Tsurphu Monastery

It was built in the middle of the valley facing south with high mountains surrounding the complex. Tsurphu is a 300 m2 complex with walls up to 4 m thick. The gompa, the traditional seat of the Karmapa lamas, is about 28 km up the Dowo Lung Valley on the north side of the river. The original walls of the main building were up to 4 meters thick and 300 meters on each side (90000 m2). The monks' residences were on the eastern side.

• Name — Tsurphu Monastery • Thdl — Tsurphu Gömpa • Religious Affiliation — Tibetan Buddhism • Location Country — China • Location — Gurum, Doilungdêqên District, Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region • Founded By — Düsum Khyenpa, 1st Karmapa Lama • Sect — Kagyu

• Illustration — Reconstructed Tsurphu Monastery, 1993 Tsurphu was founded by Düsum Khyenpa, 1st Karmapa Lama (1110-1193) in 1159, after he visited the site and laid the foundation for an establishment of a seat there by making offerings to the local protectors, the dharmapalas and territorial divinities. In 1189 he revisited the site and founded his main seat there. The monastery grew to hold 1000 monks. The complex was totally destroyed in 1966 during the Cultural Revolution. Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, 16th Karmapa, began to rebuild it in 1980; he died in 1981. Following the recognition of Ogyen Trinley Dorje (born 1985) as the 17th Karmapa by the Tai Situpa, the Dalai Lama and China's governmental offices, he was enthroned at Tsurphu and resided there until he escaped from Tibet to India in 2000.

A Yelpa Kagyu monastery, Jang Tana, in Nangchen, Kham, is considered a branch monastery of Tsurpu. It was founded by Yelpa Yeshe Tsek in 1068.

Variant names for the monastery include: Tsurphu, 楚布寺, mtshur mdo bo lung dgon, 祖普寺, Okmin Tsurpu, 'og min mtshur phu.

• Illustration — Elderly pilgrim, