Katok monastery, (near) Baiyu, Sichuan, CN

Raw data

BAIYU 白玉 (Pelyul) in Kham (western Sichuan) area code 0836 / zip code 627150
[…]
Alt: 3260 m Population: 6,000 (41,000 county) People: Kham Tibetan (93%), Han (7%) […]
Description: County capital (called Jianshe Zhen). Set in a steep valley straddled along the northern banks of Horpo River in an extremely remote area, just a stone’s throw from the TAR border to the east. Traders, miners and Khampan cowboys form the backdrop of this town. Dominated by Pelyul gompa and the surrounding old town which climbs up eastern side of valley.

History: A prosperous trading town back when Pelyul was part of the Dêrge kingdom. Historically (and to this day) a focal point for the Nyingmapa school of Tibetan Buddhism. Today its architecture reflects a strong Tibetan style, the streets are lined with trees, and the Ding-chu river runs right through town.

Points of Interest: Katok gompa - an hour out of town, one of the biggest power bases of the Nyingmapa school (as true today as ever), founded early 12c, once housing over 1000 monks. Pelyul gompa (Nyingma) set atop hill behind town, founded 17c under auspices of its royal patron, the king of Dêrge, over 100 monks today, serves as a school of traditional Tibetan medicine. Great architecture."
http://www.haiweitrails.com/place_descriptions.htm#Katok

"Katok Monastery (Wylie: kah thog) is listed in various enumerations as one of the six principal Nyingma monasteries, one of the main lineages of Tibetan Buddhism.
Katok Monastery was founded in 1159 by a younger sibling of Phagmodrupa, Katok Dampa Deshek. The original gompa fell into disrepair and was rebuilt on the same site in 1656 through the impetus of Tertön Düddul Dorje (1615–72) and the terton Rigdzin Longsal Nyingpo (1625-1682/92 or 1685–1752). Katok Monastery held a reputation of fine scholarship. It is held that prior to the annexation of Tibet by the Chinese in 1951, that Katok Monastery housed circa 800 monks." - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathok

"We visit all the important monasteries in Kham belonging to different schools of Tibetan Buddhism including the sacred Katok Monastery of Nyingmapa School believed to have been miraculously built by Guru Rinpoche in early 8th century." - http://www.tibettreks.com/Journey-across-Kham-to-Lhasa

Katok Dorjeden Monastery, first Nyingma Gompa founded in 1159 AD - Kham, (Eastern Tibet), Sichuan Province, China - http://www.glowimages.com/imagedetails/10963940/image_of_EAG4487.Katok%20Dorjeden%20Monastery%20first%20Nyingma%20Gompa%20founded%20in%201159%20AD%20%20Kham%20%20Eastern%20Tibet%20%20Sichuan%20Province%20China.html

"[From Pelpung gompa Lat 31.648333, Long 98.795833
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelpung …] Back to the main road, continue following the Yangtze to the small town of Hepo [Hepo, 河坡, Horbo - * Approx., Lat 31.3898 Long 98.9513 http://www.fallingrain.com/world/CH/32/Hepo.html - tmc], just beyond which is another important monastery, the early 12c Katok gompa located 850m above town. Excepting Samye (near Lhasa) this is the oldest surviving Nyingma monastery, making it a hugely religiously significant site." http://www.haiweitrails.com/009_four_rivers_six_ranges_3.htm

"The main monastery of Kat'hok is located in the Si Chuan Province, White Jade County - Ho Po region (Derge), a pure land where all the people embrace the Teachings of Lord Buddha. The monastery is situated at the middle of the Bai Long Gou (White Dragon Channel) on Do-Nian Mountain." - http://rywiki.tsadra.org/index.php/Kathok

Input by: tmciolek, Aug 1, 2012

Final data (and their sources)

Last updated: 15 Jan 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 Katok monastery, CN.

General location of the Katok monastery, CN.
Lat 31.3129 Long 98.9408
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2012.


Google Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=31.3129+98.9408+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Katok%20monastery,%20CN)&ll=31.3129,98.9408&spn=05.0,05.0&t=k&hl=en

Final data - explanatory notes

1. Monastery's name

  • Katok monastery -

2. Monastery's modern country & province

  • China:Sichuan Sheng

3. Monastery's alternative/historical names

4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates

  • Approx., Lat 31.3129 Long 98.9408 - based on the visual identification of the site in satellite imagery and site photographs, maps.google.com, tmciolek, 1 Aug 2012

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

11. Date-early

  • MBM chrono-tag 1133-66c - tmciolek 15 Jan 2013
  • 1133-66c 1167-99c 1200=> dated-el

12. Date-intermediate

  • The original gompa fell into disrepair and was rebuilt on the same site in 1656 through the impetus of Tertön Düddul Dorje (1615–72) and the terton Rigdzin Longsal Nyingpo (1625-1682/92 or 1685–1752). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathok

13. Date-late

  • MBM chrono-tag 1200=> - tmciolek 15 Jan 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]

end of page

1133-66c1167-99c1200=>200mchinadated-eleast-asiakplacesect.nyingmatibettrad.vajrayanaven.katokdampaven.phagmodrupa
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