Gelug Pa Monasteries

Juli monastery is a Gelug pa monastery at Juli village of Xinduqiao town, about 85 kilometers west from Kangding City.

Brief

It was originally called “Rang Ti monastery”, and was built in Ran Ti Gang mountain by Master Dengba who was one of the five scholars of Muya region of Kham.

In the 1^st year of Emperor Kangxi of Qing Dynasty (1662 AD), the monastery was moved to curently address at Juli village, hence it is named after the vilage.

Enshrining

The monastery enshrines 108 Volumes of Kangyur which is one of the three only remaining manuscripts with history of more than 1000 years, and well – preserved murals with history of more than 600 years old. In addition, the unique butter flower.

There is one sky-funeral field behind the monastery and slightly above the main hall of the monastery, which holds the sky-funeral in the monrning usually, and not open to the visitors;

Juli Monastery had been reonstructed and expanded three times on the 2^nd khenpo (the teacher of 7^th Dailai lama), the 24^th khenpo of Sangji Gengdan and in 1983; Until now, it has been through 47 generation of khenpo and 3 generation of Rinpoches.

Muya Tibetan opera

During the first Renpoche of Juli monastery, the Muya Tibetan opera was created, which is very unique from other type of Tibetan opera in the eastan Tibet of Kham, and it became one tradition that to play the Tibetan opera for 3 days from June 28^th to 30^th anuually

The Rinpoche

Of the three Rinpoche of JuLi monastery, the most well-known is the 3^rd reincarnation of rinpoche, whom is called Fa-Hai Rinpoche (1920 – 1994), he was born in Muli county, and being identified as the 3^rd reincarnation of Rinpoche of Juli monastery.

He went to Lhasa to study when he was 12 years old, after 7 years’ hard learning, he passed the exam, and earned degree “Geshe lharampa“, the highest degree in Tibetan Buddhism.

After returning from Lhasa, he began his journey of preaching to Chamdo, Shangri La, Daocheng…etc, all of which are in the remote and hidden regions of Kham. He passed away at age of 74 years old. After cremation, there were 18 sarira left in the ashes, and all of which are now enshrined in the stupa in Juli monastery

How to get to there

---

Ju Li Monastery is about 80 kilometers west from Kangding township, from which local buses or taxi are quite easy to be arranged to get to this beautiful town. The closest airport is Kangding airport which is 48 kilometers east from Xinduqiao on the Mt Dzetuo wihtin 1 hour drive;

By flight: there are three daily flights from Chengdu to Kangding, then by local taxi to Xinduqiao which Juli monastery is located at

By long distance bus: it is recommended to get to Chengdu Xin Nan Men Bus station which offers the most frequently buses to Kangding.

In addition, there are other departures to Kangding from Chengdu Cha Dian Zi Bus station, Chengdu Bei Men Bus station, and Shi Yang Chang Bus station,

Note, all buses ends at Kangding, and it is needed for you to switch to local mini bus or taxi to Xinduqiao, which may take about 3 hours drive to get to Juli monastery from Kangding;

Kandze Monastery (or Garze monastery), a Gelug Pa sect monastery, is the largest Tibetan Buddhist Temple in Garze County.

Brief

Built in the first year of Emperor Kangxi of Qing Dynasty (1662). It was founded by Dalai Lama V’s disciple with a history of nearly five hundred years. Its full name is Kandze Tashi Nuobu Monastery, also referred as “Kandze Monastery” in short, meaning white and beautiful. It is named after the white stone on the monastery site.

Location and size

Kandze Monastery is situated on hillside in the northern part of Garze County. It is a typical Tibetan and Chinese Han architectural style. The whole building faces south with construction area of 197,000 square meters and covering an area of 285,000 square meters overlooking Garze County.

There are about 3,300 monks and lamas in Kandze Monastery in 1957. It has 13 sub-monasteries; and had several commerce business in Lhasa, Chengdu, India.In 1958, most of the monks and lamas resumed secular life. The monastery was demolished during the Cultural Revolution in 1967.Then after being rebuilt in 1980, it now houses about 400 monks and lamas. It was approved for opening in 1981 and being restored its original appearance.

