Palcho Monastery
| Palcho Monastery Pelkor Chode Monastery | |
|---|---|
People's Republic of China | |
  Location within Tibet Autonomous Region | |
| Geographic coordinates | 28°57′0″N 89°38′0″E / 28.95000°N 89.63333°E |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Han, Nepali and Tibetan Architecture |
| Founder | Rabten Kunzang Phak |
| Date established | 1418–1428 |
The Palcho Monastery[
History
The earliest history of the Penchor Chode Monastery is traced to the ninth century.
The Tsuklakhang, the main temple of the monastery was built in 1418–1428 by Rabten Kunzang Phak, the second Prince of Gyantse, who was a devotee of
In 1904, the British expedition to Tibet led by Colonel Francis Younghusband reached Gyantse on 11 April. The town's garrison had already fled, and the expedition's members entered the town bloodlessly through the front gates, which were opened for them, and occupied Gyantse. After the town was occupied, several British officers visited the monastery and seized several statues and scrolls, some of which were subsequently brought back to the United Kingdom.[7][8] The monastery was partially destroyed by Chinese forces in 1959 after the 1959 Tibetan uprising. It was ransacked again during the Cultural Revolution, but has since been largely restored.[9][10] Prior to the uprising there were 1,520 monks at the monastery[11] but now they number less than 80.[12]
Architecture
Architecturally, Pelkhor monastery is a fusion of Han, Tibetan and Nepali architecture.[3][4] The most striking architecture in the complex, a symbol of Gyantse, is the Bodhi Dagoba (
Kumbum
Kumbum has nine floors or tiers and each tier has unique chapels. The 76 chapels have images that form "a progressive hierarchy of three-dimensional manadalas, as outlined in the Sakyapa compilation known as the Drubtob Gyatsa, ensuring that the stupa encapsulates within it the entire spiritual path and gradation of the tantras".[14]
The first tier of the Kumbum has staircases at the cardinal points which lead to the second tier, with the main entrance being that from the southern side. The second tier has 20 chapels which house images of Kriyatantras in a clockwise order. The third tier has 16 chapels and also depicts images of Kriyatantras along with Caryatantras, arranged in a clockwise order. In the fourth tier, there are twenty chapels depicting images of Yogatantras in a clockwise order. The fifth tier has 12 chapels depicting lineage holders. In the sixth tier there are four chapels, which show Yogatantra deities. The seventh tier has a single chapel with 10 mandalas, a unique depiction of the "Father Class of Unsurpassed Yogatantras". The eighth tier has also a single chapel but depicts 11 mandalas of "Mother Class of Unsurpassed Yogatantras". The last and tenth tier has a single chapel, which has an idol of the
Tsulaklakang Monastery
Tsulaklakang is the main temple. It has an Assembly Hall called as 'Tshomchen' in Tibetan and well preserved. The structure has three floors and has well-preserved murals and images of the fifteenth century.[16]
The ground floor has at the entry itself four images of Four Guardian Kings. At the entrance to the main Assembly hall, there is a protector shrine called Gonkhang. The impressive 48 pillared hall is decorated with numerous silk
The upper floor has five chapels. It houses clay images of Sakyapa lineage. The prominent images seen here are: the three-dimensional model of mandala palace of the deity
On the top floor, is the Zhalyekhang chapel, which has 15
Zhacang (hall for the monks)
Zhacang is the residential quarters of the monks. There is separate hall for each sect.[4]
Murals
Murals on themes of "Esoteric and Exoteric Buddhism", and the story of the Buddha are found in profusion in the monastery.[3][4]
Gyantse Fort
Gyantse Fort or Gyantse Dzong (Jiangzi Dzong) built on the rugged hills surrounding the Gyantze town (once the third largest town in Tibet) has an arresting presence behind the town. The fortress is dated to 1268 and a castle was also built inside by local Prince Phakpa Pelzangpo (1318–1370) who was influential with the Sakyapa overlords. Buddhist guru Butan Rinchen Drub of Zhalu resided here at the invitation of the prince and made it his religious seat. Later, in the 14th century, the palace was moved from the fort to the Gyantse town where Kunga Phakpa had built a larger complex of buildings and monasteries. During this period, he also built a temple on the hill top called the Sampel Rinchenling. However, this is seen only in ruins now except for some murals made in genuine Newari and Gyantse Tibetan styles.[13][17]
Festival
The most popular festival celebrated in the monastery is held on 15 April. It is known as the Saka Dawa festival to commemorate Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism; this day is said to mark his birthday and also the day of his death. On this occasion, five hundred Lamas chant sutras when local people attend. Horse racing and archery festivals are held in the middle of fourth lunar month.[2][4]
Visitor information
Pelkhor Choede in Gyantse town is located about 230 kilometres (140 mi) to the south of
Gallery
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Yak butter lamps -
Buddhist artwork -
Buddhist artwork -
Buddhist scriptures
See also
| Part of a series on |
| Tibetan Buddhism |
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Footnotes
- ^ Neville-Hadley p.771 quote:the nine story Kumbum the largest chorten in Tibet.
