Khorzhak Monastery
Encyclopedia
Khorzhak Monastery is a Buddhist monastery in Khorzhak (Pinyin
: Korqag) town, Burang
county, Ngari Prefecture
in the Tibet Autonomous Region
of China
. It is located not far to the southeast of Burang
and just northeast of the Nepalese border. The town and temple are known as Kojanath in Nepal
. The village is situated on a beautiful spot at a bend of the Karnali River from where one can see the large red wall of the temple facing the river with a huge inscription on it of the six-syllable mantra
, OM MANI PADME HUM.
The name Khorzhak is derived from the term for a 'venerable object and its surroundings' (khor) and 'is placed' (zhak). Legend has it that one of four images of standing Chenresig or Avalokiteshvara in the form of Padmapani were brought to Tibet in the 7th century from Nepal by Akarmatishila after he discovered them in a split sandalwood tree trunk. A few old photos of the image suggest it was in Pala
style, but it was destroyed by the Chinese and only the lotus base has survived. Another legend says that when the temple was built a silver image of Manjughosa spoke aloud saying it wished to be placed over a fossil, "I have wandered (khor) to this place and here I shall settle (chags)!" The temple is said to have been founded in 996 CE by King Khor-re and Prince Lha-de from Purang, and its original name is said to have been 'Khvachar Lhakang'.
The largest image was a silver one of Jowo Shakyamuni or Maitreya
(the coming Buddha) in the form of Manjuvajra In the 13th century statues of Avalokiteshvara and Vajrapani
were placed alongside it by King Namgonde and his consort. There used to be a smaller eight-pillared temple beside it said to be founded by the great translator, Rinchen Zangpo
.
It was previously one of the most important Kagyu
monasteries in Western Tibet. It has inner and outer gates and a large courtyard. On special days in September or early October monks come in from the areas around and perform day-long dances using masks, some of which date from before the Chinese arrival in 1959. Betrothed maidens come out wearing their family's jewellery and fine outfits.
It is situated about 15 km downstream from Tsegu (or 'nine-storied') Gompa and the now-destroyed Simbiling Monastery
near Purang, the headquarters of Ngari province, just over the border from Nepal in western Tibet in the valley of the Karnali River which is known in Tibet as the Mapchchu Khambab - the 'Peackock Mouth River' or 'River Formed from the Mouth of a Peacock'.
It escaped the worst ravages of the Cultural Revolution
as it had connections with the Kagyupa sect and links with Bhutan
and has been completely restored since except for the famous silver statue of Chenresig or Avalokiteshvara has disappeared. It was modelled in the Pala style indicating it dated from the 8th or 9th century CE. It is reported to have been cut into pieces and taken away in 1967.
Pinyin
Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: Korqag) town, Burang
Burang
Burang may refer to:*Burang County, county in Tibet*Burang Town, town in Burang County...
county, Ngari Prefecture
Ngari Prefecture
Ngari Prefecture is a prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Its capital is Gar County. Its regional headquarters is in the town of Purang. The biggest town is Ali. It includes part of the Aksai Chin area, a disputed region claimed by India but over which China exercises administrative...
in the Tibet Autonomous Region
Tibet Autonomous Region
The Tibet Autonomous Region , Tibet or Xizang for short, also called the Xizang Autonomous Region is a province-level autonomous region of the People's Republic of China , created in 1965....
of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. It is located not far to the southeast of Burang
Burang
Burang may refer to:*Burang County, county in Tibet*Burang Town, town in Burang County...
and just northeast of the Nepalese border. The town and temple are known as Kojanath in Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
. The village is situated on a beautiful spot at a bend of the Karnali River from where one can see the large red wall of the temple facing the river with a huge inscription on it of the six-syllable mantra
Mantra
A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation"...
, OM MANI PADME HUM.
The name Khorzhak is derived from the term for a 'venerable object and its surroundings' (khor) and 'is placed' (zhak). Legend has it that one of four images of standing Chenresig or Avalokiteshvara in the form of Padmapani were brought to Tibet in the 7th century from Nepal by Akarmatishila after he discovered them in a split sandalwood tree trunk. A few old photos of the image suggest it was in Pala
Pala Empire
The Pāla Empire was one of the major middle kingdoms of India existed from 750–1174 CE. It was ruled by a Buddhist dynasty from Bengal in the eastern region of the Indian subcontinent, all the rulers bearing names ending with the suffix Pala , which means protector. The Palas were often described...
style, but it was destroyed by the Chinese and only the lotus base has survived. Another legend says that when the temple was built a silver image of Manjughosa spoke aloud saying it wished to be placed over a fossil, "I have wandered (khor) to this place and here I shall settle (chags)!" The temple is said to have been founded in 996 CE by King Khor-re and Prince Lha-de from Purang, and its original name is said to have been 'Khvachar Lhakang'.
The largest image was a silver one of Jowo Shakyamuni or Maitreya
Maitreya
Maitreya , Metteyya , or Jampa , is foretold as a future Buddha of this world in Buddhist eschatology. In some Buddhist literature, such as the Amitabha Sutra and the Lotus Sutra, he or she is referred to as Ajita Bodhisattva.Maitreya is a bodhisattva who in the Buddhist tradition is to appear on...
(the coming Buddha) in the form of Manjuvajra In the 13th century statues of Avalokiteshvara and Vajrapani
Vajrapani
' is one of the earliest bodhisattvas of Mahayana Buddhism. He is the protector and guide of the Buddha, and rose to symbolize the Buddha's power. Vajrapani was used extensively in Buddhist iconography as one of the three protective deities surrounding the Buddha...
were placed alongside it by King Namgonde and his consort. There used to be a smaller eight-pillared temple beside it said to be founded by the great translator, Rinchen Zangpo
Rinchen Zangpo
Rinchen Zangpo , also known as Lha Lama Yeshe O'd or Mahaguru, was a principal lotsawa or translator of Sanskrit Buddhist texts into Tibetan during the second diffusion of Buddhism in Tibet . He was a student of the famous Indian master, Atisha. His associates included Legpai Sherab...
.
It was previously one of the most important Kagyu
Kagyu
The Kagyu, Kagyupa, or Kagyud school, also known as the "Oral Lineage" or Whispered Transmission school, is today regarded as one of six main schools of Himalayan or Tibetan Buddhism, the other five being the Nyingma, Sakya, Jonang, Bon and Gelug...
monasteries in Western Tibet. It has inner and outer gates and a large courtyard. On special days in September or early October monks come in from the areas around and perform day-long dances using masks, some of which date from before the Chinese arrival in 1959. Betrothed maidens come out wearing their family's jewellery and fine outfits.
It is situated about 15 km downstream from Tsegu (or 'nine-storied') Gompa and the now-destroyed Simbiling Monastery
Simbiling Monastery
Simbiling Monastery, also known as Shambuling Gompa, Shepeling Dzong and Taklakot Gompa, was located next to the large fort of Tegla Kar on a ridge near Taklakot, above the town of Purang, in the Ngari province, which is just over the border from Nepal in western Tibet in the valley of the Karnali...
near Purang, the headquarters of Ngari province, just over the border from Nepal in western Tibet in the valley of the Karnali River which is known in Tibet as the Mapchchu Khambab - the 'Peackock Mouth River' or 'River Formed from the Mouth of a Peacock'.
It escaped the worst ravages of the Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
as it had connections with the Kagyupa sect and links with Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
and has been completely restored since except for the famous silver statue of Chenresig or Avalokiteshvara has disappeared. It was modelled in the Pala style indicating it dated from the 8th or 9th century CE. It is reported to have been cut into pieces and taken away in 1967.