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Tsozong

Tsozong Gongba Monastery
Map
Highest point
Elevation3,540 metres
Coordinates36°00′19″N 83°56′23″E / 36.00528°N 83.93972°E / 36.00528; 83.93972
Geography
LocationTibet (China)
Parent rangeAssam Himalaya
Climbing
First ascent1040 Guru Rimpoché
Easiest route300km WE->Lhasa; 41km off Sichuan-Tibet Hwy

Tsozong Gongba Monastery (also Tsodzong or Tsomum, 1400 BC; meaning 'castle in a lake') is a small sacred chapel of the Nyingma (Red) tradition of Tibetan Buddhism (monks wear red hats- see the other two Red Hat Sects)[1].

Kongtsun Demo - The protector of Dharma - the stories which surround the life of Padmasambhava describe him as subduing the ancient pre-Buddhist gods (Bön[2]) of Tibet, compelling them to watch over the Buddhist faith forever as ferocious Dharma protectors (Palas).


In Sight

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Tsozong Gongba Monastery has four buildings situated around a small yard (two of the main building are shown below).

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    Tsozong Gongba Monastery main building with the statues of Avalokiteśvara, Guru Rimpoché and Buddha (see next gallery below).
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    Tsozong Gongba Monastery auxiliary building with 3 'endless knots' above the door.
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    Tashi Island in the middle of the Basum Tso Lake, behind is peak (6,200km).

Symbolism

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Om mani padme hum -variation of the six syllable mantra of Avalokiteshvara[3]. is inscribed in Tibetan script[4] on this rock behind the main building.

Nyin-gma-pa Sect (also Nyingma (lit. 'Old Ones')[5] is believed to be founded by the indian (Tantric[6]) monk Padmasambhava himself (also called Guru Rimpoche[7]). Guru Rimpoché[8] is being regarded not merely as a manifestation of Avalokiteshvara (or Avalokiteśvara)[9] but as spiritual equal of Shakyamuni Buddha. By around 1040 Guru Rimpoché triumphed throughout Tibet and nearby territories, thanks to the monk Atisa (Atisha; 982-1054) and his deciple Milarepa (1040-1143). Nyingma Sect is believed to be the oldest branch of Tibetan Buddhism having a history of more then 700 years. The construction of the Tsozong Gongba Monastery was chaired by the Nyin-gma-pa monk Sungye Lingpa and is now home of few nuns.

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    Avalokiteshvara (or Avalokiteśvara, in Tibetan - Chenresig) - statue in the main building.
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    Padmasambhava (or Guru Rimpoché) - statue in the main building.
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    Buddha Shakyamuni (Sakya Thukpa) - statue in the main building.

The three statues (Chenresig, Guru Rimpoché and Sakya Thukpa, see above) were actualy shot and burned by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) during the Cultural Revolution, before being restored by the local lama Dudjom Rimpoche and his son Chuni Rimpoche (now resident of at Lamaling Monastery near Bayi town[10], see the map on your left). A small 'kora' (ritual circumambulation circuit, see also Kora (pilgrimage)) around the monastery passes several hard-to-discern holy sites, including a Sky burial site, a 'body-print' of Gesar.

Directions

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File:TsozongMap.jpg
Tsozong Gongba Monastery can be reached via the Mila Pass with 16,500 feet above sea level. Zig-zagging the way over mountain passes one will ascend to over 4,450m driving over the Serkhyin La Pass. From the back of mongastery is revealed spectacular views of Namcha Barwa, the highest peak in the East Himalayas (7782m).

Tsozong Gongba Monastery is located on the Tashi (in Chinese Zha-Xi/Tsa-Xi, 島心湖) Island in the middle of the Basum Tso Lake (aslo Baksum Tso, Draksum-tso) - Eastern Tibet’s largest freshwater lake. Because of the water's stunning jade green effect its meaning in Tibetan - "Phasongtso" is "green water" (Cuogao). The color is due to Songluo (lit. pine-vine). Basum Tso Lake lies about 50km east of Kongpo Gyamda County. The lake surface is on average about 3,538 meters above sea level and covers an area of 25.9 square kilometers, with a length of 12km and a few hundreds to a few thousands meters in width. The deepest part is about 60 (198 feet) meters deep.

