Drathang monastery, (in) Chatang, Xizang, CN

Raw data

“Drathang Kloster, Drathang Gön - Das Dratang Kloster befindet sich in der Nähe von Tsetang und gehört der Sakyapa Sekte an. Im Jahr 1081 gegründet, wurde es mit einigen der schönsten und größten Wandbildern Tibets verziert.
Dratang wurde ähnlich wie das Samye Kloster in Shannan in Form eines Mandalas errichtet, wodurch es architektonisch die buddhistische Weltanschauung wiederspiegelt. Von den 3 ursprünglich das Kloster umgebenden Mauern sind nur noch Teile erhalten geblieben, das gleiche Schicksal traf die oberen der 3 Stockwerke. […]” - http://www.tibetreiseexperte.de/shannan-drathang.htm

Zhatang Monastery is located in Zhanang County, Shannan Prefecture. It is about 47 kilometers away from Tsedang.
Zhatang Monastery was built in 1081. The scale of Zhatang Monastery was very large, including three courtyard walls. But the existent part is only the main hall. The shape and structure, layout and style of this main hall are similar with the main hall of Samye Monastery. Now, the existent part is the first floor which consists of porch, scripture hall, winding corridor and Buddha hall. It was repaired in large scale in the first half of this century. There are many precious frescos in the Buddha hall which can be divided into ten groups. The subject of these frescos is different handprints of Sakyamuni. The people around are Indians, people of central Asia and monks of China. In terms of figure, costume and ornaments, techniques of composition, color and lines, these frescos were drawn when the monastery was built.
Zhatang Monastery is one of the earliest architectures in Tibet. The distinctive fresco in Zhatang Monastery has not been found in other districts except Shalu Monastery. These precious historical relics are valuable for researches of fresco in early period, outside influence, costume, etc.
Zhatang Monastery was named "Adan Zhatang Monastery" which means Zhatang Monastery […] with five things. These five things are relative to Samye Monastery. The first thing is the width of circumambulation winding corridor at the bottom of the main hall (Zhulakhang) is 0.9 meters wider than Samye Monastery's. The second thing is the circumambulation winding corridor at middle level has fresco of thousand Buddha images. The third thing is that the bottom floor symbolizes Dragon King Zhuosijian. The fourth is that the middle level symbolizes Nangong Yuejieqin. The fifth is the upper level symbolizes the king of medicine Rehula. […]
The layout of Zhatang Monastery is based on Mandala in Buddhism Tantra. Unfortunately, most parts of this architecture were destroyed. The existent parts include the main hall and incomplete walls. The walls included inner, middle and outer layers. The inner and middle layers which have been destroyed were polygon. The outside layer was oval, and the firth is 750 meters. There was a ditch outside the outer wall which had the function of defense. Based on the record of history, there were many accessory buildings in the polygamous inner wall. Among them, there were dormitory balcony, Lazhang on eastern side; Zhuoma Lakhang, Dunku Lakhang on western side, Gongbu Buddha Hall, Dengzeng Buddha Hall on southern side; and Bodhisattva Buddha Hall on northern side. In the middle wall, there were place for chanting scripture in summer, storehouse, kitchen and other architectures. In the outer wall, there were Jiji Lakhang and big pagoda.[…] - http://www.tibettour.com/tibet-attraction/zhatang-monastery.html

Zhatang Temple - Zhatang Town, Dranang County 850800, China - http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1169847-d1859488-Reviews-Zhatang_Temple-Dranang_County_Tibet.html
Input by: tmciolek, Feb 13, 2013

“Drapa Ngonshe  b.1012 - d.1090 - Kadam […] Drapa Ngonshe (1012-1081) [ven.DrapaNgonshe] was the treasure revealer who produced the Four Tantras, the root texts of Tibet’s medical tradition. A master in the Nyingma, Zhije, and Kadam traditions, he established numerous religious communities in Tibet, including the great Dratang monastery which was later absorbed by the Sakya. “
http://dev.treasuryoflives.org/tradition/Kadam

“[…]When he was 70, in 1081, Drapa Ngonshe established Dratang monastery (grwa thang) in Dranang, which he was still constructing when he passed away at the age of 79.[…]”
http://dev.treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/Drapa-Ngonshe/7114
Input by: tmciolek, Mar 25, 2013

Final data (and their sources)

Last updated: 07 Apr 2013

Lat/Long coordinates' accuracy:
The monastery in question is assumed to be situated actually no farther than 200 m from the point defined by the coordinates below.

Location of Drathang monastery, CN.

General location of the Drathang monastery, CN.
Lat 29.24301 Long 91.3317
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2013.


Google Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=29.24301+91.3317+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Drathang%20monastery,%20CN)&ll=29.24301,91.3317&spn=05.0,05.0&t=k&hl=en


Final data - explanatory notes

1. Monastery's name

  • Drathang monastery

2. Monastery's modern country & province

  • China:Xizang Zizhiqu

3. Monastery's alternative/historical names


4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates

  • Approx. Lat 29.24301 Long 91.3317 - based on visual identification of the site in maps/satellite imagery and Panoramio photographs, maps.google.com - tmciolek, date.

5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries

  • [missing data]

6. Modern name of the known nearest city, town, or village


7. The settlement's alternative/historical names


8. The settlement's coordinates


9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition

  • Vajrayana

10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition

http://dev.treasuryoflives.org/tradition/Kadam


11. Date-early

  • MBM chrono-tag: 1067-99c - tmciolek 13 Feb 2013
  • 1067-99c 1100-32c 1133-66c 1167-99c 1200=> dated-el

12. Date-intermediate

  • [missing data]

13. Date-late

  • MBM chrono-tag: 1200=> - tmciolek 13 Feb 2013

14. Details of contacts with other monasteries

  • [missing data]

15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery

  • [missing data]

16. Additional notes


17. Corrections & addenda to this page were kindly provided by

  • [missing data]

18. Available Printed Literature

  • [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 1]
  • [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 2]
  • [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 3]

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