Tangboche Monastery

Tangboche Monastery – Introduction

Tangboche, often named "Suona Tangboche" in Tibetan materials, means the place of firing charcoal. It is located in Xilin Country of Qiongjie County, Shannan Prefecture. It is about one kilometers west away from Xiangda Village. It is on the site of west and faces east. It backs on to the seasonal river of Qiongjie (also named Xiangbo River), and faces Abu Mountain. For a long time, a broad tableland formed there for the alleviation of river water. The fertile land and convenient transportation promoted the development of Buddhism activities in this area. Hence, there are records about Tangboche Monastery in many historical materials.

Tangboche Monastery – History

The Tangboche Monastery was built in Fire Snake Year in the grand stage of Tibetan Buddhism (1017 A.D.). The founder of this monastery is named Zhumei Chuchengjiongnai. It is recorded in Yellow-Glazed Terra-Cotta that Zhumei Chuchengjiongnai was born in Tsang. He became a monk when he was a child. After been monk, he learned from Lumei Chuchengxiyao. During this period, he studied hard. Under his teacher's guidance, he read large amount of Buddhism scriptures which widened his range of knowledge. He made outstanding contribution to Buddhism. He also became important figure of the Four Great Disciples of Lumei, as well as one of the "Ten Wise Men" in Tibet Grand Stage.

Zhumei Chuchengjiongnai built the Tangboche Monastery based on the wish of Lumei. After the monastery completed, Lumei handed over the right of this monastery to Kudun Zunzuiyongzhong (1011 -1075) who is his disciple later. Since then, Kudun Zunzuiyongzhong became the first Kampo of Tangboche Monastery.

Tangboche Monastery, as the monastery in late grand stage, was with important status. It was praised as one of the holy places at that time. In 11th, 12th and middle of 13th century, it is not only famous as holy place, but also turned out many masters and important figures. Until early of 20th century, in the period of 13th Dalai Lama, in order to propagate Buddhism, the Ganzhuer Living Buddha – Luosang Tuwangdundan (the founder of Baowu Monastery in Qiongjie County) repaired the Tangboche Monastery in 1916