See also

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Sanga Monastery

 
Sanga (Sangha) Monastery - front view.
Part of a series on
Buddhism
 
History
Buddhist texts
Practices
Nirvāṇa
Traditions
Buddhism by country

Sanga Monastery is a small Buddhist monastery located in the vicinity of Lhasa, Tibet. Sanga or Sangha is a word in Sanskrit that can be translated roughly as monastic "association" or "assembly" - possessing some high degree of realization, referred to as the arya-sangha or noble sangha. Sanga Monastery was built amid the ruins of the castle (or fort) Taktse (also Dagtse) Dzong (formerly Dechen Dzong) on the hill top[11][12]. Dagtse Dzong overlooks the roads to Yerpa and Ganden Monastery on th east [13][14].

 
At the roof of Sanga Monastery - Dhvarja (Skt., Rgyal-mtshan, Tib)[15] symbolizing Buddha's victory over all anger and aggression, on the backgroung the sky of Himalayas.

Sanga Monastery together with Ganden Monastery belong to the the Geluk (Gelug-pa) order (also known as Yellow Hat Sect, lit. 'Virtuous'). The Yellow Sect rose and prospered primarily because of the personal prestige of its founder Tsongkhapa (Tsong Khapa or Lobsang Drakpa, also known as Jé Rinpoché, 1357-1419) who is identified as manifestation of Mañjushri, bodhisattva of Wisdom. He earned a high reputation as a writer and teacher, and was later warmly received in the Lhasa region. He was strongly scholastic in orientation and encouraged the study of the great Indian masters of philosophy and logic: Nagarjuna, Asanga, Dignaga, et al. In 1409 Tsongkhapa founded his first monastery, Ganden Monastery. The two other great monasteries were later founded, Drepung in 1416 and Sera in 1419. Several of his disciples were able to evolve in distinct school separate from Geluk. From those disciples also came the line of Dalai Lamas such as the 2nd Dalai Lama Gendun Gyatso (see the statue of His Holiness The Fifth Dalai Lama Lobsang Gyatso in Sanga Monastery on your left).

 
Sanga Monastery - His Holiness The Second Dalai Lama Gendun Gyatso.

In the sixteen century the Geluk-school begun its rise to political preeminence when it came to enjoy the favor of a new generation of Mongol khans. In 1642, Gursi Khan installed Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso (1617-1682), the Fifth Dalai Lama, as virtual leader of Tibet under overall Mongol protection[16].

See also

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Dhvaja

 
Dhvaja (Victory banner) - pole design with silk scarfs, on the background the Potala Palace

Dhvaja (Skt. also Dhwaja; Tib. rgyal-msthan), meaning banner or flag.

Vedic outlook

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Vedic (Rigveda) sacrifices originated with a cosmic self-sacrifice of Purusha for the creation, maintenance and redemption of the entire universe. Purusha was called Yupa Dhvaja ('Stake-flagged') because the instrument of his cosmic sacrifice was a sacred cross or post ('Axis Mundi Yupa Stake' - simply Yupa), to which Purusha was fixed in the primal 'Purusha Sukta Hymn'. Thus the developed Vedic sacrificial system, sacrificial victims were fixed to Yupa, in memory of Purusha's cosmic sacrifice. Dhvaja in the Brahmanic cults, takes on the appearance of a high column (dhvaja-stambha) erected in front of temples.

Rama's twist

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Dhvaja ('victory banner'), on the roof of Jokhang Monastery.
  • Dhvaja banner was a military standard of ancient Indian warfare.

In the epic book Ramayana the messenger, warrior and servant of Rama was Hanuman who had extraordinary skill in warfare and terror of Rakshasas. In a conflict with Ravana he accidentally set the island fortress Lanka on fire. In order to cool himself down, Hanuman jumped into the sea. A drop of his perspiration fell into the mouth of a great fish which gave birth to a mighty hero named Makara Dhvaja (also or Makar-Dhwaja; Magar Dhwaja; Makardhwaja). Makara Dhvaja is considered the son of Hanuman[17].

Buddha's realm

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Dhvaja ('victory banner'), on the roof of Sanga Monastery.

