Langmu Temple – Housing over 1,000 Monks

Ge’erdeng Temple, situated in Hongxing Town, Zoige County, Sichuan Province, was originally established in 1413 during the 11th year of the Ming Yongle Emperor’s reign. The first Ge’erdeng Temple Living Buddha, Rongqing Gengden Jiangcan, built a small hermitage at the source of the Bailong River in Dacang Langmu. Over time, it grew into one of the most significant and influential Gelugpa sect monasteries in the Aba region. By 1949, Ge’erdeng Temple housed one great Living Buddha, 45 minor Living Buddhas, and 680 monks. In 1986, the temple was rebuilt after suffering damage from a fire. Today, Ge’erdeng Temple remains an important religious site, known for its impressive architecture and cultural heritage.

Saichi Temple is located in Langmu Temple Town, Luqu County, Gansu Province. It was founded in 1748 by Lobsang Chökyi Gyaltsen, the 53rd abbot of Ganden Monastery in Lhasa, during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor. By 1958, Saich Temple had 19 Living Buddhas, 594 monks, and 11 affiliated temples spread across counties such as Luqu, Xiahe, and Diebu in Gansu, as well as Zoige and Aba in Sichuan. The temple was approved for reopening and reconstruction in 1981. Covering an area of about 2,600 acres, the temple complex includes the Grand Hall, pagodas, monk quarters, and other structures. Saichisi Temple is renowned for its spiritual significance and its role in the preservation and practice of Tibetan Buddhism in the region.

The Qingzhen Mosque, located in Hongxing Town, Zoige County, Sichuan Province, has a rich history dating back to 1865 (the fourth year of the Tongzhi reign in the Qing Dynasty). It was established by six Hui merchants from Linxia, Gansu, who settled in the Langmu Temple area for trade. Over time, these merchants intermarried with the local Tibetan population, leading to the formation of a small neighborhood known as “Jiake Village” in Tibetan. Due to their Islamic faith, a prayer site was established, and an Ahong (Islamic cleric) was invited to conduct religious education.

In 1943 (the 32nd year of the Republic of China), Jiake Village began the construction of the Qingzhen Mosque. In 1980, the Zoige County Party Committee and Government approved the restoration of the mosque. The main hall of the mosque can accommodate 300 worshippers, making it a significant religious site for the local Hui Muslim community.

The Qingzhen Prayer Site is located in Langmu Temple Town, Luqu County, Gansu Province. Initially, the Hui residents of Jiake Village in Gansu attended prayers at the Qingzhen Mosque in Hongxing Town, Zoige County. However, after 1980, some of the faithful established a new prayer venue within the jurisdiction of Luqu County. This new site can accommodate around 60 worshippers, providing a more accessible location for the local Muslim community.

Although both the Qingzhen Mosque and the Qingzhen Prayer Site are Islamic places of worship, they belong to different sects within Islam. Each site serves its community’s unique religious needs, reflecting the diverse practices and beliefs within the Muslim population of the region.

A remarkable treasure within Gerdeng Monastery is the incorruptible body of the Fifth Gerdeng Living Buddha. Born in 1681, the Fifth Living Buddha passed away in 1775 at the age of 94. During the Cultural Revolution, his body was transported to the county town of Zoige, where a few devout followers secretly buried it in the Dalonggou Mountain. In 1981, the body was exhumed, found to be remarkably preserved with flexible flesh and intact bones. It was then returned to Gerdeng Monastery, where it has been enshrined in the Golden Hall ever since. Prior to the 1949 revolution, the body’s hair continued to grow naturally and had to be trimmed by the monastery’s high lamas. Since then, it has remained unchanged. The gold-covered body, weathering over 300 years of history, continues to impress visitors from around the world with its lifelike appearance.

The Langmu Temple Sky Burial Platform is located approximately 300 meters northwest of the Sertri Monastery. As one of the largest sky burial sites in the Amdo region, it boasts a history of over 400 years. The site is adorned with colorful prayer flags fluttering in the wind, and the skies above are often filled with vultures, revered as sacred beings by the Tibetan people. The harmonious sounds of skylarks fill the air, dispelling any sense of eeriness or fear associated with death. Here, death is not seen as an end but rather a new beginning, symbolizing rebirth and transcendence. This ancient practice of sky burial embodies the belief in the return to nature, a poignant and spiritual final journey for the Tibetan faithful.

The Molang Festival (莫郎节), known in Tibetan as “Molang Chemo,” meaning “Great Prayer Festival,” dates back to the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty in 1409. It was established by Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, at the Jokhang Temple and has been celebrated ever since. The festival takes place annually from the third to the seventeenth day of the first month of the Tibetan calendar. During this period, monks gather to chant significant scriptures, pray to deities, expel evil spirits, and avert disasters, aiming to ensure happiness and prosperity for the new year. The festival comprises two main parts: large-scale prayer sessions and elaborate outdoor religious ceremonies. Activities include extensive recitations of scriptures, ritual dances, divine invocations, and exorcisms. Various religious rituals, including Buddha exhibitions, religious dances, and displays of butter sculptures, are also part of the festival, showcasing rich religious and cultural traditions.

“Shoton” translates to “yogurt banquet” in Tibetan. The Shoton Festival (雪顿节) is celebrated annually from the first day of the seventh month of the Tibetan calendar and lasts for four to five days. Historically, it was a time when local farmers and herdsmen offered yogurt to monks who had completed their summer meditation retreats. According to Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) Buddhist tradition, monks were required to stay in their monasteries from April to June of the Tibetan calendar to avoid harming insects and plants, adhering to strict monastic rules that prohibit killing any living beings. This period, known as “Yale” or “Summer Retreat,” allowed monks to practice in seclusion without causing harm to the burgeoning life of summer. At the end of this retreat, the restrictions were lifted, and monks emerged from their monasteries. To celebrate this occasion, the local people would present them with yogurt, thus giving rise to the Shoton Festival. The event has evolved to include large public gatherings, featuring Tibetan opera performances, religious rituals, and various cultural activities.

Zecha Stone Forest

Gahai Lake