Gyama Trikhang monastery, (near) Kunggar, Xizang, CN

Raw data

“Gyama Trikhang - Gyama, located 80 kilometers east of Lhasa, is the birthplace of King Srongtsan Gampo [see the memorial at lat 29.80557 Long 91.65632 - tmciolek], founder of Lhasa. In the 12th century, a huge bumpa-type choerten was built here to house the relics of the revered Buddhist teacher, Sangye Wontoen Shongnue Jungnay.” - http://www.tibetmaster.com/Destination_Guide/Lhasa_Attractions/193.html

“Within the survey area only the site of Gyama Trikhang, named Tigang by the Survey of India, was indicated with the symbol for fort on the map. Gyarna Trikhang was one of the thirteen myriarchies, or ten-thousand household units, established in Central Tibet during the Yuan (Mongol) dynasty period of the 11th century.” Ryavec (1995:55)

“From the main highway it’s 2km south to the Gyelpo Gongkar, a chapel just east of the tarmac road and dedicated to Songtsen Gampo and his two wives. The original building dates from the 7th century and resembles a small Yumbulagang. A black and white photo inside shows the original building, which was destroyed in the Cultural Revolution.
 
From here it’s an hour-long walk south to the Rabye Ling Monastery and, in the village behind, the huge Kadam-style funeral chörten [Lat 29.75707 Long 91.66599 - tmciolek] of Sangye On (1251–96), [ven.sangyewonton] a master of the Talung School and founder of the Riwoche Tsuglhakhang. The small monastery [i.e. Rabye Ling or Gyama Trikhang] boasts some fine murals and a stone mantra that is said to have appeared naturally at the moment of Songtsen Gampo’s birth.
 
From here, continue 10 minutes north along the paved road to the three Dumburi chörtens [at Lat 29.776188 Long 91.65776 - tmciolek] and the nearby shrine and natural springs that mark the birthplace of King Songtsen Gampo. Archaeologists have linked the nearby ruins of Jampa Mingyur Ling [at Lat 29.76103 Long 91.65779 - tmciolek] to the palace that Songtsen Gampo’s father built after leaving the Chongye Valley. From here it’s a 5km walk back to the main road." - http://www.3dtourchina.com/dest/scenic/4571-215

“[A place] some 58 km from Lhasa and 10 km before reaching Medro Konkgkar. […] Three Kadampa monasteries were located here: Gyama Trikang, Gyama Rinchen Gang and Dumbu Ri.
Close to the [Gyamashing valley] highway is the large walled enclosure [Lat 29.76298 Long 91.65879 - tmciolek] that belonged to the noble and highly influential Horkang family in which Gyama Trikang is situated. In 1959 the complex consisted of a dzong [Ryavec 1995:53-55 would dispute this identification of this complex with a “dzong”, a castle - tmciolek] some cottages and two lhakangs. In one of the lhakangs was the reliquary chorten of Sangye Wonton, the founder of Trikang, and second abbot of Rinchen Gang.” - Dowman (1988:104)

Input by: tmciolek, Apr 08, 2013

Final data (and their sources)

Last updated: 13 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 Gyama Trikhang monastery, CN.

General location of the Gyama Trikhang monastery, CN.
Lat 29.75707 Long 91.66599
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2013.


Google Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=29.75707+91.66599+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Gyama%20Trikhang%20monastery,%20CN)&ll=29.75707,91.66599&spn=05.0,05.0&t=k&hl=en

Final data - explanatory notes

1. Monastery's name

  • Gyama Trikhang monastery - Ryavec (1995:55)

2. Monastery's modern country & province

  • China:Xizang Zizhiqu

3. Monastery's alternative/historical names

4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates

  • Approx. Lat 29.75707 Long 91.66599 - based on visual identification of the Sangye Wonton funerary stupa in maps/satellite imagery, maps.google.com - tmciolek, 13 Apr 2013.

5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries

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

  • Kadampa - Dowman (1988:104)

11. Date-early

  • MBM chrono-tag 1133-66p 1167-99p - tmciolek 8 Apr 2013
  • 1133-66p 1167-99p 1200=> dated-el

12. Date-intermediate

  • [missing data]

13. Date-late

  • Active as a monastery in 1490 - Komarovski (2011:45)
  • MBM chrono-tag 1200=> - tmciolek 8 Apr 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. Known monks and nuns associated with this monastery

19. Available Printed Literature

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

end of page

1133-66p1167-99p1200=>200mchinachortendated-elgplacerelics-sangyewontonsect.kadamsouth-asiastupatibettrad.vajrayanaven.sangyewontonwestern-china
Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 License