Tibet: Gongkar Chode Monastery
Dzongpa Tradition Main PageSubjects & Topics:
- Description (below)
- Architecture
- Main Hall
- Buddha Murals
- Protector Chapel
- Hevajra Chapel (SRG)
- Hevajra Chapel (A. Maki)
- Old Gonkang
- College
- Leigh Miller Archive
- Gongkar Chode, India
Video:
- Gongkar Chode Monastery
- Old Gonkang
The monastery was established in 1464. The principal founder was Dorje Chang Kunga Namgyal and belongs to the Dzongpa tradition of Sakya founded by Lama Dampa Sonam Gyaltsen. The main surviving monastery of the Dzongpa tradition is Gongkar Chode just south-west of Lhasa on the south side of the Tsangpo River. This monastery is especially famous for the artist Kyentse Chenmo and the development of the Kyenri style of painting. (Read a short history of Gongkar Chode Monastery). Dratang Monastery down the river to the East is considered a branch monastery of Gongkar Chode despite originating in the 11th century with Draba Ngonshe. Dratang was administered by Sakya since the time of Sakya Pandita down to the present.
Addition Topics:
- Map of U-Tsang
- Sakya Outline
- Dzongpa Tradition
- Sakya Monasteries & Branch Schools
- Kyenri Style Painting
In the second floor Hevajra Chapel is a large Hevajra sculpture in the center of the room. The large figure itself went missing during the 1970s. The figure has been replaced above the remaining original double lotus base.
A number of caves are located in the mountains behind the Gongkar monastery that were used for meditation by Kunga Namgyal. The current size of the monastery is only about one quarter or less the total area size pre mid 20th century.
The large Lamdre Lineage sculptures currently housed at Mindrolling Monastery further to the East originally belonged to Dratang Monastery and believed to be the work of Khyentse Chenmo. Two additional sculptural works by the hand remain in Gongkar Chode on display in the main ground floor chapel. They are a life sized Sakya Pandita along with a Kunga Namgyal sculpture of equal size. The two throne supports are newly made.
The College building on the east side of the main temple has the long Lamdre lineage painted around the upper wall of the temple. Although in a Khyenri style the compositions are post Khyentse Chenmo in creation.
The Drepung Kamtsen on the west side of the monastery was built by Tsarchen Losal Gyatso after studying with his principal teacher Doringpa. The Lamdre lineage murals painted around the upper wall of the main temple are post Khyentse Chenmo and represent the near Lamdre Lineage.
As an aside the principal meditational deities and tantric festivals of Gongkar Chode are Shri Hevajra, Vajrakila and Ekavira Vajrabhairava. the deity and tantric cycle of Kalachakra also holds a special position within religious history of the monastery. The three special protector deities of Gongkar are Panjarnata Mahakala, Chaturmukha Mahakala and Shri Devi. The large central reconstructed Shakyamuni Buddha of the first floor has a relic, a piece of the skull of Gayadara, a portion of bone with a self arising letter ‘A’ placed on the chest.
It is interesting to note that prior to the mid 20th century Gongkar Chode was more famous for its sculpture rather than its murals and painting style according to the Tibetan literature discussing Gongkar Chode.
Jeff Watt 8-2007 [updated 12-2025] (The majority of information above is based on nearly 20 years of conversations with the Abbot Kalsang Chopel).
(The images below are only a selection of examples from the links above).
