| Taklung Monastery | |
|---|---|
Taglung Lineage Teachers, 14th-century painting in theRubin Museum of Art | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Tibetan Buddhism |
| Sect | Taklung Kagyu |
| Location | |
| Country | China |
| Coordinates | 30°08′N91°06′E / 30.133°N 91.100°E /30.133; 91.100 |
| Architecture | |
| Founder | Taklung Thangpa Tashi Pal |
| Established | 1180 |
| Part ofa series on |
| Tibetan Buddhism |
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Institutional roles |
History and overview |
Taklung Monastery,Taklungstag-lung,[1]Taklung Yarthang Monastery,Pel Taklug Tang (dPal sTag lung thang) orTaklung or Taglung Gompa is aKagyu Buddhist monastery about 120 km north of Lhasa.
The monastery was founded in 1180 (or 1178) CE[1] byTaklung Thangpa Tashi Pal (1142–1210), on a site previously inhabited by a famousKadampa lama, Potowa Rinchen Sel, who was a disciple ofDromton (1005–1064),Atisha's chief disciple. It is the main seat of the Taklung Kagyu, one of the four chief schools of the Kagyu sect.[2][3][4]
Through the efforts of Taklung Thangpa Tashi Pal, and his immediate successors, the number of monks eventually increased to 7,000. The main temple known as the Tsuklakhang (the Jokhang of Taklung) was completed in 1228.
An eastern branch,Riwoche Monastery inKham, which was founded by the fourth preceptor, Sangye On, and it gradually gained in importance as theGelugpa monasteries ofSera andDrepung extended their influence at Taklung. Eventually its power diminished in favour of Riwoche.[6] From the time of the founding of Riwoche Monastery (1276 CE) the Taklung lineage was divided into "upper" and "lower" branches, Taklung forming the "upper" branch.[7]
Taklung was badly damaged during theCultural Revolution but has since been partially restored.[8][9]
The massive 13th-centuryTsuklakang and theMarkang or Red Temple now just form extensive ruins. However, theJampa Lhakhang dedicated toMaitreya, theReliquary Lhakhang which contains the remains of the now-looted enormous stupas which once contained the remains of Lhakhang's three founders, theDargyeling Temple with its statue ofAksobhya Buddha, and theAssembly Hall or Zhelrekhang, and some smaller buildings have been reconstructed.[9]