Buildings

The main building of the temple consists of a Main Assembly Hall, 10 small Assembly halls, and one Maitreya hall. The Dratsangs are evenly distributed around the temples being compact and well organized architecture and a rhythmic pattern. Inside the Main Assembly Hall, the architectures are magnificent with carved beams and painted rafters. The murals are colorful and lifelike. Below the monastery, there are much more dense residential groups, which surround the
monastery.

The Main Assembly Hall is earth-wood structure with four floors. The first floor is the Great Hall; The second floor is the Hall of God of protection; The third floor is the Hall of Maitreya Buddha. The fourth floor is enshrined the Jowo Repoche whom was invited from India.

On the second floor, there are a large number of Tibetan knives and old muskets in the Hall of God of protection. It is said that the local Tibetans offered those to the monastery to express their determination of Not to Kill.

Inheritance

Kandze Monastery has now inherited the third generation of Shangen Living Buddha, which began from 1846 and passed down to now the thrid generation. The first lineage was one of the three candidates of the 11^th Dalai Lama. After the 11^th Dalai Lama was certified by the Lot-drawing from a golden urn,one of the unsuccessful children became the 1^st generation of Shangen Living Buddha,which has close connection with Garzi Kongsa landlord family.

Kandze Monastery Puja Detail

It is the mysterious puja about to repel evil. The main purpose of this ancient Gu-Duo Puja is to banish the bad luck in the past year, and turn evil into righteousness. Pray for No disease, No disaster on people and livestock in the coming year, and the weather is good, and Rich harvest. Gu-Duo Monk Dance generally lasts two days on 28th and 29th days of December of Tibetan Calendar. On the first day of this festival, there will be 8 programs (dances). On the 2nd day, the programs are to throw exorcism objects, and to throw “Sui Wu” (“Sui” refers to the disaster caused by evil, “Wu” means object; “Sui Wu” means a object that brings bad luck caused by evil )

As early as a month before this festival, the monks take a certain amount of time to practice the Holy Mask dance while doing daily religious work.
Under the guidance of the head coach of the monastery, every monk whom wear the mask and dance shall understand how to play the gesture operation,dance steps,the purpose of the weapon and secret spell.

Puja timetable

The festival begins around 9:00 in the morning. The monks of the whole temple sit in rows , facing south, and the front row is the guardian of honor. The local Tibetan and visitors are allowed to sit at in the east, south, and west. When the dancing monks appear, the local people take off their hats with enthusiasm, fold their hands together and prayed silently. In the sound of the music,the monks hold the sword and the religious appliance, dancing while walking side by side and entering the venue slowly

“Doma” is an item that is made of Tsampa with form similar to a child with age of 3 or 4; and there is red pigment in its abdomen; After being cut it is like bloodshed. “Doma” is one of the “Sui Wu”. When the monks enter the venue, they will surround the “Doma” to do all kinds of rituals; and then having the “Doma” stabbed by the 5 Guardian of God from 5 directions of East, West, South, North and Middle

Around 12:00 at noon, the Puja will end. In the sound of Religious music, the abbot sways the bell by hand,the monks sing the secret scriptures. Monks and local Tibetan take “Doma” and other “Sui Wu” together to the gulley where people cannot see the monastery when they look back, and burned it with fire. At this point, the annual ancient Gu-Duo Monk Dance Puja will be completed.

How to get to there

---

Kandze Monastery is located at the hill north of Garze County. It is about less than 2 kilometers walk from the center of the town;

You can either walk up to this monastery from center of this town, or to take a car reaching at this monastery within 3 minutes

Litang Chode is also known as Litang Chode Ganden Tubchen Chokhorling, in Chinese Pin-Yin “Chang Qing Chun Ke Er Si” . It is located on the slope of Moraca Mountain in the north of Litang County.

