is very ingenious. In the center of the hall, there are five golden statues of Tathagata Buddha, collectively known as the Five Buddhas, which are original works from the Jin Dynasty (1135 AD – 1234 AD).

Surrounding the main hall are prayer corridors, with a total of 396 prayer wheels on the right side. The front porch, main scripture hall, and Hall of the Guardians, which form a Tibetan-style flat-roofed building, combine to create an integrated structure. The Hall of the Guardians at the back is constructed of wood, with a Han-style gray tiled roof and a Tibetan-style gilded roof ridge adorned with ritual instruments such as lotus flowers, treasure vases, bells, and Dharma implements. When illuminated by sunlight, these ornaments shine brilliantly and radiantly.

The eaves of the hall are supported by Han-style bracket systems, with colorful flying eaves and corner eaves shaped like mythical beasts, displaying lifelike forms, exquisite craftsmanship, and rigorous structure. It integrates both Tibetan and Han architectural styles, representing a masterpiece of the cleverness and wisdom of craftsmen from both Tibetan and Han ethnic groups.

To the east of the main hall is the site of the Manjushri Pavilion, and to the west is the Samantabhadra Pavilion, built in the 1154 AD (the 2^nd year of the Zhen Yuan of Jin Dynasty).

Murals

The murals in the Han Temple are not the typical bright and colorful ones but are painted in a style known as “bai miao” (white outlines). The walls are painted in a sky-blue color, with intricate white lines creating a continuous visual display. In the areas where sunlight shines on the walls, the sky-blue color fades, leaving a stark white appearance.

The temple houses a large number of sculptures, thangkas (scroll paintings), hanging scrolls, armor, weapons, clothing, and precious artifacts, all of which have extremely high artistic and research value.