Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s1.t7.14

v1.c7.s1.t7.14

“Stag lung bkav bgyud”, one of eight branches of “bkav brgyud pa”, was founded by stag lung thang pa bkra shes dpal (1142-1210 CE), disciple of phag mo grub pa, who studied the phag gruvi bkav brgyud. In 1180 CE, he built stag lung dgon in stag lung and developed disciples to teach Buddhist doctrines, preach precepts and increase the number of monks, founding stag lung bkav bgyud. Subsequently, sangs rgyas vod (1251-1294 CE), disciple of stag lung thang pa bkra shes dpal, went to western Kham to spread Buddhism and built rib bo che dgon in Leiwuqi County. Stag lung bkav bgyud had two well-known temples, among which stag lung dgon is the upper main temple and also named as yar thang dgon and ri bo che dgon is the lower main temple and also named as mar thang dgon, each with 3,000-4,000 monks, respectively.