Brief

Originally, it was a Black-Sect (Bon) Monastery. During the Wan-Li Period of Ming Dynasty (1580 AD), the third Dalai Lama – Suo-Nan Gyatso changed it to the Yellow-Sect (Gelug Pa) monastery and had it Consecrated. It is the oldest and largest Yellow-Sect (Gelug Pa) monastery in the east Tibet of Kham.

Meaning of monastery

“Chang Qing Chun Ke Er” is indeed the pronunciation of Tibetan language, the first two words “Chang Qing” means Maitreya Buddha (the future Buddha); the “Chun Ke Er ” means the Dharma Chakra that is always turning, and with fine truth forever.

Building, relics, and tradition

Litang Chode is built on the mountain covering an area of more than 500 acres with more than 4,300 monks. Among of whom, about 800 are the permanent residents.

The main hall is located at the highest point in the center of the temple. Since the end of 20^th Century, this monastery has been rebuilt and maintained under the support of local authority, the temple has restored Maitreya Hall, Asemblly Hall, Thousand Buddha Hall, Xianggen Dormitory, Jinding Red Palace; One 19-meter-high Maitreya Buddha and the Three Thousand Buddha Halls were donated by the locals.

There are unique Buddhist murals on the girders in the temple. The Golden Dome Palace features the spiritual towers of the 1^st and 2^nd Xiang-Gen Rinpoche. The gilded tower is engraved with various patterns and is also inlaid with Red turquoise, Dzi Bead, Agate, coral, amber and other treasures. There are also the footprints of the 3^rd and 5^thDalai Lama in the temple. If lucky, the ancient Buddhist scriptures of “Ganggyur” & “Dangyur” can be viewed.

Wutun monastery is composed by two monasteries that are about 10 minutes walk from one to another;

Brief

Lower Wutun

Palden Chokhorling Monastery, also known as “Lower Wutun monastery” (Sengeshong Yagotsang) was founded in 1385 AD, and covers an area of about 80 acres.

Lower Wutun Buildings

It has one assembly hall, one Maitreya Hall, one Tea-house..etc; It is the larger one of the two, and has a beautiful and old Thangka outside Maitreya Hall. Some Murals of this monastery survived by being covered with newspaper and political slogans. The monastery has a collection of more than 7,000 sutra including Kangyur and Tengyur; There are 8 white pagoda called “Enlightenment of eight pagodas”, all of which are built with fund that is donated by villagers

Upper Wutun

Gendun Puntsok Choling Monastery, also known as “Upper Wutun monastery” (Sengeshong Magotsang) was built in 1645, attached to Longwu monastery.

Upper Wutun Buildings

It has only one assembly hall, one Sakyamuni Buddha Hall and one Maitreya temple. its appearance is not with great look, instead, kind of normal; however, inside of the monastery is quite stunning with the lifelike statues of Buddhas in the dim light shining golden color; and almost all of space has been filled up with countless murals and Thangka

Art School

Both monasteries featuring “Art School”, it has spread to all areas of Amdo, even today; tradition of Thangkar art was severely damaged during 10 year culture revolutionary in last century; however, benefited by dedication of few elderly masters whom have successfully restored and handed down to new generations of Thangkar painting masters.

Its thangkar style are widely to follow Tibet, but infusion of culture including Mongolian, Tu poeple and chinese culture which distinct from Thangkars from other region, such as central Tibet, and Kham. This is thought to be one evidence on a old saying that orgin of Wutun people is from Western Tibet, probably a inherit branch of Guge Kingdom, and to have mingled over centuries with neighboring community

How to get to there

---

Wutun monastery is about 7 kilometers from Tongren County. Road to this monastery is well paved, and there are regular buses connect this monastery and Tongren county. However, it is recommended to take a taxi or renting local vehicle to get this site

By bus 

The mini bus depart from Tongren county from 08:00am to the afternoon 17:30pm, the ride takes about 20 minutes at rate: RMB 7.00 per person

By rent vehicle 

It usually cost RMB 80.00 one way, 150.00 round trip

The Four Major Sects of Tibetan Buddhism

---

Sumtseling Monastery is also called Sungtseling OR Song Zan Lin monastery. It is a Gelug pa tradition monastery seated approximately 5 kilometers outside the city of Shangri La (also known as Zhongdian or Gyeltang) in the southern edge of Kham, now it is administrated by Yunnan province.