Makara Dhvaja has become latter an emblem of the Vedic god of love and desire - Kamadeva. As the 'tempter' (Skt. mara), or 'deluder' (Skt. Maya (illusion)), Kamadeva was the Hindu counterpart of the Mara, the 'evil one', who attempted to obstruct the Buddha from attaining enlightenment. In early Buddhism the concept of Mara as a demonic obstructor to spiritual progress was presented as group of four 'maras' or 'evil influences'. As a symbol of the Buddha's victory over the four maras, the early Buddhists adopted Kamadeva's emblem of Makara Dhvaja (also makaradhvaja), and four of those banners were erected in the cardinal directions surrounding the enlightenment stupa of the Tathagata or Buddha.

Tibetan architecture

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Within the Tibetan tradition a list of eleven different forms of the victory banner is given to represent eleven specific methods for overcoming defilements. Many variations of the dhvaja's design can be seen on the roofs of Tibetan monasteries to symbolyze the Buddha's victory over four maras. In its most traditional form the victory banner is fashioned as a cylindrical ensign mounted upon long wooden axel-pole. The top of the banner takes the form of a small white parasol, which is surrounded by a cenntral wish granting gem. This domed parasol is rimmed by an ornate golden crest-bar with makara-trailed ends, from which hangs a billowing yellow or white silk scarf (see top right). As a hand held ensign the victory banner is an attribute of many deities, particularly those associated with wealth and power, such as Vaiśravaṇa, the Great Guardian King of the north. As roof-mounted ensign the victory banners are cylinders usually made of beaten copper (technique similar to Toreutics) and are traditionally placed on the four corners of monastery and temple roofs. Those roof ornaments usually take the form of a small circular parasol surmounted by the wish-fulfilling gem, with four or eight makara heads at the parasol edge, supporting little silver bells (see the Jokhang Dhvaja on the left). A smaller victory banner fashioned on a beaten copper frame, hung with black silk, and surmounted by a flaming trident is also commonly displayed on the roofs (see the Dhvaja on the roof of the Potala Palace below).[18][19].

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    Five Dhvajas (Victory banners), on the roof of the Potala White Palace.
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    Dhvaja (Victory banner) - trident design with black silk, roof of the Potala Palace.
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    Dhvaja (Victory banner), Roof of Potala Palace.

See also

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Pearl Waterfall

File:JiuzhaigoLakesS-wiki.jpg
Jiuzhaigou Valley and its Tibetan logo.

Pearl Shoal Waterfall (珍珠滩瀑布), is located Aba-Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in western Sichuan Province (China).

 
The Stone of Pearl Shoal Waterfall (珍珠滩瀑布).

Nine Tibetan villages are scattered across the valley, so it's called Jiuzhaigou Valley, which means "Nine Stockade Valley". More than 100 lakes of different sizes and brilliant colors are scattered in the valley. The local Tibetan people call them "Haizi", meaning son of the sea (see the map on your bottom-right).

 
The walkway of Jiuzhaigou Valley down to the Pearl Waterfall.

The Pearl Shoal Waterfall is lthe most beautiful site in Jiuzhaigou, with an altitude of 2,433 meters and a height of 21 meters. On the top of the waterfall, it measures 162.5 meters in width. With a fall of 40 meters, the waterfall has a shape of the crescent (see the photo on the bottom-left).

File:PearlWaterfall-Map.jpg
Jiuzhaigou Valley, map and location of Pearl Shoal Waterfall.
  • Tibet's rivers flow into the most populous regions of the world, supplying fresh water to a significant proportion of Asia's population. Net hydrological flows in Tibet total 627 cubic km per year. This comprises roughly six per cent of Asia¹s annual runoff and 34 per cent of India's total river water resources. Tibet is China's richest region in terms water resources. The availability of fresh water in Tibet - 104,500 cubic metres per year -- ranks fourth in the world after Iceland, New Zealand and Canada, and is 40,000 times higher than in China[20]. There are 365 rivers in Tibet each with over 10,000 km of hydro capacity[21].
 
The Pearl Shoal Waterfall.

See also

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King Cypress

 
King Cypress - rock sign, located near Bajie/Bayi (Nyingchi County)

King Cypress (genus Cupressus, also known as Great Cypress, or as Tibetans call it “the God of Tree”) is a giant cypress tree in Tibet (about 50 meters high, 5.8 meters in diameter, 0.165 acre of crown-projection-area and calculated age of 2,600 years)[22][23]. King Cypress is located near the village of Bajie, about 7 kilometers from the town of Bayi, Nyingchi. King Cypress is surrounded by at least 10 hectares of ancient cypress-trees with an average height of 44 meters. King Cypress is said to be the "life tree" of Tönpa Shenrab Miwoche, founder of the Bön tradition of Tibet.

