Zangniang ancient pagoda

Zangniang ancient pagoda

Zangniang pagoda (also known as "zogniang pagoda") is called "zangniang qiedan bajilunbo" in Tibetan, which means "zangniang pagoda is prosperous and self built". It is located in zangniang village on the South Bank of Tongtian River, 80 km away from Jiegu Town, Yushu prefecture, Qinghai Province. On June 25, 2001, zangniang pagoda was approved by the State Council as a "national cultural relics protection unit".

Brief introduction to the temple

Zangniang pagoda is located on the South Bank of Tongtian River, 40 kilometers away from Zhongda Township, Yushu county. Zangniang ancient pagoda was built in 1030 when MITI, an Indian university, preached Buddhism in the Tongtian River Valley in Yushu. It has a history of 970 years. With a height of 40 meters and a circumference of 200 meters, the pagoda is one of the largest pagodas in Kangqu district. The shape of zangniang pagoda integrates the characteristics of ancient Indian pagodas with the characteristics of ancient Tibetan architecture. The pagoda is unique, magnificent and magnificent. The whole pagoda is built according to the structural principle of world formation and the Buddhist interpretation of the universe theory, which has profound Buddhist cultural connotation and implication. The construction of the zangniang pagoda marks the beginning of the "post flourishing period" of Tibetan Buddhism in Kham district. The ancient pagoda is unique in shape, well preserved and has a long history. The construction of zangniang ancient pagoda marks the beginning of the later flourishing period of Buddhism in Kangqu District, which is of great significance in the development history of Tibetan Buddhism. Therefore, the pagoda is recorded in many Tibetan and Han historical books, such as the great Tibetan Sutra, danzhur, Qingshi, Hongshi and a brief history of Tibetan Buddhism. It has a great influence in Tibetan areas. Many Buddhists come to worship and visit far away. Zangniang pagoda has been listed as a national cultural relic protection unit.

Historical origin

In Tibetan history, during the reign of zanpulangdama from 841 ad to 846 ad, Tibetan Buddhism suffered the biggest legal disaster ever, which is known as the "hundred years of darkness" period of Tibetan Buddhism. Later, historians divided the general history of Tibetan Buddhism into two distinct dynastic histories. They are "pre Hongqi" and "post Hongqi". "Qianhong period" refers to the period of 200 years from the middle of the seventh century to the middle of the ninth century. MIDI came to Tibet from India under the historical background of langdama's extermination of Dharma. But at that time, both "post Tibet" and "pre Tibet" were not yet mature for Dharma promotion, so he turned to Kangba area, and then spread Buddhism in Tongtian River Valley of "gawa" (Yushu area). At that time, the construction of Buddhist pagodas in the "dark" period of Buddhism meant that the spread of Tibetan Buddhism in Kangqu was gradually spread and burned. Therefore, master MIDI made an indelible contribution to the prosperity of Tibetan Buddhism and the development of Tibetan culture. The construction of zangniang pagoda is of great significance in the development history of Tibetan Buddhism. Therefore, the pagoda is recorded in many Tibetan and Han historical books, such as Dazangjing, danzhuer, Qingshi and Hongshi. It has great influence in Tibetan areas. It is also said that there are Sakyamuni's relics brought by master MIDI from India in the pagoda, so the pagoda has incredible blessing power. Therefore, many Buddhist believers from all over the Tibetan area do not hesitate to travel far to the Tibetan mother to worship and visit. Some believers also said that some of them suffered from cancer and other incurable diseases, and were diagnosed as short-term believers by various hospitals. They worshipped and converted the Scriptures here, and after accumulating merits, the incurable incurable diseases were unconsciously cured.