Brief

Since its shape is very similar to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, therefore it is often refered as “Little Potala Palace“

Sumtseling Monastery was established by the 5^th Dalai Lama in 1679. It was built during the rule of Kangxi Emperor (1662 AD-1722 AD) of Qing dynasty.

According to the legend that Kangxi Emperor was also associated in searching the reincarnation of 7^th Dalai Lama. Its architecture is a synthesis of the Tibetan and Chinese.

The style

The monastery is kind like a stronghold that has solid, thick city walls and even five gates. The main hall is a Five-Story typical Tibetan Towers, it is able to accommodate more than 1,600 pilgrims to practice and chanting. The statue of 5^th and 7^th Dalai Lama are made and being placed in this main hall. It was severely damaged in the 10 years Cultural Revolution and being rebuilt in 1983; The monastery used to house more than 2,000 monks; and now there are still 700 monks study and live in this monastery

How to get to there

---

Sumtseling Monastery is situated in the north of Shangri La City, approximately 4 kilometers from the center of the downtown area; it can be easily reached by public transportation, or taxi

By bus

Line 3, get off the bus at terminal “Song-Zan-Lin-Si-Stop”

By Taxi

It usually costs 10.00 RMB

Puja & Festivals

---

Ge-dong Puja

• Date: 2021 February 10^th to 13^th | 2022 March 1^st to 4^th
• Programs: Worship deities, including Mask Dance, chanting, praying
• Festival style: Religious festival

Horse Racing Festival

• Date: 2021 June 25^th to 27^th | 2021 June 14^th to 16^th | 2022 June 3^rd to 5^th
• Programs: Horse Racing, horse trading, dancing, singing
• Festival style: cultural folk festival

Long Wu monastery is also known as “Rongpo Gonchen Monastery” or “Rongwo Gonchen Monastery” in Tibetan. It is located in Tongren County by Rongwo River, which Long Wu monastery gains its name from.

Brief

It was initially established as a three temple site in 1341 by Rongwu Samten Rinpoche, whose younger brother was architect and designer of monasteries.

The major figures

-1), Shartsang Kaldan Gyatso (1607 AD – 1677 AD) is recognized as the 1^st  Reincarnation of Rongwu Samten Rinpoche and is founder of monastery at sites. He was in charge of to found the first temple of 3 Buddhas of Long Wu, then after Golden monastery and other temples.

-2), Yarba Chogyi, whom was recognized as 8^th reincarnation in October 1991, built Prayer hall, Victory Stupa and Stupas at 4 corners of Long Wu monastery, he had the sayings of Buddha written in gold and commissioned statues of Tsongkhapa.

-3), Shartsang Gyatso established the 1^st monastic college,

-4), Tsennyi Tratsang, Buddhist dialectics is taught in 1630 AD.

-5), Following Lobsang Trinley Longtok Gyatso, Reincarnation of 7^th Shartsang Rinpoche, whom gradually expanded colleges to present size, including Tsennyi Tratsang, Gyamat Tratsang (Lower tantric College or study/reading of scriptures) and Duikor Tratsang, a monastic college of wheel of time also known as college of Kalachakra, and 10 syllable mantra.

How to get to there

---

Long Wu monastery is situated in downtown area of Tongren County, which 165 kilometers south from Xining. This is the nearest city that has flights to connect many other cities of China; it is about 2.5 hours drive from Xining to Tongren.

By bus: it takes about 3 hours’ drive one way

• The 1^st departure is at 07:30 am, the last departure is at 17:30 pm
• There is one departure every 45 minutes before 09:00 am
• There is one departure every 30 minutes after 09:00 am

Tongren Bus Terminal

Add : Dong Shan Road, Longwu Town
Contact : +86 973 872-2267

Accommodation

---

There are about more than 35 hotel, hostel, guesthouse available in this county, please click to view recommended hotels in Tongren County

The Four Major Sects of Tibetan Buddhism

---