Pelkor Chode Monastery

 Overview

Pelkor Monastery is the main monastery in Gyantse, Gyangzê County, Shigatse Prefecture, Tibet, in the Nyangchu river valley. It is also called the Pelkor Chode Monastery or Shekar Gyantse. The monastery precinct is a complex of structures. The monastery has been apart from the Tsuklakhang Monastery. The Pelkor Chode Monastery also includes its Kumbum. The Kumbum has nine floors and each tier has unique chapels. It is considered the largest of the three Kumbums in Tibet; the other two Kumbams are the Jonang Kumbum and Ching Riwoche. People believe that this is the largest such structure in Tibet. The most famous part of the monasery is its 108 chapels scattering in its several floors and the old Dzong or fort.

Foundation

The Pelkor Chode Monastery can be traced back to as early as the ninth century. The monastery is named after Pelkhor-tsen, as Pelkor Chode. He was the son of Langdarma, who was famous as an anti Buddhist King of West Tibet and died of assassination. Pelkhor-tsen lived here and attempted to perpetuate the Yarlung dynasty after the death of his father. Between the 14th and 15th centuries, the town of Gyantse was established as a feudatory. During this period, the Sakya sect played a crucial overlord role. At that time, the Buddhist monuments were also built with the Dzong. Many  other buildings like the Kumbum and the Pekor monastery were built in this period. Between 1418 and 1425, Tsuklakhang monastery was built by prince Rabton Kunzang Phak. However, by the end of the 15th century, Gyantse's historical importance declined.

During the time 1418 and 1428, Rabten Kunzang Phak built the Tsuklakhang, which is the main temple of the monastery. The man was himself the second Prince of Gyantse, and a devotee of Kedrub Je, who lived during 1385 to 1438. The latter was one of Tsongkapa's leading disciples. He was later recognized as the 1st Panchen Lama.

Significance

The Tsuklakhang later became an important centre of the Sakya sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The Kumbum, or Tashigomang, was carried out in 1427 and completed by 1437. The founder of the Kumbum was also prince Rabten Kunzang Phak. The construction was followed by several other buildings, with Buddhist sects such as Sakyapa, Kadampa and Gelukpa building religious colleges or hermitages. By the end of 17th century, there were totally 16 colleges were recorded, with the number increasing to 18 at the beginning of the 19th century, though most of them were later closed. Today, only two colleges of the Gelukpa order remain, which are stated to be of little consequence.

There are two gigantic paintings that also show tribute to prince Rabten Kunzang Phak's period. The paintings portray a picture that Thangkas of Shakyamuni Buddha was flanked by his two principal disciples, of Maitreya, Manjushri and many more others. All of them were on the occasion of the Gyantse festival that is held in the 4th lunar month of the Tibetan calendar. This practice was first carried out between 1418 and 1419. It was first held in the northeast corner of the monastery walls, known as Goku Tramsa today.

Damage and Restoration

In 1904, British soldiers attacked the town and the Pelkor Chode Monastery. At that time, their leader was Francis Younghusband, who commanded 1000 troops, 10,000 servants, and 4,000 yaks. Tourists can even find bullet holes from this attack in the monastery to this day. Now, fortunately, most of the damage was later restored. After the capture of Gyantse fort, the agreement was signed by the Tibetan Regent, agreeing with an establishment of British Trade Missions at Gyantse and Mt. Kailash in Tibet. In 1906, the British signed another agreement with the Chinese authorities, which established their influence over Tibet and thus "effectively ending both British and Russian influence". In 1959, the monastery was partially destroyed after a revolt against Chinese rule. Major damage was also found during the Cultural Revolution. But the good thing is today, most of the monastery has been restored.