Tsechen Monastery and Dzong

Tsechen Monastery, Tsechen Dzong or Shambu Tsegu, was about five kilometres northwest of Gyantse above the traditional village of the same name. Tsechen was the largest of a number of hilltop monastery-forts ringing the valley, none of which would be easy to assault.[1] The fortress, or dzong, was considered to be almost as strong as the Gyantse Dzong. It was "built on another precipitous hill about 600 feet [183 metres] high, about one mile [1.6 km] long, and rising abruptly out of the plain occupied by at least 1,000 of the enemy who cheered vociferously when they saw us retire."[2]

Tsechen Monastery
Tibetan transcription(s)
Tibetan: བརྩེ་ཆེན་ཆོས་སྡེ
Chinese transcription(s)
Simplified: 紫金寺
Pinyin: zǐjīn sì
Tsechen Monastery and Dzong in Gyantse, Tibet in 1904
Religion
AffiliationTibetan Buddhism
SectSakya
DeityButon Rinchenpa
LeadershipKunga Lodru (incarnation of Buton Rinchenpa
Location
LocationTsang, Tibet, China
CountryChina
Location within Tibet
Geographic coordinates28.9402°N 89.5572°E / 28.9402; 89.5572
Architecture
FounderPrince Phakpa Pelzangpo (1318-1370)
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Tibetan Buddhism

Early history

It was founded by Nyawon Kunga Pel (1285 - 1379) in 1366, under the sponsorship of Prince Phakpa Pelzangpo (1318-1370 CE),[3] Gyantse's first prince. Nyawon Kunga Pel gave teachings to about 600 disciples in epistemology and the Kalachakra Tantra.[4] He invited Drigung Lotsāwa Maṇikaśrījñāna (1289 - 1363) to Tsechen for teachings.[5]

Tsechen was the seat of the kings of Gyantse until the town expanded in the 15th century. Tsongkapa's principal teacher, Remdawa Zhonu Lodro Zhonu (1349–1412), resided here. Jamyang Konchok Zangpo (1398 - 1475), the 14th Throne Holder of Jokhang Monastery, held the monastic seat at Tsechen for a time;[6] Namkha Chokyong (1436 - 1507) the 14th Throne Holder of Jokhang Monastery, held the monastic seat at Tsechen for an extended period.[7]

It was the seat of the incarnation of Buton Rinchendrub, known as Kungra Lodro.[8]

20th Century to present

On 28 June, Brigadier-General Macdonald, who had just arrived that day, concluded that Tsechen, which guarded the rear of the Gyantse Dzong, would have to be cleared before the assault of Gyantse Dzong could begin. Shortly before sunset, that same day, the nearby "seemingly impregnable" Tsechen Monastery and Dzong was stormed, after a heavy bombardment by the British ten-pound cannon.[9]

"Tsechen was the site of one of the major battles of the Younghusband expedition en route for Lhasa. "A force of 1200 Tibetans held a fortified monastery at Tsechen which guarded the Shigatse road ... The capture of the monastery opened the road to Lhasa and effectively meant that all routes in and out of Gyantse were controlled by the British Tibet expedition."[10]

As the monastery had resisted the British it was considered "fair game" and heavily looted. Then, on 5 July, coinciding with the beginning of the assault on Gyantse Dzong, the monastery was set on fire causing a 'tremendous blaze' which burned throughout the night, to prevent it being reoccupied by the Tibetans.[11]

N. Rybot noted on a drawing he made of the destroyed monastery: "Captured 28 June 04 Looted 29 June 04 Burnt 5 July 04."[12]

There are extensive views of the valley from the remains of the old walls.[13][14] All that is left today are some of the ruined walls on the hilltop.[15]

Footnotes
  1. Allen (2004), p. 146.
  2. Allen (2004), pp. 186-187.
  3. "Tsechen". The Treasury of Lives. Retrieved 2017-08-05.
  4. Stearns, Cyrus (2008). "Nyawon Kunga Pel". The Treasury of Lives. Retrieved 2017-08-05.
  5. Stearns, Cyrus (2008). "Drigung Lotsawa Manikasrijnana". The Treasury of Lives. Retrieved 2017-08-05.
  6. Stearns, Cyrus (2008). "Jamyang Konchok Zangpo". The Treasury of Lives. Retrieved 2017-08-05.
  7. Stearns, Cyrus (2008). "Namkha Chokyong". The Treasury of Lives. Retrieved 2017-08-05.
  8. Dorje (2009), p. 313.
  9. Allen (2004), p. 207.
  11. Allen (2004), p 208-209, 215.
  12. The Heartland of Asia (1975) by Nathalie Ettinger. International Learning Systems, London, p. 148.
  13. Dorje (2009), p. 313.
  14. Mayhew and Kohn (2005), p. 170.
  15. Dorje (2009), p. 313.
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References
  • Allen, Charles. (2004). Duel in the Snows: The True Story of the Younghusband Mission to Lhasa. John Murray (publishers), London. ISBN 0-7195-5427-6.
  • Dorje, Gyurme (2009). Footprint Tibet Handbook. Footprint Publications. ISBN 978-1-906098-32-2.
  • Mayhew, Bradley and Kohn, Michael (2005). Tibet. 6th Edition. Lonely Planet. ISBN 1-74059-523-8.
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