Tholing Monastery
The Thoding Monastery (Tib. mtho lding dgon pa, Tibetan: མཐོ་ལྡིང་དགོན་པ ) or Tholing Monastery (Tib. mtho dgon gling pa) is a Buddhist monastery in the former kingdom of Guge and is now in a circle Tsada ( Zanda ) in the far west of Tibet ( Ngari ). The founding of the monastery dates back to the year 996. The monastery was the religious center of the Guge kingdom.
Foundation
In 996 AD, the Thoding Tsuglag was Khang (Tibetan: tho lding gtsug was khang; "Temple of Thoding " ) of Yeshe Ö ( Tib. ye shes ' od ) was founded. In 1028 there was a renovation and expansion. The expanded temple was named Pel Pemed Lhüngyi drupe Tsuglagkhang ( Tib: dpal dpe med lhun gyis grub pa'i khang gtsug lay; " Glorious, unique incurred miraculously temple " ), but was also due to its red color simply Khangmar ( Tib: khang dmar; " Red House " or " Red Temple " ) called. 1037 Thoding was sacked by Qarakhanids, the Coming invaded from Central Asia during their raids in Ngari. However, the damage may not have been as big or have been resolved quickly. Because as soon after the Indian scholar Atisha traveled in the years 1042-1045 to Ngari, while also visited Thoding, he praised the found therein saints and murals of the monastery. In the years 1265-1277 the so-called red temple of the king Thoding dragpa De ( Tib: grags pa lde ) was renovated again. The " Red Temple " has survived the massive destruction of the monastery during the Cultural Revolution and today can be visited again.
Extensions of the monastery
Even in the 11th century the Serkhang ( Tib: gser khang ) was " Golden House " called the temple was constructed. But to a significant expansion of the monastery, it came only in the 15th century among the kings Ngawang dragpa (Tibetan: dbang ngag grags pa) and Lhawang Lodro (Tibetan: lha dbang blo gros ). Through them, the still existent large assembly hall was ( Tib: 'you khang ' dzam rgyan gling ), the so-called "White Temple" ( Tib. lha khang dkar po) and numerous other buildings erected.
Destruction and renovation
During the Cultural Revolution, the thousand year old monastery was severely affected. Many buildings were destroyed, destroyed the existing in the non- ruined temples of saints, for the most part and the murals damaged. Since the monastery is famous for its unusual architectural style and its elegant murals are his remains since 1996 on the monument list the People's Republic of China. Restoration work to save the endangered considerably extant cultural monuments but were carried out until 2007 only by a small non-profit company from Switzerland.
Climate
In the nearby village Tholing the daily temperature fluctuations are very high, which is attributable to the Landschaftliche location. The rainfall is very low.
Gallery
Thoding Monastery Detail: The White Temple.
Mural of the White Temple.
Thoding Monastery Detail: Wall Paintings of the White Temple