Natang monastery, (near) Shigatse, Xizang, CN

Raw data

“Natang Monastery is 15 km away from Shigatse and it was built by eminent monk Luojiazha from Kadampa in 1033. […] After Natang Monastery was completed, many famous monks preached here, such as Qinmu Langgazha, the chief master of Chogyal Phakpa lived here; Dalai Lama I Genguozhuba was initiated into monkhood and learned Buddha doctrine here for 17 years, and moved to Shigatse after Tashilhunpo Monastery was built.
Natang Monastery is most famous for its scripture printing house. In 1730, Tibetan officer Boluonai established this scripture printing house to rescue and advocate Tibetan ancient books and scriptures. […] Through long-term efforts, the scripture printing house of Natang Monastery produced many great Tibetan works, such as 108 books of Tripitaka Kangyur and 215 books of Tengyur with Buddhist notes, all complete and finely carved Besides the characters, the scriptures board also has chromatic plate painting. In addition, Biography of Sakyamuni, etc. are produced from this scripture printing house.
The scripture printing house of Natang Monastery has a larger scale and contribution than that of the Potala Palace and Dege. At the same time, a great number of Tibetan printing workers were trained in the scripture printing house of Natang Monastery, playing an immeasurable role in inheriting and developing the printing and culture of Tibet.
Natang Monastery was once destroyed, and three halls were built on the ruins in 1987. The halls preserved 7 stone sculptures of 16 arhats, a pair of footprint left by the 8th abbot Jutun·Menlangcuocheng at 30 years old and 8,800 pieces of cultural relics as Kangyur, Tengyur, etc.”
http://en.totibet.cn/spots.do?method=queryforread&id=139

“The Natang monastery in Xigaze is actually one of three largest Buddhist scripture printing houses in Tibet. The monastery also collected a set of Tripitaka printed in Tang dynasty and large quantities of printing plates in Tibet language.” - http://www.tibettravel.info/tibet-travel-resources/temples.htm

“Another day I went over the monastery with its printing establishment at Na tang, seven miles out of Shigatse, along the road to Sakya. Thirty-three monks are employed in the printing establishment, which is said to be largest in Tibet.” Bell (1992:86)

Input by: tmciolek, Jan 31, 2013

Final data (and their sources)

Last updated: 31 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 Natang monastery, CN.

General location of the Natang monastery, CN.
Lat 29.1948 Long 88.7616
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2013.


Google Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=29.1948+88.7616+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Natang%20monastery,%20CN)&ll=29.1948,88.7616&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

  • Approx. Lat 29.1948 Long 88.7616 - based on visual identification of the site in maps/satellite imagery, maps.google.com - tmciolek, 31 Jan 2013.

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: 1033-66c - tmciolek 31 Jan 2013
  • 1033-66c 1067-99c 1100-32c 1133-66c 1167-99c 1200=> dated-el

12. Date-intermediate

13. Date-late

  • MBM chrono-tag: 1200=> - tmciolek 31 Jan 2013

14. Details of contacts with other monasteries

  • [missing data]

15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery

  • [missing data]

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

1033-66c1067-99c1100-32c1133-66c1167-99c1200=>200mchinadated-elnplacesect.kadamsouth-asiatibettrad.vajrayanawestern-china
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