Labrang monastery this article is about the buddhist monastery in gansu province, china. Labrang monastery and monks as photography is not allowed inside the halls, with the exception of the room that holds the yak butter sculptures, it is quite difficult to remember all youve seen. May 23, 2018 labrang monastery features exquisite art, decorations and a large collection of about 60,000 books, including buddhist scriptures, social science books and natural science books. On leaving the bus station ignore the touts and do the official guided tour of the monastery with an english speaking monk. Jan 20, 2012 there are a number of field reports and travelogues on labrang, 32 a collection of works by konchok jikme wangpo dkon mchog jigs med dbang po, the second jamyang zhepa 17281791, 33 and an outstanding classical chronicle on labrang monastery, which includes ten pages about the medical college. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. Large festivals take place in labrang during losar each year. The assembly hall of the monastery was burned to the ground in early 1985, along with many of its religious and cultural artifacts. The origins of these murals raise questions about a number of substantial differences in style and structure of the tree metaphor that exist between them and the.
Labrang is an ethnicallytibetan town in gansu province, china understand. Labrang monastery is home to the largest number of monks outside the tibet autonomous region. A tibetan monastery at the crossroads of four civilizations ebook. The monastery of the title is the fictional benedictine kennaquhairbased, it seems on the real, cistercian abbey of i have read quite a few over the past decade, drawn in by a memorable lucia di lammermoor at the eno in 2010in order, the bride of lammermoor, waverley, ivanhoe, guy mannering, and redgauntlet. Though religious pilgrims come throughout the year, the most popular time pilgrims arrive in labrang is the weeks before and after losar, or tibetan new year. It is one of the six great monasteries of gelukpa sect as well as the location of gansu provincial buddhism college. In the early 20th century, it housed several thousand monks. Detained before gyatsos labrang monastery in the kanlho in chinese, gannan tibetan autonomous prefecture was the scene of major demonstrations against chinese rule during regionwide tibetan. The labrang communitys borderlands location, the prominence of its religious institutions, and the resilience and identity of its nomadic and seminomadic cultures were factors in the growth and survival of the monastery and its enormous estate. Xiahe and labrang monastery xiahe adventure access. Xiahe is about four hours by car from the provincial capital lanzhou. Inside its walls, labrang is a living and breathing monastery with dirt alleyways as its veins and monks as its lifeblood. This book includes narratives of people and events important in labrangs early twentiethcentury history and thus helps the reader enter into the life of one of the largest and most important centers of tibetan culture.
Labrang or labuleng monastery labrang monastery part 2 click here for part one. Labrang templelabrang monastery xiahe, xiahe attraction. It is located on the daxia river, a tributary of the yellow river. This book tells the story of the status and function of the tibetan buddhist religion in its fully. At the southwest corner of the monastery stands the magnificent gongtang pagoda. We recommend booking labrang monastery tours ahead of time to secure your spot. In the inner courtyard of the medical college at labrang monastery the visitor. Defiant tibetan monk from labrang monastery jailed for. One of the largest and most powerful institutions in tibetan history, unique in its placement amid segmented territories ruled by several distinct inner asian groups, labrang monastery has long been a site in need of critical study. For the monastery in sikkim, india see labrang monastery sikkim. Labrang monastery is situated at the strategic intersection of four major asian culturestibetan, mongolian, han chinese, and chinese muslimwas one of the largest buddhist monastic universities. The monastery was established in 1709 and expanded greatly in following centuries to become one of the six great monasteries of the gelukpa sect yellow hat of tibetan buddhism. Labrang monastery, located in northeastern tibet at the strategic intersection of four major asian civilizationstibetan, mongolian, chinese, and muslimwas one of the largest buddhist monastic universities. Labrang monastery is known for its grand scale, long history, and the numerous.
The whole monastery is encircled by the corridor, stretching as long as 2. Labrang monastery is an important pilgrimage destination for tibetans living across the amdo region. Xiahe, and in particular its monastery, is still a fascinating place. Labrang monastery collects more than 60,000 volumes of scriptures including both buddhist sutras and books covering other fields. The monastery is located in xiahe county, so upon arrival, you can get there by walking. Underneath his pot noodle buddhism and odd view of world politics you do learn about the history of the building.
The chinese section commercial lies to the eastern end of the road and the tibetan section lies at the western end. I have tried to book a room at the tara guest house but have gotten no resp. In the early part of the 20th century, labrang was by far the largest and most influential monastery in amdo. This book is a social and political history of labrang monastery, located in tibets amdo and chinas gansu province. A tibetan buddhist community on the inner asian borderlands, 17091958. Labrang is located in xiahe county, gannan tibetan autonomous prefecture, gansu, in the traditional tibetan area of amdo. This book includes narratives of people and events important in labrangs early twentiethcentury history and thus helps the reader enter into the life of one of. Labrang monastery literally the center of town, the monastery is the main focus for visitors and residents alike with all social and commercial activity deriving from it. Labrang monastery it was founded in 1709 by the first jamyang zhaypa, ngawang tsondru, and also a home to the largest number of monks outside tibet autonomous region. Labrang monastery is located on the north of daxia river in the west of xiahe county of gannan tibetan autonomous prefecture in gansu province. Labrang monastery boasts the longest corridor of prayer wheels over the world, with over 1,700 scripture wheels. Shouxi temple is the largest one in labrang monastery. Xiahe, chinas tibetan monastery town in pictures world. This crucially important and littlestudied community is on the northeast corner of the tibetan plateau in modern gansu province, in close proximity to.
