| Khorzhak Monastery | |
|---|---|
Tibetan transcription(s) Tibetan: འཁོར་ཞགས་དགོན་པ Wylie transliteration: ’khor zhags dgon pa Pronunciation inIPA: [[kʰoːtɕakkø̃pa]] Official transcription (China): Korqag THL: Korchak Chinese transcription(s) Traditional: 科加寺 Simplified: 科加寺 Pinyin: Kējiā Sì | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Tibetan Buddhism |
| Sect | Sakya |
| Location | |
| Location | Ngari Prefecture in theTibet Autonomous Region ofChina. |
| Country | China |
  Location within Tibetan Autonomous Region | |
| Geographic coordinates | 30°13′0″N81°16′0″E / 30.21667°N 81.26667°E /30.21667; 81.26667 |
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Institutional roles |
History and overview |
Khorzhak Monastery (also writtenKorchak Monastery) is a Buddhist monastery in Khorzhak (Pinyin: Korqag) town,Burang county,Ngari Prefecture in westernTibet. It is located not far to the southeast ofBurang and just northeast of theIndian border. The town and temple are known asKojanath inHindi. The village is situated on a beautiful spot at a bend of theKarnali 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-syllablemantra, "Om Mani Padme Hum".[1]
Khorzahak monastery is a place whereShyang-Sai lives.
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 orAvalokiteshvara in the form ofPadmapani were brought to Tibet in the 7th century from Nepal byAkarmatishila after he discovered them in a split sandalwood tree trunk. A few old photos of the image suggest it was inPala style, but it was destroyed by the Chinese and only the lotus base has survived.[2] Another legend says that when the temple was built a silver image ofManjughosa spoke aloud saying it wished to be placed over a fossil,[citation needed] "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 fromPurang, and its original name is said to have been 'Khvachar Lhakang'.
The largest image was a silver one of Jowo Shakyamuni orMaitreya (the coming Buddha) in the form ofManjuvajra In the 13th century statues of Avalokiteshvara andVajrapani were placed alongside it by KingNamgonde and his consort. There used to be a smaller eight-pillared temple beside it said to be founded by the great translator,Rinchen Zangpo.[3]
It was previously one of the most importantKagyu 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 theChinese arrival in 1959. Betrothed maidens come out wearing their family's jewellery and fine outfits.[4]
It is situated about 15 km downstream from Tsegu (or 'nine-storied') Gompa and the now-destroyedSimbiling Monastery nearPurang,[5] the headquarters ofNgari province, just over the border from Nepal in western Tibet in the valley of the Karnali River which is known in Tibet as theMapchchu Khambab - the 'Peacock Mouth River' or 'River Formed from the Mouth of a Peacock'.
It escaped the worst ravages of theCultural Revolution as it had connections with theKagyupa sect and links withBhutan and has been completely restored since except for the famous silver statue ofChenresig orAvalokiteshvara 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.[6]