Treasures of the Buddhist Monasteries in Gansu and Qinghai
A visit to Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries in Gansu and Qinghai Provinces impresses people with their magnificence and holiness. Each contains cultural Relics, ranging from Offerings on shrines to the objects used by the Living Buddhas. They are all of historical value and also Art treasures rarely found in the World.
Shield used by Gesar.
Relics of Gesar. King Gesar was a hero, whose story has been told and retold over the centuries by people in the Tibetan areas in Gansu, Qinghai and Tibet. His belongings are almost indispensable for various Monasteries.
For example, in the Dana Monastery in Nangqian County, Qinghai, also known as the Ling State Monastery, there are many of his belongings:
In front of the statue of Gesar are battle knives used by him and his general, Gyiaca, along with waist belts of his concubine Zhumo (including one Conch belt);
In the halls are Weapons, helmets and garments of Gesar and 30 of his generals, and brocade hada scarves presented to the statue of Gesar by the 9th and 10th Living Buddha Garmaba.
In the Yeba Sutra Hall is a Sutra read and recited by Gesar.
WITNESS OF HAN-TIBETAN TIES. The Zom’o Monastery, situated in Zamo Township, Qinghai, is well-known locally.
Legend has it that the 3rd Living Buddha of the Monastery persuaded Mongolians and Tibetans residing in the province to accept rule by the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), and hence won the favor of the Central Government.
The Qing emperor granted him an imperial edict written on a white piece of white cloth, totaling 3,000 words, stamped with three seals and adorned with sun-moon patterns, as well as an ivory seal of authority.
The Jorang Monastery is one of the 18 Monasteries of the Barong Gagyu Sect in Yushu.
It is historically famous because an emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) gave it a white Conch shell, a Tripitaka written in golden ink on black paper, an ivory Buddha image and a knife used by Gesar.
During the Ming Dynasty, the Monastery was exempt from taxes, and was designated by the emperor to recite Sutras for him on a regular basis, a system which lasted throughout the Qing Dynasty.
The Mieye Monastery in Nangqian County kept official hats, seals of authority and gray flags granted by the Qing imperial court. Hamlet used by Pagba.
The Bamshian Monastery keeps a Prayer Wheel granted to the Monastery by Tang Dynasty (618-907) Princess Wencheng who married Tubo King Songtsan Gambo.
The Tang Princess Wencheng Monastery, in Batang Township, contains Statues of Buddha carved during the lives of Princess Wencheng and Princess Jincheng, who also married a Tubo King later.
The Tar Monastery in Huangzhong, Qinghai, keeps a dazzling variety of cultural Relics.
It was the site where Master Zongkapa was born, founder of the dominant Yellow Hats sect of Tibetan Buddhism.
During the Qing Dynasty, successive emperors gave the Monastery Statues of Buddha, Sutras, Buddhist Dagobas and many other objects.
Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries in Gansu and Qinghai received support from the Ming and Qing imperial courts, who granted honorific titles such as “State Tutor” to lamas of these Monasteries.
A case in point are the 3rd, 4th and 5th Living Buddha Jamyang with the Labrang Monastery in Xiahe County, who all received official posts from the Qing court and the Government of the Republic of China (1912-1949). The Monastery also keeps 21 gold, silver, bronze, ivory, stone and wooden seals of authority.
Relics of Pagba. The Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) set great Store by the Sagya Sect. As a result, Masters Sapan and Pagba were famous far and wide.
In 1276, Pagba was on his Way from China’s hinterland to Tibet.
He stopped over in Yushu and resided in the Zomda Monastery.
There, he granted the major Living Buddha with the Monastery a Buddhist title and allowed him to wear a gold crown. Today, the Monastery still keeps the Statues of Tara given by Pagba.
The Qiulindo Monastery in Yushu was said to have been built by one of the 13 Living Buddhas under Pagba.
When Pagba was in Yushu, he paid a visit to the Monastery. It still keeps the large umbrella he gave and a bowl painted with 100 dragon patterns.
The Gyigu Monastery in Yushu also keeps a Tangka painting of Sakyamuni, founder of Buddhism, a Buddhist guardian mask, a sandalwood statue of Tara and ancient Indian bells and clubs.
Stone Carvings In Heri.
The Heri Monastery in Zeku County, Qinghai, belongs to the Nyingma Sect.
It has walls extending three meters high and 200 meters long, all built with stones inscribed with Sutra lines running to 200 million words taken from Gangyur, Dangur and Great Sutra of the Perfection of Wisdom.
Each stone also bears Buddha figures recounting some 2,000 Buddhist stories. The work began in the 1930s and lasted many years. Mani wall.
There are some other Sutra-stone-wall Monasteries.
They include the Gyanhe’okam Monastery of the Nyingma Sect in Tianjun County.
Next to it is a Stone Sutra Monastery built in 1951. It is square, covering an area of 0.02 hectares. In its center is a giant Time Wheel Dagoba.
Eighty artisans spent five years completing 108-volume Gangyur and Dangyur, each stone being 0.3 meters wide and long.
The Gyigu Monastery is famous for its Mani Stone Mound. Each piece is inscribed with the Six Syllable Prayer Words. The Mound contains 2.5 billion pieces of such stones.
The Labrang Monastery keeps clothing and objects belonging to various generations of the Living Buddha Jamyang, and relic Dagobas built with gold and silver and inlaid with Gems, pearls, coral and agate.
Construction of the one containing Relics from the 5th Living Buddha Jamyang consumed 14,000 taels of silver and 250 taels of gold.
The Monastery also keeps golden lamps, golden Statues of Buddha, crystal Statues of Buddha, silver Incense burners and many curios, plus a seal of authority the Dalai Lama granted to the 1st Living Buddha Jamyang and horizontal boards granted by Qing Dynasty emperors.
The Zhonyi Monastery originally contained works created by Nagarjuna, including the portrait of the 12-Wheel prince and Buddha figure on Patra-leaf, and some other Relics.