All kinds of books related to tibetan history, literature, philosophy, linguistics, rhetoric, medicine, astronomy, calendars, arts and crafts, and metallurgy can be. Xiahe labrang monastery history of labrang monastery. It is indeed surprising that it survived almost unscathed during the turbulent years of the early twentieth century. The monastery is set in scotts beloved border country, in around 1550. Its formal name is genden shedrup dargye trashi gyesu khyilwe ling. In addition to the chapels, residences, goldenroofed temple halls and living quarters for the monks, labrang is also home to six tratsang monastic colleges or.
Labrang monastery features exquisite art, decorations and a large collection of about 60,000 books, including buddhist scriptures, social science books and natural science books. A tibetan monastery at the crossroads of four civilizations paperback january 1, 1999. The monastery by walter scott meet your next favorite book. It is a vast site that makes up a large portion of the town. This crucially important and littlestudied community is on the northeast corner of the tibetan plateau in modern gansu province, in close proximity to chinese, mongol, and muslim communities. It includes a study of the religious heritage of the region and its interactions with surrounding ethnic groups and political powers. Labrang monastery was founded in 1709 by ngagong tsunde e angzongzhe in chinese, the firstgeneration jamyang a line of reincarnated rinpoches or living buddhas ranking third in importance after the dalai and panchen lamas, from nearby ganjia.
Muslims in amdo tibetan society download ebook pdf, epub. I have read quite a few over the past decade, drawn in by a memorable lucia di lammermoor at the eno in 2010in order, the bride of lammermoor, waverley, ivanhoe, guy mannering, and redgauntlet. Key cultural sites and observances in labrang labrang monastery is the main reason people visit xiahe. The monastery 1820 is not one of scotts better known novels, but i found it one of his most engaging to date. The labrang region is primarily populated by ethnic tibetan. The labrang monastery le monastere labrang xiahe gansu. Gonpo dondrup and pronunciation and word lists, with tibetan transliteration, bibliography, index. Paul nietupski draws on the photographs and memoirs of marion and blance griebenow, christian missionaries resident for nearly twentyseven years, as well as the memoirs of apa alo, a prominent leader. The hexagonal wood cylinders are carved with different scriptures and patterns on each side. In addition, a large amount of tibetan language books, including books on history is available for purchase, together with medicines, calendars, music and art. Mongol monks and lamas maintained a strong presence at labrang and in the region throughout the history of the monastery. The labrang tibetan buddhist monastery in amdo and its extended support community are one of the largest and most famous in tibetan history. Founded in 1709, labrang is one of the six major monasteries of the gelugpa order of tibetan buddhism.
Xiahe, chinas tibetan monastery town in pictures tibetan buddhist monks gather to pray at the labrang monastery in xiahe, an ethnically tibetan town in gansu province, china. Labrang monastery xiahe, china attractions lonely planet. Also ignore the touts who say it is 3 km to the monastery and next door hotels. Labrang monastery is situated 38 km from gangtok and located on the flat ground on the hill top having altitude of 7000 ft. The surrounding regions outside of the core labrang territory are populated by groups of hui and salar muslims, and han chinese communities. On the history of the murals in the medical college at labrang. This book tells the story of the status and function of the tibetan buddhist religion in its fully developed monastic and public dimensions. The statue of sakyamuni in it stands 15 meters tall. It includes a study of the religious heritage of the region and its interactions. Labrang monastery travel information and ticketing info. Despite many of the changes taking place in xiahe, mentioned in the previous article, dont be put you off from visiting. Labrang monastery is one of the six great monasteries of the gelug school of tibetan buddhism.
On the history of the murals in the medical college at. Labrang monastery by paul kocot nietupski overdrive. Lhabrung or labrang monastery, gangtok timings, history. The monks of xiahes labrang monastery china nomads. Apr 15, 2016 between 1917 and 1949, several riots and attacks took place against labrang monastery from the chinese muslim ma clique, who even occupied the monastery at one point. Located at the foot of the phoenix mountain northwest of the county, labrang monastery is the first mustsee attraction. Oct 11, 2019 labrang monastery boasts the longest corridor of prayer wheels over the world, with over 1,700 scripture wheels. Kumbum monastery is the other of the six great monasteries found in the region.
Jun 27, 2017 xiahe, chinas tibetan monastery town in pictures tibetan buddhist monks gather to pray at the labrang monastery in xiahe, an ethnically tibetan town in gansu province, china. Genden shedrub dargye tashi kunne kyilweling dgeldan bshadgrub darrgyas bkrashis kunnas khyilbai gling, also known as labrang tashikyil monastery blabrang bkrashis khyil, or simply labrang, was founded in 1710 by the first jamyang zhepa, ngawang tsondru kunmkhyen jamdbyangs bzhadpa ngagdbang brtsongrus 16481722, in the amdo province amdo of northeastern. In the early twentieth century, it housed several thousand monks. This most important tibetan monastery outside tibet was first founded by ngagong tsunde, the first generation of jamyang from nearby ganjia in 1709. The dusky, atmospheric halls, the countless statues, the shimmering candles, the colourful paintings and rich wall hangings all are a real onslaught. In view of covid19 spread, free reschedule is allowed upto 3days before travel date for all new bookings. How to visit labrang monastery china travel tips tour. In the early part of the 20th century, labrang was by far the largest and most influential monastery in amdo, it is located on a tributary of the yellow river. A tibetan buddhist monastery at the crossroads of four civilizations. Book your tickets online for labrang monastery, mangan. Labrang gompa was constructed in tumlong, north sikkim in 1826 ce and completed in 1843 ce. Sep 21, 2014 labrang monastery is situated at the strategic intersection of four major asian culturestibetan, mongolian, han chinese, and chinese muslimwas one of the largest buddhist monastic universities.
432 27 904 19 523 1030 162 550 763 815 1207 666 700 279 1003 85 1154 220 472 1075 861 843 663 132 10 191 1173 67 126 1294 427 352 1106 1207 130 320