- Tsurphu Monastery
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) ofDoilungdêqên County in theTibet Autonomous Region ofChina , 70 km fromLhasa . The monastery is about 4,267 metres (14,000 feet) abovesea level . It was built in the middle of the valley facing south with high mountains surrounding the monastery complex.Tsurphu is a 300m2 complex with walls up to 4 meters 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. The original walls of the main building were up to 4 metres thick and 300 metres square. The monks' residences were on the eastern side.History
Tsurphu was founded by the first
Karmapa ,Düsum Khyenpa (1110-1193) in1159 , after he visited the site and laid the foundation for an establishment of a seat there by making offerings to the local protectors,dharmapala andgenius loci . In1189 he revisited the site and founded his main seat there. The monastery grew to hold 1000 monks.It was totally destroyed in
1966 during theCultural Revolution and began to be rebuilt in 1980 by the 16th Karmapa,Rangjung Rigpe Dorje . Following the recognition ofOgyen Trinley Dorje (b.1985 ) by theTai Situpa and the Chinese government, he was enthroned at Tsurphu and resided there until he escaped from Tibet toIndia in2000 .Pilgrims
References
*Dowman, Keith. "The Power-places of Central Tibet: The Pilgrim's Guide". 1988. Routledge & Kegan Paul. London. ISBN 0-7102-1370-0
*Martin, Michele. "Music in the Sky: The Life, Art & Teachings of the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje". 2003. Snow Lion Publications. Reprint: New Age Books, New Delhi, 2004. ISBN 81-7822-193-4.External links
* [http://www.tibetcolor.com/tatsurphu.htm Makers of the Giant Tsurphu Thangkas in Tibet]
* [http://www.kagyuoffice.org/mainseats.tsurphu.html Tsurphu Monastery Website]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.