cultural meaning

As one of the famous pilgrimages in the snow covered Tibetan area, zangniang pagoda has not only religious significance, but also historical, cultural and artistic significance. There are many cultural relics left in the tower, including Buddha paintings, murals, sculptures, stone carvings, ceramics, etc. these cultural relics are thousands of and well preserved, especially the miniature stone mould of the pagoda left by MIDI, which is exquisite in workmanship and realistic in shape. There are also eight small pagodas carved on the top of the pagoda, which is rare in the world. The painting and carving art left behind by MIDI is also very exquisite and fantastic, which can be compared with the famous Huangnan Regong Art at home and abroad. Due to the spread of master MIDI and the influence of painting art left by him, almost every family in zangniang village could paint in history. This painting tradition has been handed down to this day. Therefore, the painting art of zangniang village is unique in scale, color, line and so on, and its reputation resounds through the whole Kangxi district. Due to the geographical remoteness and inconvenient transportation, the characteristic brand of zangniang's painting art does not have a wider scope and reputation.

The temple next to zangniang pagoda is called Sangzhou temple, also known as "Longzhu Temple", with the full name of "Sangzhou deqingling", which means "Ruyi dalie Temple", and is now a Sakya temple. In order to facilitate the management of zangniang pagoda, in 1260, basiba assigned GAA nidanba, a famous monk of the Sakya sect, to zangniang, and transformed the original "Renzhen Aosai Bon Temple" into a Sakya Monastery. Since then, the temple has maintained, repaired and managed the zangniang pagoda, which has been completely preserved. Sangzhou temple has formed a reincarnation living Buddha system since the end of the nirvana, which has been handed down to nimadoj living Buddha to preside over the temple.

Cultural phenomenon

Pagoda is a comprehensive and unique cultural phenomenon, which provides the most valuable field data for the study of regional history of Buddhism, history of national religion and history of cultural development. At the same time, it shows people the colorful and refreshing Buddhist culture. It is the embodiment of the image of Buddhist culture, and it still radiates the brilliant brilliance of Buddhist culture.

After Sakyamuni's nirvana, his body was cremated by his disciples. His relic was divided into eight parts and eight types of pagodas were built to support him. These eight types of pagodas represent the eight great achievements of Buddha from birth to Nirvana, or eight different spiritual states of Buddha. Tibetan Buddhist believers often build eight pagodas to commemorate Buddha's boundless merits and virtues in order to save all things and have spirit. Based on this principle and basis, Tibetan Buddhism divides the pagoda into three parts: "body", "language" and "meaning". The pagoda of "body" represents the Buddha, the incarnation of the living Buddha in the border of the Buddha, the tower of "language" represents the Buddha's teachings, and the tower of "meaning" represents the most basic spiritual thought and the emptiness and purity held by the Buddha.

Pagoda function

Tibetan Buddhism believes that the function of the pagoda is multifaceted. It can promote harmony, prosperity, longevity, health and peace, and make people get rid of ignorance. What's more, the pagoda has a deterrent power, which can destroy all evils, bless all living beings and the builders of the pagoda, worship and pray for the worshipers and believers. In the concept of Buddhist believers, worshiping the pagoda is like worshiping the Buddha, so worshiping the Buddha around the pagoda is one of the main Buddhist activities of Buddhist believers.

Due to the earthquake in history, the base of zangniang pagoda sank into the ground. In about 1757, Baden Qiujun, the great Kanbu of ERI temple in Tibet, repaired the pagoda and compiled the zangniang pagoda chronicle. Later, many famous scholars repaired the pagoda and compiled the pagoda chronicle. In order to protect the ancient pagoda of Zuo Niang, in 1260 A.D., a Tibetan Buddhist monk, ga'anidangba (who was the emperor of Yuan Dynasty), built Sangzhou Temple beside the pagoda. Sangzhou temple now has three large and small temples, four Buddha halls and monk houses. Many religious relics preserved in the temple have reached a high artistic level in the aspects of characterization and manufacturing technology, reflecting rich historical content. Therefore, Zuo Niang pagoda and Sangzhou temple have been listed as national cultural relics protection units.

Address: zangniang village, Yushu County, Qinghai Province

Longitude: 96.84282999899

Latitude: 32.028879253629

Chinese PinYin : Cang Niang Gu Ta