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The Rich History and Cultural Significance of Ramoche Temple

Ramoche Temple, a significant Buddhist monastery in Lhasa, now serves as the main Exoteric monastery for Tibetan Buddhism’s Tantra practices, known in Tibetan as “Gyuto Dratsang.” Situated 1,000 meters north of the ancient city of Lhasa, its full Tibetan name, “Gyatak Ramoche Lhakang,” translates to “Han Tiger Temple.” Princess Wencheng founded the temple in 641, marking it as an early prominent temple in Tibetan history. In 2001, it gained national recognition as a key cultural relic protection unit. Distinctively, Ramoche Temple originally featured a traditional Chinese architectural style, setting it apart from other contemporary temples.

According to Tibetan historical records, Princess Wencheng brought a 12-year-old life-size statue of Buddha, known as “Jowo Shakyamuni,” from Chang’an to Tibet, making it the oldest statue in Tibet. During the era of Princess Jingcheng, authorities moved these significant historical relics to the Jokhang Temple. In a significant event referred to as the “Buddha statue exchange,” they relocated a life-size statue of Sakyamuni, which Princess Brikhuti of Nepal had brought to Tibet at the age of 8, to the Ramoche Temple. This relocation established the statue as the temple’s main Buddha.

Gyuto Dratsang

Gyuto Dratsang, located within Ramoche Temple, is a monastery dedicated to the inheritance of Upper Tantric Buddhism. In 1485, when a flood threatened the citizens of Lhasa along the Lhasa River, the revered Tantric master Jetsun Kunga Dundup rushed to the city. He successfully averted the disaster using Tantric Dharma and prayers.

In recognition of his contributions to flood control, Taklungpa of the Padru regime granted Jetsun Kunga Dundup the Ramoche Temple. He then used the temple as a base for propagating Tantric Dharma. The temple, commonly known as the “Gyuto Tantric Temple,” accommodated 500 monks. The Upper Tantric Monastery was exclusive, admitting only monks who had completed their training in Dratsang at the three major monasteries of Lhasa.

Renovations of Ramoche Temple

The Ramoche Temple has undergone multiple renovations throughout history and has been repaired numerous times. Most of the original buildings no longer exist, except for the ground-floor temple. The temple’s pillars vaguely exhibit the Tubo style. The majority of the existing buildings are later replicas, covering an area of about 4,000 square meters. The temple comprises a courtyard in the front and a central section in the back, including the main building, temple, gate tower, prayer cloister, and other auxiliary structures.

The architectural structure of Ramoche Temple

The ground floor of the gatehouse presents a luminous corridor, embellished with murals such as the “Six Paths of Reincarnation.” Above, the second and third floors provide living quarters for monks and spaces for scripture storage. The temple, covering an area of 2100 square meters, stands at a height of three stories. It features an entrance hall on the ground floor, flanked by side halls on the left and right. At the gate’s rear lies the Sutra Hall, extending from east to west, with dimensions of 21.4 meters in width and 17.6 meters in depth. This hall includes three rooms both in width and depth, supported by 30 pillars, and functions as a congregation space for monks.

At the temple’s end is the Buddhist Hall. Stretching from east to west, it measures 4.35 meters in length and 5.1 meters in width. The hall houses two upright pillars that support the Immovable Vajra Buddha statue. The second floor accommodates the monks’ dormitory, a patio for the sutra hall in the middle, and the rear Buddhist Hall, which contains 6 pillars. The third floor historically provided accommodation for the Dalai Lama. The temple’s golden top, designed in the Han Xieshan style and supported by brackets, showcases a blend of Chinese and Tibetan architectural elements.

Historical and cultural relics in Ramoche Temple

Ramoche Temple houses a collection of precious Buddha statues, including a Bronze Bodhisattva statue adorned with a crown, necklaces, and silk drapes. This statue, seated in a lotus position on a square platform, has a seat height of 68 centimetres. An engraving beneath the seat reads “Made in the Gengyin Year of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty,” attesting to its excellent craftsmanship.

The Bronze statue, standing at 1.33 meters tall (with the statue’s height being 1.16 meters and the seat’s height at 17 centimetres), depicts a figure holding a vase in both hands. It is dressed in silk garments that cascade to the feet, a short-sleeved shirt, and a long skirt with engraved pleats, lending a smooth, natural look.

The Gilt bronze statue of Lotus and Peanut, at 1.55 meters tall and 14 centimetres wide, is draped in a cassock and holds magical instruments in both hands. Seated in the lotus position on a lotus seat, the statue’s shape is vivid and lifelike.

Shakyamuni Statue of Ramoche Temple: Jowo Mikyo Dorjee

The temple also features a gilt bronze statue of the Immovable Vajra, an 8-year-old life-size representation of Sakyamuni Buddha. Revered alongside the 12-year-old life-size statue of Sakyamuni Buddha in Jokhang Temple, these statues form the esteemed “Two Sakyamuni Buddhas.” The Indian Dharma King’s branches crafted the statue, which the King of India initially presented to King Nibala. Later, the Nepalese King Devara gifted it to Zanpu Songtsen Gampo when he married Princess Chizun. Buddhist followers venerate it as a primary Buddha statue.

The King of Nepal presented the Sandalwood Tara Statue, a Bodhisattva statue carved from a sandalwood tree, to Tibet upon Songtsen Gampo’s marriage to Princess Nibala Chizun. Believed to protect against eight disasters and obstacles, Tibetans regard it as one of the “Three Rare Gods,” alongside the Immovable Vajra Buddha statue and the Maitreya Dharma Wheel statue.

Additionally, the temple houses a gilt bronze statue of Maharaja, a central deity in Tibetan Tantric Buddhism, revered as the “original Buddha” who manifested during Sakyamuni Buddha’s sermon. Maharaja, with a dignified countenance, features two arms on one side, a five-leaf crown, a hairpin, large earrings, a bare torso, a silk belt, a necklace, and an armband. He holds a vajra and pestle crossed on his chest while seated in the lotus position. The statue’s lower section, with a three-layered petal rosette, exhibits exceptional craftsmanship.

Lama Gyudpa

There are two sources of monks: the “Zorenpa” lamas who have passed the Geshe examination in the three major monasteries, and the “Ji Rimpa” lamas who have monk status in the three major monasteries and a few additional monks from other monasteries. These two types of monks are collectively known as “bla-ma-rgyud-pa”, but only Zorenpa belongs to the authentic sect of Lama Gyudpa.

The monastic rules are renowned for their strictness. The practice methods are typical of ascetics and wandering monks. Their lives are arduous and the system is highly stringent. It is said that when going to the temple at midnight, everyone goes barefoot; when reading scriptures in the Dharma Garden, each person digs a pit in the ground, lays stones inside, and sits on it, shielded from the elements; adheres to the monks’ precept of eating out of season and abstaining from food after noon; and sleeps collectively in the main hall at night.

When monks travel, in the 1st year of Zorenpa and the 9th year of Jirenpa, they arrive at the designated place to practice Tantric Dharma according to the prescribed schedule. This occurs annually, repeatedly. When travelling, they must carry their own luggage. Apart from Khenpo, who can ride a horse, the others all walk.

The practice content primarily includes the three Vajras of Intensity, Victory, and Majesty, along with tantric sutras, mantras, empowerments, mandalas, rituals, and more. The names are numerous and mysterious.

About the author

The Tibetan Travel website's creator, hailing from Lhasa, is a cultural enthusiast. They promote responsible tourism, connecting the world to Tibet's beauty and heritage. Awards recognize their contribution.

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