- ^ )
- ^ )
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Pelkhor Choede". Retrieved 22 January 2010.
- ^ a b c Dorje p.156
- ^ Mayhew p.165
- ^ Mayhew p.169-171
- ISBN 0-7195-5427-6.
- ^ Dowman (1988), p. 269.
- ^ Buckley and Strauss (1986), pp. 157-162.
- ^ Sun (2008), p. 184.
- ^ "A Year in Tibet" (2008) BBC Worldwide Ltd. DVD video.
- ^ )
- ^ Dorje p.260
- ^ Dorje p.258
- ^ a b Dorje p.256-257
- ^ a b Dorje p.257
- ^ Dorje p.258-260
References
- Buckley, Michael and Strauss, Robert. (1986). Tibet: a travel survival kit. Lonely Planet Publications, South Yarra, Australia. ISBN 0-908086-88-1.
- Dorje, Gyurme (1999). Footprint Tibet Handbook with Bhutan. 2nd Edition. Footprint Handbooks, Bath, England. ISBN 0-8442-2190-2.
- 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.
- Sun, Shuyun (2008). A Year in Tibet: A Voyage of Discovery. HarperPress, London. ISBN 978-0-00-728879-3.
Literature
- von Schroeder, Ulrich. 2001. Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet. Vol. One: India & Nepal; Vol. Two: Tibet & China. (Volume One: 655 pages with 766 illustrations; Volume Two: 675 pages with 987 illustrations). Hong Kong: Visual Dharma Publications, Ltd. ISBN 962-7049-07-7: dPal ’khor chos sde («palkhor chöde»), pp. 553, 699, 703, 870–881; Figs. XIII–35–40; Pls. 201–204; dPal ’khor gTsug lag khang («palkhor tsuglagkhang»), pp. 553, 870–881, 1245, 1246; Fig. XIII–35; Pls. 201–204; dPal ’khor mchod rten («palkhor chöden») also known as sKu ’bum («kumbum»), pp. 553, 703 n. 484; 870–873, 1245; Figs. XIII–36–40; Byams pa mchod pa lha khang («champa chöpa lhakhang») on the upper floor of the dPal ’khor gTsug lag khang («palkhor tsuglagkhang»), p. 870; Pls. 37C, 169C, 224D, 231C, 234C, 271C, 277D, 280B, 280C, 280E, 304C, 314C, 317C, 317E, 319C, 322E–F, 327D; Chos rgyal lha khang («chögyal lhakhang»), now known as rGyal ba Byams pa’i lha khang («champey lhakhang»), on the ground floor of the dPal ’khor gTsug lag khang, p. 870; rDo rje dbyings lha khang («dorjeying lhakhang») on the ground floor of the dPal ’khor gTsug lag khang, p. 870; mGon khang («gönkhang») on the ground floor of the dPal ’khor gTsug lag khang, p. 870; Jo bo’i lha khang («jowö lhakhang»), or gTsang khang («tsangkhang») on the ground floor of the dPal ’khor gTsug lag khang, p. 870; Pls. 140A, 212A–B, 232A, 233C, 254B, 267B, 347C; Lam ’bras lha khang («lamdre lhakhang») on the upper floor of the dPal ’khor gTsug lag khang, pp. 870, 874–881; Pls. 201–204; gNas brtan lha khang («neden lhakhang») on the upper floor of the dPal ’khor gTsug lag khang, pp. 870, 1245; Pl. 172D.