The history and culture of Qamdo Temple
Chamdo Temple, also known as Chamdo Luoerbu Temple (meaning: "Seaside Treasure Temple"), is an ancient Yongzhong Benbo temple with a history of more than a thousand years. "Yongzhong Benjiao" (referred to as Benjiao) originated from the Gangdise Holy Mountain area in ancient Zhangxiong (now Ngari Prefecture, Tibet). It is based on the theory of sutra, esotericism and Dzogchen, and takes refuge in the Three Treasures as the foundation. It helps the world and saves people. Buddha's education, which guides people to do good and has its own secrets to perfect Buddhahood, is also the oldest Buddhist teaching in Tibet, China, with a history of 18,000 years. The glorious and prosperous ancient Zhangzhong civilization developed based on the spread of "Yongzhong Benjiao". Due to the long and splendid history of ancient Zhangzhung culture, it has been included in the protection scope of world cultural heritage. "Yongzhongbenjiao" is the Tathagata's true Dharma passed down by Buddha Xingrao Miwo. It is "centered" on human beings and regards all sentient beings as the objects of universal salvation. It enables people in the world to break their confusion and enlightenment, remove obstacles and confusion, and understand the present and next lives. Mahayana Buddhism to achieve ultimate and complete liberation from suffering.
Before the introduction of Indian Buddhism, and before the so-called official history of Tibet, there was already a glorious civilization on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. This civilization was the "Ancient Zhangzhong Civilization". Long before Indian Buddhism was introduced to Tibet, this religion had been widely spread on the snowy plateau and was the most important spiritual belief of the Tibetan people. Before the seventh century, all astronomers, educators, translators, doctors, divination masters, fortune tellers, feng shui masters, and educated scholars in the Zhangzhung area of Tibet could be called "Benbo". All cultures and religious beliefs on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau can be called "original religions". "Benjiao" is actually not just a simple religious belief, but also the cultural system, philosophical thoughts, civilized etiquette, folk customs, national spirit and social education of the Tibetan compatriots. Yongzhong's "Kangyur" is actually the origin and source of all Tibetan history, religion and culture. It is an extremely precious material for the study of ancient Tibetan civilization. This is also an important area that no Tibetan culture researcher can bypass. In July 2013, the Chinese translation project of the "Ancient Zhangzhung Buddhism" Tripitaka was listed as a key scientific research project of the "Chinese Academy of Social Sciences".
The "Yongzhong Ben Religion" created many of the beginnings of Tibetan culture, such as living folk customs, etiquette standards, astronomy and calendars, Tibetan medicine, Tibetan language, religious beliefs, political and religious systems, as well as the art of singing, dancing, painting, etc. It can be rightfully called the source of Tibetan culture and Tibetan Buddhism!
The temple has a great influence in history and has a long history. It is another ancient Yongzhong Benji temple after the royal temple Yongzhong Lading Guangfa Temple.
The temple is located at an altitude of more than 2,000 meters. It is a mountainous area with a mild climate and mountains. Whenever spring comes, the mountains are green, the water is gurgling, and the lakes and mountains are beautiful. It has always been a religious person. A great place for a retreat. Historically, Qamdo Temple was the official temple in the ancient Chuosijia area and the head organization dedicated to managing religious affairs in the area for the chieftains. Its highest leader was "Lang Song". In the political system of the chieftain, the rank was second only to the chieftain and it was inherited hereditary. , served by the chieftain's brothers, is responsible for the management of the area centered on Chuosijia Tusi Official Village in Zhoushan Township, bordering Ganzi to the west and south, Rangtang to the north, Malkang to the east, and Daijin to the southeast. Dozens of temples spread over 20,000 square kilometers. According to the "Collection of National and Social Historical Survey Reports" in the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, there were 40 temples in Chuosjia area, three sects (Benbo Sect, Red Sect and Yellow Sect), and there were 2,567 living Buddhas, lamas and Drabas in total.
Because Shisi and Lang Song of all dynasties believed in Benbo religion and strongly supported it, Benbo religion became the dominant sect in this area, with Qamdo Shou as the head and core of the temples. Lang Song lived in Qamdo Temple and took command of the government. He appointed the khenpos of each temple. The khenbu of each temple had to take turns to be the steward of the official village of Jichangdu Temple and send Drakpa to serve in Qamdo Temple, especially for the annual prayer ceremony. All monasteries have to send personnel to participate in the meeting. There are thousands of monks. It is a huge and grand event. The management of Qamdo Temple was divided into two systems: academic affairs and temple government affairs under Lang Song. Important positions were established according to the system to assist Lang Song in managing religious affairs throughout the chieftain's jurisdiction. Not only that, the eminent monks of Qamdo Temple also helped the chieftain participate in foreign affairs activities. They accompanied the chieftain or went to Beijing to pay tribute on behalf of the chieftain. They were valued by the imperial court. A pure silver statue of Zunsheng Buddha awarded by the imperial court is still kept in the temple.
According to some historical records and folklore, the main religion of Qamdo Temple is the 36th generation of Langsong Lazhang and Chuosijia, the twins of the lineage of eminent monks of the Muchi Damo Sect (place name). When the three top lamas were still alive, the Yongzhong sect’s nine times, four gates, five treasuries, and the five major and five sects had already flourished, and the teachings and regulations were also very sound. There are an endless stream of eminent monks and practitioners. The five large and small halls enshrine thousands of clay sculptures of Dunpa Xinrao, the founder of the religion, bronze sculptures of the Supreme Being, the Silent Vajra, and lama pagodas decorated with pearls and jewels. In particular, the printing room named "Tongzhu Qinbo" was well-known in the area under the jurisdiction of Quanshi. It was the only institution capable of printing in this area at that time. It had various Buddha statues and printing plates and complete sets of divine protectors. There are more than tens of thousands of printing plates for the Zhangzhong Tripitaka "Ganyur" of our sect, which fully demonstrates the scale and ability of Qamdo Temple in preaching scriptures and propagating Dharma at that time.
Qamdo Temple was not immune to the unprecedented disaster during the Cultural Revolution and suffered varying degrees of destruction. After the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and with the implementation of the party's ethnic and religious policies, the temple was opened and rebuilt with government approval in 1984. In today's Qamdo Temple, the main hall stands majestically and is resplendent; the prayer corridor looks like a dragon lying quietly; the hall is full of carved beams and painted buildings, and is blessed with three benevolent statues of Buddha Miwo Tathagata, Serama Sang and the master Serama Gamosa. The good man himself sits on the throne, the lama pagoda inlaid with gold, silver and pearl agate is exquisite and clear. All kinds of classics are displayed in an orderly manner. The lights are brightly lit and cigarette smoke surrounds. There are constant pilgrims. It has become a beautiful scenery and historical sight in Sawajiao Township, Jinchuan County. One of the important cultural landscapes with cultural relic value.