Tsurphu monastery, (near) Marqu, Xizang, CN

Raw data

Tsurphu Monastery, in the Tölung valley of central Tibet, founded by the First Karmapa Düsum Khyenpa (1110-1193).
http://www.kagyuoffice.org/kagyulineage.html

"The First Karmapa, Düsum Khyenpa visited Tsurphu in 1159, at the age of fifty, and laid the foundation for the establishment of a seat there by making offerings to local protectors, just before he left for Kham, eastern Tibet.
In 1189, at the age of eighty, Düsum Khyenpa returned to Tsurphu and founded his main seat, known as the "earthly abode of the sacred place of the heart (or mind)", in the valley of Tölung in central part of Tibet. This monastery was to grow into a place in which over one thousand monks practiced. Since this time, Tsurphu has been the main seat of the successive manifestations of the line of the Karmapas, and of the Karma Kagyu lineage. […]"
http://www.kagyuoffice.org/mainseats.tsurphu.html

"Tsupu Monastery, located in Ngagar Township, Doilungdeqen County west of Lhasa, has been the residence of the Living Buddha Garmaba for several generations. The Garma Gagyu is one of the four major sects of the Gagyu Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, and the monastery is representative of the Gagyu Sect. Built by the first Living Buddha Garmaba, Doisum Qenba, in 1189, this originally small monastery has evolved into a town of lamas and spreads across the mountain slope. […]
Tsupu Monastery sits at the foot of Baima Qoinzong Mountain, and there are mediation cells on the peaks flanking the monastery. The Duilungjiang stone tablet, erected during the period of the Tubo Kingdom, lies close to the monastery."
http://www.tibetmap.net/visits/xz/tsupu.htm

"Drive about 5 hours to Namtso Lake (245km to the north of Lhasa). On the way, drive into a valley to visit the Home monastery of Karma Kargyuelpa (The White Hat) — Chupu monastery."
http://www.discoveryangtze.com/china_tour/10-days-china-tour/10-days-tibet-tour-b.html

"Drive to Namtso Lake from Lhasa city in the morning. On the way, pay a visit the HOME monastery of Garma Kargyuelpa order—Curpu monastery." - http://www.travel-the-real-china.com/index.php?id=89

"Tsurphu Monastery (also Tolung Tsurpu / sTod lung mTshur phu) is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery which served as the traditional seat of the Karmapa. It is located in Gurum town (rgu rum / Gǔróng Xiàng 古荣乡) of Doilungdêqên County in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, 70 km from Lhasa. The monastery is about 14,000 feet (4,300 m) above sea level. It was built in the middle of the valley facing south with high mountains surrounding the monastery complex.
Tsurphu is a 300-square-meter (3,200 sq ft) complex with walls up to 4 meters (13 ft) thick. The monastery or "gompa", the traditional seat of the Karmapa lamas, is about 28 km up the Dowo Lung Valley, on the north side of the river.
[…]
Tsurphu was founded by the first Karmapa, Düsum Khyenpa (1110-1193) in 1159, after he visited the site and laid the foundation for an establishment of a seat there by making offerings to the local protectors, dharmapala and genius loci. In 1189 he revisited the site and founded his main seat there. The monastery grew to hold 1000 monks." - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsurphu_Monastery

Input by: tmciolek, August 17, 2012

Final data (and their sources)

Last updated: 03 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 Tsurphu monastery, CN.

General location of the Tsurphu monastery, CN.
Lat 29.7265 Long 90.5756
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2012.


Google Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=29.7265+90.5756+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Tsurphu%20monastery,%20CN)&ll=29.7265,90.5756&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

  • Kagyu

11. Date-early

  • MBM chrono-tag 1167-99c - tmciolek 03 Jan 2013
  • 1167-99c 1200=> dated-el

12. Date-intermediate

  • [missing data]

13. Date-late

  • MBM chrono-tag 1200=> - tmciolek 03 Jan 2013

14. Details of contacts with other monasteries

15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery

  • Architectural

16. Additional notes

17. Corrections & addenda to this page were kindly provided by

  • [missing data]

end of page

1167-99c1200=>200mchinadated-elplacesect.kagyusouth-asiattibettrad.vajrayanaven.düsumkhyenpawestern-china
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