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    King Cypress valley of the lower reaches of the Yaluzhangbu River and the Niyang River at the latitude of 3,000 to 3,400 meters.
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    King Cypress tree - the oldest tree in Tibet and pehaps China.
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    'King Cypress Temple', from its balcony one could catch the giant King Cypress in single photo-frame see.

The Cypress' people

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The 'guardian' of the King Cypress Temple, Bai Ma (local girl who may sing a Tibetan song to welcome the tourists.

In the movie - When Ruoma Was Seventeen[24], the protagonist: 17-year-old Ruoma, is a Hani (Xjani) minority from the Yunnan province, the south-east neighbor of Tibet. The life of Ruoma was depicted to gravitate around the amusement of the tourists visiting Yunnan. At the King Cypress park, there are many girls like Ruoma. They sell Tibetan memorabilia. One of them is Bai Ma (see the picture on your left). Bai Ma's purity and beauty like the beautiful mountains and rivers that nurtured her (see the King Cypress valley on the top left), seems to have similar fate. Bai Ma's fate is bound to the visitors of King Cypress.

  • From the dawn of time, China's history is a story of an immense land with several diverse or unclassified nationalities numbering some 1,072,642 people. In 1949, an earnest effort to investigate and categorize minorities began. In the 1953 census, 41 minority nationalities were specified. In the 1964 census, there were 183 nationalities registered, among which the government recognized only 54. Of the remaining 129 nationalities, 74 were considered to be part of the officially recognized 54, while 23 were classified as "other nationalities" and the remaining 32 were classified as "indeterminate"[25]. A 55th ethnic group was added in 1979[26].

References

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  1. ^ Tibet by Bradley Mayhew & Michael Kohn, Lonely Planet Publications, 2005, p.232.
  2. ^ The Bon Religion of Tibet by Per Kavǣrne, Shambhala, 1996
  3. ^ Tibet, Life, Myth, and Art by Michael Willis, Thorsons 2003, p.69
  4. ^ Tibetan Phrasebook by Sandup Tsering, Lonely Planet Publications, 2002, pp.15-17
  5. ^ The Buddhist Handbook by John Snelling, Barnes & Noble, NY, 1991, pp.176-7
  6. ^ Tantra, The Path of Ecstasy by Georg Feuerstein, Shambhala, 1998
  7. ^ Buddha, The Enlightened One by Gabriel Mandel Khan, Thunder Bay Press, 2000, p.85
  8. ^ Guru Rimpoché, His Life and Times by Ngawang Zangpo, Snow Lion Publications, 2002
  9. ^ Reading Buddhist Art by Meher McArthur, Thames & Hudson, 2002, p.43
  10. ^ Tibet of China by An Caidan, China Intercontinental Press, 2003 (ISBN 7-5085-0374-0/K489), p.144
  11. ^ The Tibet Guide: Central and Western Tibet by Stephen Batchelor, Wisdom Publications, 1998, p.129
  12. ^ Trekking in Tibet: A Traveler's Guid by Gary McCue, Mountaineers Books, 1999, p.51
  13. ^ Footprint Tibet Handbook : The Travel Guide by Gyurme Dorje, Footprint Handbooks, 1999, p.68
  14. ^ Tibet by Bradley Mayhew & Michael Kohn, Lonely Planet Publications, 2005, p.122
  15. ^ A Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols by Robert Beer, Shambhala, 2003, p.13
  16. ^ The Buddhist Handbook by John Snelling, Barnes & Noble, NY, 1991, pp.178
  17. ^ SRI HANUMAN by SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA, from the book "Essence of Ramayana"
  18. ^ A Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols by Robert Beer, Shambhala, 2003, p.13
  19. ^ The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs by Robert Beer, Shambhala, 1999, p.180
  20. ^ Report: TIBET 2000: Environment and Development Issues
  21. ^ Tibet China - Travel Guide by An Caidan, China International Press, 2003, p13
  22. ^ The oldest Bald Cypress is 1,400 years old
  23. ^ Callitropsis nootkatensis The oldest Nootka Cypress is 1,834 years old
  24. ^ Ruoma de shi qi sui, 2002, (an official Selection of 2004's Philadelphia Film Festival)]
  25. ^ Chinese Nationalities
  26. ^ Ethnic Minorities in China

See also

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