Open Collections

Thokmay, Darig

Database of Religious History (DRH)

Labrang Trashi Khyi monastery was founded in 1710 by Palshul Ngawang Tsondru (1648–1721), the first incarnation of Jamyang Shepa('Jam dbyangs zhad pa). Some modern sources mention its founding year as 1709 but it is mistaken. Its formal name is Genden Shédrup Dargyé Trashi Gyésu khyilwé Ling (dge ldan bshad sgrub dar rgyas bkra shis gyas su 'khyil ba'i gling), but it is popularly known as Labrang. Labrang has six colleges such as Thusam ling dratsang, Gyuto dratsang, Gyume dratsang, Dukhor dratsang, Sorik dratsang and Jedor dratsang. Labrang monastery is known to have more than 108 affiliated or branch or sub-branch monasteries in the Amdo region of Tibet, Mongolia and China. The monastery lies in Sangkhok valley of the northeast Amdo region of Tibet, historically the territory of a local chief called Gangtsa Kachu(rKang tsha bk'a bcu). Presently, it is in Xiahe County in the Gannan Prefecture, Gansu Province, China, at an altitude roughly 3400 meters above sea level. Covering an area of 866 hectares (about 2,140 acres), the monastery accommodates 48 major temples and assembly halls and many hundreds of resident houses (grwa shag) for monks. According to their functions and classes, all houses and temples are beautifully painted red, yellow, white and sometimes orange. Most temples and assembly halls have golden roofs with classic Tibetan roof structures. Before 1958, there were more than 3500 resident monks who studied various Tibetan scholarships and practised monastic rituals. Still, presently there are more than 2000 resident monks. Labrang monastery welcomes thousands of visiting monks from all over Tibet and Mongolia to study and receive Buddhist teachings.

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eng

Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library

10.14288/1.0431116

Non UBC

Unreviewed

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