Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s3.t31: sku vbum dgon
Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s3.t31
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sku vbum dgon
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sku vbum dgon, a well-known temple of dge lugs pa of Tibetan Buddhism and one of six major temples of dge lugs pa. sku vbum dgon is located in present-day Huangzhong County, Qinghai Province and was built during Ming Dynasty and entered a period of prosperity in Qing Dynasty. At first, believers built a pagoda in the birthplace of Tsong kha pa to commemorate the founder of dge lugs pa. In 1560, a local eminent monk rin chen brston vgrus rgyan mtshan built a mediation abode. In 1577, he built a Maitreya Hall, sku vbum dgon taking shape.
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In 1612, vod zer rgya mtsho founded mtshan nyi grwa tshang under the order of the fourth Dalai Lama and served as an abbot. By embracing the canon of vbras sungs dgon, he taught gzhung-po-ti lnga of Extoretic Buddhism and named the temple, skv vbum byams pa gling with the meaning of Maitreya Island. Sku vbum dgon is derived from original temple name.
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In 1649, zi na legs pa rgyamtsho founded sngags pa grwa tshang and emulated the teachings and ritual practices of Gyudmed in Lhasa. In 1711, chu bzang blo bzang bstan pavi rgyan mtshan founded sman pa grwa tshang. In 1718, rgya mkhan po blo bzang don grub founded vcham pa under the order of the Seventh Dalai Lama. In 1757, chu bzang ngag dbang thub bstan dbang phyug extended sman pa grwa tshang. In 1817, che shos blo bzang bstan pavi nyi ma (1787-1859) founded dus vkhor grwa tshang. Till then, sku vbum dgon has developed into a large temple that consisted of Tantric Buddhism and Exoretic Buddhism and *Panca-vidya*.
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In 1776, under the auspices of sangs rgyas hlun grub, head of Lake Village, Xinachuan (present-day Huangzhong County, Qinghai), tuvu bkwan blo bzang chos kyi nyi ma and Aa kywa blo bzang vjam dbyangs rgya mtsho presided over the construction of bde gshigs mchod rten rnam brgyad as landmark building of Sku vbum dgon according to the legend of pad-spungs-mchod-rten. It is worth mentioning that the butter scripture, barbola (embroidery) and
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*Eight Pagodas at the Kumbum Monastery, Qinghai, China*
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paintings (mural) with exquisite craftsmanship are hailed as three artistic treasures and win great fame at home and abroad.
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In the heyday, sku vbum dgon housed 3,600 monks with 1,000 monks from mtshan nyid grwa tshang and consisted of five academies namely mtshan nyid grwa tshang, sngags pa grwa tshang, dus vkhor grwa tshang, sman pa grwa tshang and vcham pa. By adopting the courses offered by sgo mang grwa tshang of vbras sungs dgon and designed by rje btsun chos kyi rgyal mtshan (1459-1544) from se ra theg dgon, monks there studied gzhung-po-ti lnga of Exoteric Buddhism and 300 monks studied at mtshan nyid grwa tshang who practiced Kriya Tantra, Carya Tantra, Yoga Tantra and Maha-anuttara Yoga Tantra including gsang vdus kyi bskyed rdzongs and used to go to sgo mang grwa tshang of vbras sungs dgon to further study the doctrine of Buddhism.
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There were nearly 80 living Buddha mansions in sku vbum dgon including Aa kywa, gser khri, bla kho, chu bzang, gser tog, shing bzav, zi na and che shos who were conferred the title of Hutuketu or rwa-sgreng. Among them, Aa kywa, gser khri and bla kho were Hutuketu in Beijing and served as pe-cin-gyi-tham-ka-bla-ma of Lama Temple in Beijing and Wutai Mountain in Shanxi and Aa kywa served as the chief abbot of sku vbum dgon from generations to generations.
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In history, Ming and Qing emperors valued and supported sku vbum dgon and eminent monks and living Buddha such as the third, fourth, fifth, seventh and 13th Dalai Lama and the sixth and ninth Panchen Lama made pilgrimage, stayed and taught at sku vbum dgon, building up its reputation, status, influence and scale and making it one of six major temples of dge lugs pa in Qing Dynasty. Sku vbum dgon had a profound religion influence on Tibet and Mongolia.
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Sku vbum dgon played a vital role in India-China Buddhist cultural exchange history. Bde gshigs mchod rten rnam brgyad was built to commemorate eight achievements of Buddha Sakyamuni.
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*The public square at the Kumbum Monastery, Qinghai, China*
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Specifically speaking, Bde gshegs was built to commemorate the birth of Buddha Sakyamuni in Lumbini; Byang Chub was built to commemorate Buddha Sakyamuni attaining enlightenment and Buddhahood under the Bodhi tree; hos vkhor was built to commemorate Buddha Sakyamuni turning the wheel of *dharma* at Sarnath; Cho Vphrul was built to commemorate Buddha Sakyamuni using magic power to subdue *tirthika*; Lha Babs was built to commemorate Buddha Sakyamuni ascending to the heaven to preach Buddhist doctrines and descending to the earth; Dbyed zlum was built to commemorate Buddha Sakyamuni appeasing internal strife between monk groups; Rnam Rgyal was built to commemorate Buddha Sakyamuni breaking through the shackle of birth and death; Myang Vdas was built to commemorate Buddha Sakyamuni moving into the realm of *nirvana* in Kushinagar.
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Sku vbum dgon performed four Monlams every year. Specifically speaking, Monlam in January was performed to commemorate Buddha Sakyamuni; Monlam in April was performed to commemorate Buddha Sakyamuni birth, converting to Buddhism and attaining enlightenment and Buddhahood; Monlam in June was performed to commemorate Buddha Sakyamuni turning wheel of *dharma* and Monlam in September was performed to commemorate Buddha Sakyamuni descending to the earth (lha babs).
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(*Kalsang gyal*)