Gyantse is a Tibetan city famous for its resistance against British invasion, earning it the title of a heroic city. However, it is not only known for its history of conflict but also for the Palcho Monastery, which is renowned for its blend of different religious sects.
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The History of Palcho Monastery
Palcho Monastery, nestled in the heart of Gyantse County in Tibet, owes its existence to a pivotal collaboration between two key figures of 15th-century Tibetan history: Rabten Kunsang Phak, a local ruler of Gyantse, and Jamchen Chojey, the founder of Sera Monastery and a close disciple of Tsongkhapa. Construction began in 1418 and spanned a decade, finally completing in 1428, a period when Tibet’s religious landscape was undergoing a revival of Buddhist scholarship and temple building.
What sets Palcho’s history apart is its role as a “ecumenical monastery” from its inception. Unlike many Tibetan monasteries that aligned exclusively with one Buddhist school, Rabten Kunsang Phak insisted Palcho welcome three major schools of Tibetan Buddhism: Gelug, Kagyu, and Sakya. This decision stemmed from his desire to foster religious harmony in Gyantse, a region that had seen tensions between different schools in the preceding centuries. For instance, during the 14th century, Gyantse had been a stronghold of the Sakya school, but by the 15th century, the Gelug school was gaining influence. Palcho’s multi-school identity allowed it to bridge these divides, making it a unique center of religious coexistence.
Over the centuries, Palcho Monastery endured both prosperity and hardship. In the 17th century, it received patronage from the 5th Dalai Lama, who funded the restoration of its chapels and the addition of new murals. However, it also faced damage during conflicts in the early 20th century, most notably during the British expedition to Tibet in 1904, when parts of the monastery’s outer buildings were destroyed. Local monks and villagers later worked to repair the damage, ensuring that its historical and religious treasures were preserved for future generations.
The Architectures of Palcho Monastery
Palcho Monastery’s architectural complex is dominated by two iconic structures: the Great Assembly Hall (Tsokchen) and the Kumbum Stupa, also known as the “108 Chapel Stupa.
But the first thing you will notice when visiting the Palcho Monastery is the Tibetan Great Wall. Using this great wall, the monks and local soldiers fought against the British invasion army and defended the mobs during the Cultural Revolution.
The Great Assembly Hall, located at the center of the monastery, was built in the traditional Tibetan style with thick stone walls and wooden beams sourced from the nearby Himalayan forests. Its ground floor serves as a gathering space for monks from all three schools to conduct joint prayers, while the upper floors house chapels dedicated to different deities. The walls of the hall are covered in murals dating to the 15th century, painted with mineral pigments that retain their vividness today. One mural depicts the life of the Buddha, while another shows the three Buddhist schools’ founders: Tsongkhapa (Gelug), Milarepa (Kagyu), and Sakya Pandita (Sakya), sitting side by side, a visual representation of Palcho’s ecumenical spirit.
The Kumbum Stupa, completed in 1427 (one year before the entire monastery), is the most famous part of Palcho. Standing 32 meters tall, it has 11 levels and contains 108 small chapels, each housing a statue of a Buddha or Bodhisattva, along with murals depicting scenes from Buddhist cosmology. The stupa’s exterior is decorated with intricate carvings of lotus flowers and Dharma wheels, while its interior is a labyrinth of narrow passages that lead visitors from one chapel to another. A unique feature of the Kumbum Stupa is its “eyes of wisdom” painted on each of its four sides, a design borrowed from Nepali architecture, symbolizing the Buddha’s all-seeing gaze.
Religious Activities of Palcho Monastery
Palcho Monastery’s religious life is shaped by the traditions of its three Buddhist schools, leading to a rich mix of rituals and festivals that honor each school’s practices while maintaining a spirit of unity.
One of Palcho’s most important annual festivals is the “Gyantse Dharma Festival,” held in the fourth month of the Tibetan calendar (usually June). During the festival, monks perform “cham” dances in the monastery’s courtyard, wearing colorful masks representing deities and demons. The highlight of the festival is the unfurling of a 20-meter-long thangka of the Buddha on the wall of the Great Assembly Hall. Pilgrims travel from across Tibet to view the thangka, believing that seeing it will bring them merit. Another key event is the “Kumbum Prayer Ceremony,” held in the tenth month of the Tibetan calendar, where monks circumambulate the Kumbum Stupa 108 times—one for each chapel inside—while reciting prayers for world peace.
Conclusion
Palcho Monastery stands as a living testament to Tibet’s commitment to religious coexistence and cultural preservation. Its history tells a story of how a monastery can transcend school divisions to become a unifying force.
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