Meru Nyingpa monastery, (in) Lhasa, Xizang, CN

Raw data

[Not to be confused with another Meru Monastery situated NE of Jokhang and adjacent to the Beijing East Road, directly opposite the Jiri 4th Alley, Lat 29.65550 Long 91.13495 - tmciolek]

“The site upon which Meru Nyingpa was built has its earliest associations with the thirty-third Tibetan king, Songtsen Gampo (ca. 617-650 CE), whom Tibetans credit with the introduction of Buddhism to Tibet. To establish diplomatic ties with Tibet’s neighbors, Songtsen Gampo married Princess Bhṛkuṭi (Tritsün) of Nepal and Princess Wencheng of China. Wencheng brought a Jowo Śākyamuni statue with her as part of her dowry; this statue is housed in the Jokhang (built ca. 647 CE) Temple and is revered as Tibet’s most sacred object.1 […] This was a small temple built just east of the Jokhang and was referred to by Tri Relpachen as “Meru” or the “Red Chapel.”5 This temple is believed to be the Dzambhala Lhakhang, a chapel dedicated to the deity of wealth. This chapel still exists today and is the founding structure of the Meru Nyingpa complex. In 1658 a new monastery, Meru Tratsang, was built to the northwest of Meru Nyingpa. When it was built, the monastery known as “Meru” became known as the “Old Meru Monastery” (Meru Nyingpa) to distinguish it from Meru Tratsang became known as “Meru Sarpa” or the “New Red Monastery.”6 The only clear relationship between the two monastic institutions is that Meru Sarpa is responsible for the operation of the Dzambhala Lhakhang within Meru Nyingpa.7
[…]
In the mid- to late-sixteenth century, Meru Nyingpa was converted to a Gelukpa monastery during the lifetime of the Third Dalai Lama.
[…]
Three main chapels were established at Meru Nyingpa from the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries. The Dzambhala Lhakhang was managed by the monastic college to the north of Meru Nyingpa, Meru Tratsang, after its establishment in 1658. Perhaps at this time the monastic complex of Meru Nyingpa was referred to as the “Old Red Monastery” since Meru Tratsang became commonly known as Meru Sarpa or the “New Red Monastery.”15 […]
[…] During the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s Meru Nyingpa was shut down and its monks were moved out. The monks’ quarters were converted to lay residences and stables. Many images and statues were removed and much of the wall murals that decorated the interior of the main chapel were painted over. However, Meru Nyingpa escaped the fate of many other Tibetan monasteries that were either destroyed or irreparably damaged. It was mostly left intact and in 1980 it was re-opened to the monks. By 1985 the monks had restored what they could of the main building and opened part of the complex for religious services.22 […]” - http://www.thlib.org/places/monasteries/meru-nyingpa/#!essay=/rourk/meru/s/b2

Input by: tmciolek, Apr 13, 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 Meru Nyingpa monastery, CN.

General location of the Meru Nyingpa monastery, CN.
Lat 29.65287 Long 91.13278
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2013.


Google Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=29.65287+91.13278+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Meru%20Nyingpa%20monastery,%20CN)&ll=29.65287,91.13278&spn=05.0,05.0&t=k&hl=en

Final data - explanatory notes

1. Monastery's name

2. Monastery's modern country & province

  • China:Xizang Zizhiqu

3. Monastery's alternative/historical names

4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates

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

  • Founded c. 650 CE
  • MBM chrono-tag: 0633-66c - tmciolek 13 Apr 2013
  • 0633-66c 0667-99c 0700-32c 0733-66c 0767-99c 0800-32c 0833-66c 0867-99c 0900-32c 0933-66c 0967-99c 1000-32c 1033-66c 1067-99c 1100-32c 1133-66c 1167-99c 1200=> dated-el

12. Date-intermediate

13. Date-late

  • “During the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s Meru Nyingpa was shut down and its monks were moved out. The monks’ quarters were converted to lay residences and stables. [… However] it was mostly left intact and in 1980 it was re-opened to the monks. By 1985 the monks had restored what they could of the main building and opened part of the complex for religious services.22 […]” - http://www.thlib.org/places/monasteries/meru-nyingpa/#!essay=/rourk/meru/s/b2
  • MBM chrono-tag: 1200=> - tmciolek 13 Apr 2013

14. Details of contacts with other monasteries

  • [missing data]

15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery

  • Archaeological, 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. 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

0633-66c0667-99c0700-32c0733-66c0767-99c0800-32c0833-66c0867-99c0900-32c0933-66c0967-99c1000-32c1033-66c1067-99c1100-32c1133-66c1167-99c1200=>200mchinadated-elmplacesouth-asiatibettrad.vajrayanawestern-china
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