Gyel Lhakhang monastery, (near) Poindo/Lhunzhub, Xizang, CN

Raw data

"“At the age of nineteen Dusum Khyenpa [ven.düsumkhyenpa] went to U-Tsang, […] He also studied with a number of other Kadam monks, including Ga Lotsāwa (rgwa lo tsA ba, d.u.) [ven.galotsawa], who gave him the the Mahākāla tradition later known as the Gonpo Karluk (mgon po kar lugs) which he had brought to Tibet, and Khampa Aseng (khams pa a seng, d.u.) [ven.khampaaseng], a disciple of Ga, who gave him the Kalacakra teachings of the Jor Druk (sbyor drug). Both lamas were then residing at Gyel Lhakang (rgyal lha khang), a monastery in Penpo ('phan po) that had been founded in 1012 by Nanam Dorje Wangchuk (sna nam rdo rje dbang phyug, 976-1060).”
http://www.treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/First-Karmapa-Dusum-Khyenpa/2683

“Richardson discusses the site in High Peaks, Pure Earth , London, Serindia Publications, 1998, "Near the head of the 'Phan-po valley is the temple of Rgyal (1949), founded in 1012 by Zhang Sna-nam Rdo-rje dbang-phyug, whose family was related by marriage to the Tibetan kings. In front of the temple is a tall stone pillar with a partly damaged inscription of no real historical interest. The temple, formerly famed for its wealth, was looted and damaged by fire by the invading Mongols in 1280 … The original name of the temple was Rgyal Lug-lhas, "The Sheepfold"." (p. 309)
[…] The temple of Gyal (rgyal) can be seen in the far distance at the base of the mountain on the left in the valley of Phenpo (phan po). There was an inscribed pillar in front of the temple. There are two saddled horses and a dog in the foreground and cattle grazing in the middleground.” - http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_2001.59.2.39.1.html

Input by: tmciolek, Mar 15, 2013

Final data (and their sources)

Last updated: 15 Mar 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 Gyel Lhakang monastery, CN.

General location of the Gyel Lhakang monastery, CN.
Lat 29.95114 Long 91.03542
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2013.


Google Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=29.95114+91.03542+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Gyel%20Lhakang%20monastery,%20CN)&ll=29.95114,91.03542&spn=05.0,05.0&t=k&hl=en

Final data - explanatory notes

1. Monastery's name

  • Gyel Lhakhang monastery - McCue (2010:122)

2. Monastery's modern country & province

  • China:Xizang Zizhiqu

3. Monastery's alternative/historical names

4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates

  • Approx. Lat 29.95114 Long 91.03542 - based on visual identification of the Gyel Lhakhang site in maps/satellite imagery, maps.google.com - tmciolek, 15 Mar 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

11. Date-early

  • "[F]ounded in 1012 by Nanam Dorje Wangchuk (sna nam rdo rje dbang phyug, 976-1060).” - http://www.treasuryoflives.org/biographies/view/First-Karmapa-Dusum-Khyenpa/2683
  • Est. 1012 - McCue (2010:122)
  • Founded as the second monastery in the series of Jampa Pan Sum monasteries : oldest - Lowatö Jamkhang (before 1012 CE); middle - Gyel Lhakhang (1012 CE); youngest - Rakma Jamkhang (1050 CE) - McCue (2010:122)
  • MBM chrono-tag 1000-32c - tmciolek 15 Mar 2013
  • 1000-32c 1033-66c 1067-99c 1100-32c 1133-66c 1167-99c 1200=> dated-el

12. Date-intermediate

  • Destroyed in 1240 by general Dorta in command of the Genggiz Khan’s Mongols - McCue (2010:122)

13. Date-late

  • The monastery appears to operate in the 2000s - McCue (2010:122)
  • MBM chrono-tag 1200=> - tmciolek 15 Mar 2013

14. Details of contacts with other monasteries

  • It is the second of the Jampa Pan Sum group of three thematically linked temples in the Phenpo valley - McCue (2010:123)

15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery

  • Architectural

16. Additional notes

  • [missing data] (incl. details of the size of the monastic population)

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]

end of page

1000-32c1033-66c1067-99c1100-32c1133-66c1167-99c1200=>200mchinadated-elgplacesect.kadamsouth-asiatibettrad.vajrayanaven.düsumkhyenpaven.galotsawaven.khampaasengwestern-china
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