Zandan Monastery

Zandan Monastery – Brief Introduction

The Zandan Monastery was built upon mountain. It was built on the Yaladuo Mountain. It is very grand and spectacular. The whole monastery can be divided into red architectural complex and white architectural complex. The appearance of Zandan Monastery looks like Potala Palace from afar. It is said that Tibetans prepared to build the Zandan Monastery based on the style of Potala Palace at first. But some parts of the blueprint were lost on back way. Hence, Zandan Monastery is not completely same with Potala Palace. The Zandan Monastery is the earliest monastery of Gelug Sect in Northern Tibet, as well as the largest Buddhism ancient architectural complex in Northern Tibet.

Zandan Monastery is located in No.4 Village of Yala Town, Suo County which is the hometown of concubine of Gesar King. It is about 220 kilometers away from downtown of Nagqu. It is monastery of Gelug Sect, as well as one of four largest monasteries of Suo County. The whole monastery covers 25975.5 square meters.

The Zandan Monastery treasures a large amount of precious Buddha statues, frescos and Buddhism scriptures. They are with high value of culture and historic and art.

Zandan Monastery - History

The Zandan Monastery was first built by Awang Luosang Jiacuo in 1668 in the period of fifth Dalai. Based on the daily record of Zandan Monastery, the Zandan Monastery was built on the basis of confiscating properties of seven non-Gelug Sect monasteries. It is said that there are sight spots of Bon Religion in the monastery. It was destroyed in 1959 and in the period of Cultural Revolution. In 1985, the Zandan Monastery was repaired with the permission of government and formed present scale. Now, there are over 180 monks in Zandan Monastery.

Zandan Monastery - Construction

The Zandan Monastery can be divided into Red Palace and White Palace. The palace in center is Red Palace which mainly used to enshrine Buddha statues and handle religious affairs. The palaces on both sides and back of Red Palace are White Palace which is the main living place of monks in the monastery.

Zandan Monastery - Activity

In the first three days of each year in Tibetan Calendar, the Zandan Monastery in Suo County will hold Meeting of Thanking God to get all living creatures blessed. It will be took part in by 80 monks. During this festival, the main activity in Zandan Monastery is religious dance. They integrate secular affairs and religion, God and human, divine world and immortal world. Each action of religious dance expresses their appreciation, prayer and reverence to divine world and religious pure land. The Meeting of Thanking God is not only enjoyed by monks in Zandan Monastery. Monks in Suo County will come to take part in this grand meeting.

In December, May and July of each year in Tibetan Calendar, Zandan Monastery will hold Guduo Religious Prayer Meeting, Jiren Prayer Meeting and Bengsong Prayer Meeting. In these festivals, Tibetans in each town of Suodang County and monks in far and near monastery will gather in Zandan Monastery to enjoy this festival.