Chagpori, orChakpori,Chokpori,Chagpo Ri (Wylie:lcags po ri, literally "Iron Mountain") is a spirit-mountain ofVajrapani[1] inLhasa,Tibet. It is south ofPotala and is considered to be one of the four holy mountains of central Tibet. TheChagpori College of Medicine was built there in 1696, then destroyed by Chinese forces in 1959 and replaced by an antenna. Chagpori College of Medicine was rebuilt in Darjeeling, India in 1992.[2]
Chagpori was the site of the monastic medical college of the same name founded there bySangye Gyatso in 1696. This medical college, which incorporated a recently restored temple made byThang Tong Gyalpo, was supplied with revenue generating lands and with a constant stream of students by a "monk tax". It remained an important medical and astrological institution in Tibet andCentral Asia up until 1959 and theLhasa uprising.[3]Peter Aufschnaiter was photographed byHeinrich Harrer on top of the College of Medicine and Astrological Institute, theMen-Tsee-Khang using atheodolite for surveying the city of Lhasa.[4] Aufschnaiter wrote, "Since 23 December 1947 I have been staying in Lhasa for some months to make a town plan, and have now been appointed to the government service by a decree of the Regent."[5]
During the March 1959Lhasa uprising, the medical school first built by the5th Dalai Lama, then re-established in by the13th Dalai Lama in 1916[6] as theMen-Tsee-Khang together with a temple housing statutes of Tsepame incoral, of Tujechempo inmother of pearl, and of Green Tara (Drolma) inturquoise were demolished by thePeople's Liberation Army artillery, as the Tibetans had one cannon up there.[7][8][9] Jianglin Li's bookTibet in Agony: Lhasa 1959 says,
"On March 20 (...) That was the morning of the shelling of Chakpori Hill. While the Tibetan Medical Institute crumbled..."[10]
The monk Jampa Phuntsok of theNamgyal Monastery recalled,
"when the bombardment of Chakpori Hill began (...) the Tibetans at the Potala could only watch as their beloved landmark went up in smoke."[11]
Originally commissioned by the5th Dalai Lama and built by his KalonSangye Gyatso in 1696, the Chagpori College taught Tibetan medical practices from theFour Tantras and other collected international systems as compiled atSamye Monastery in the 8th century. TheFour Tantras treatise was re-edited in the 12th century, and used continually atChagpori College of Medicine, and at theMen-Tsee-Khang which added the Astrological Institute in 1916[6] to the medical college, until the bombardment by China's invasion forces in 1959.
In 1992, a surviving doctor trained in the traditional Tibetan medical system, Venerable Dr. Trogawa Rinpoche, was able to establish theChagpori Tibetan Medical Institute in Darjeeling, India, in commemoration of Chagpori, Tibet.[2] The building program included the college, a pharmacy, and clinics, with a hostel to house its students. The CTMI has opened with the blessings of the14th Dalai Lama, and is a recognized medical college through the Council of Tibetan Medicine in Dharmsala. At least eightyamchi (doctors) have since graduated, and around 15 students in 2020 were actively studying.
It is now crowned by radio antennas.[12][13] A road has been constructed through the spur that used to connect Chagpori with the Marpori ('Red Hill') on which the Potala is built. At this spur connecting these two hills was the famouschortenPargo Kaling, a spired reliquary with an arch that served as the town's western gate and was demolished in 1967 and rebuilt in 1995.[14]
Some rebuilding has since taken place a number of old rock carvings have survived through damage. Some of them are thought to have been carved during the reign of kingSongtsen Gampo (605 or 617? - 649 CE) and painted byNepalese artists.[12] Some buildings have been rebuilt near the base of the hill and there is now again a small temple with prayer wheels.[15]
Tradition has it that the three main hills of Lhasa represent the "Three Protectors of Tibet." Chagpori is the soul-mountain (bla-ri) ofVajrapani, Pongwari that ofManjushri, and Marpori, the hill on which the Potala stands, representsChenresig orAvalokiteshvara.[16]
On the Chakpo-ri, sprint-mountain ofVajrapani, (one can see) the coral image of Amitayus, pearl image of Mahakarunika and turquoise image of Tara established there by Tangtong Gyelpo
Peter Aufschnaiter taking measurements from the roof of the College of Medicine in Lhasa, photographed byHeinrich Harrer. (Film 61, frame 10)
Since 23 December 1947 I have been staying in Lhasa for some months to make a town plan, and have now been appointed to the government service by a decree of the Regent.
29°39′08″N91°06′34″E / 29.6522043°N 91.1094743°E /29.6522043; 91.1094743
