Tshongdu Dratsang, also known as “Tshongdu Monastery” or “Tshongdu Tsogpa,” is one of the four major Tsogpa in Tibet, the other three are Tse Tsogpa in Nedong County, Tsanggang Tügang Tsogpa in Shigatse, Gyangling Tsogpa in Zhanang County.
It belonged to Kadam Pa of Tibetan Buddhism when it was funded, then after it converted to the Sakya sect in the mid-13th century.
The monastery is situated on the southern bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, surrounded by lush greenery and beautiful scenery. Located in Tshongdu Village, east of the county seat of Dranang (Zhanang) County,
The Founder
Tshongdu Dratsang was founded by the renowned Indian Buddhist scholar “Kache Panchen·Sakya Sribhadra” (AD 1127–AD1225 AD).
“Kache Panchen” means “the great pandita of Kashmir (Pandita equivalent to a Buddhist philosophical doctorate).”
“Kache Panchen·Sakya Sribhadra” was born in present-day Kashmir. He was the last abbot of the Nalanda Monastery in India and a prominent Buddhist scholar.
At the age of 10, he mastered the “Five Sciences,” and at 23, he became a monk, Since then, he traveled extensively in eastern India to promote Buddhism, possessing profound knowledge of esoteric teachings.
In 1204 AD, at nearly 80 years old, “Kache Panchen·Sakya Sribhadra” was invited by the “Lotsawa·Yampa Pal, AD 1173 – AD 1219, the great translator)” to Tibet to propagate the Dharma. He nurtured many prominent figures in the Tibetan Buddhist community across Tibet.
The monastic discipline he brought from India belonged to the “Sarvasti-vada” (one of the Buddhist sects), holding a significant position in Tibetan Buddhist history.
The temple structure
The architecture of the old buildign of Tshongdu Dratsang is grand, however, the new one is much smaller than the old one in scale, consisting of a three-story courtyard-style building. The central area features a courtyard with the main hall and monks’ quarters built around it. The main hall is located on the second floor, while a separate small hall on the third floor serves as the Buddha hall.
The Main Hall
Surrounding the main hall is a two-story monk’s dormitory.
The main entrance is on the second floor, accessed via a wooden staircase leading to the corridor of the main hall, which is supported by four large square pillars.
The corridor’s murals depict the Four Heavenly Kings, the Six Paths of Reincarnation Diagram, the Ideal World, and a four-faced and two-armed statue of Guanyin.
The main hall is 15 meters in depth and 6 meters in width. Inside, there is a gilded bronze statue of Sakyamuni Buddha as the main deity. To the west, a gilded bronze statue of Avalokiteshvara with a thousand arms and eyes is enshrined, while to the east, a statue of the goddess Tara is worshipped.
In a Buddha niche on the west side, statues of the renowned figures “Kon·Gongcho Gyalpo (AD 1034 – AD 1102)” and his disciples from the Sakya sect are enshrined.
The walls of the main hall are adorned with murals depicting the founder of the Sakya Pa, “‘Dromi·Sakya Yeshe (AD 994 – AD 1078)”, along with images of successive abbots and the third abbot of the Sakya Pa, Dragpa Gyaltsen (AD 1147 – AD1216), as well as various protective deities.
On the north wall of the courtyard, murals depict Vajrapani Bodhisattva.
The west wall features depictions of Sakyamuni Buddha, Vajradhara, Sarasvatī, and Manjusri.
The east wall showcases eight different images of Padmasambhava.
Buddhist hall
The third floor of the main hall is an independent small building used as a Buddhist shrine.
The murals inside the Buddha hall are well-preserved, depicting a thousand Buddha statues throughout the hall. The statues are outlined with a single line, standing at 0.17 meters tall, with circular halo and back light, high topknots, wearing draped robes on the right side, and the right hand touching the ground in a gesture, seated in a lotus position.
On the lower parts of the left and right walls inside the Buddha hall, there are four Bodhisattva statues on each side, namely the “Eight Great Disciples”: Manjushri, Vajrapani, Avalokiteshvara, Ksitigarbha, Dribpa Namsel, Akasagarbha, Maitreya, Samantabhadra, all depicted standing with various forms. The statues are 0.35 meters tall, with oval halos and back lights, tall crowns, adorned with precious silk-bound hair, draped shoulders; bare upper body with tight-fitting diagonal pants, holding a lotus flower in the left hand, and the right hand hanging down with palm facing outward; adorned with earrings, necklaces, bracelets, armlets, waistbands, and flowing robes hanging from the shoulders, giving a sense of movement; standing barefoot on a lotus pedestal.
The Buddhist hall houses Tryadhva-buddhah clay statues and two sandalwood-carved small pagodas.
Brief History
Tshongdu Dratsang, built around the year 1200 AD,
Underwent a major renovation in the 19th century by a person named “Deba Benden”, who repainted the murals and constructed a new monk’s quarters to the south of the main hall.
After 1959, it was requisitioned and converted into a granary.
During the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s, the monastery suffered damage.
In 1981, reconstruction planning began following the implementation of a new religious policies.
Today, after the granary was relocated and the white paint and slogans on the walls were wiped away, the religious-themed murals reemerged, with very few remaining structures of the monastery.
In 1998, it was designated as a county-level cultural heritage site.
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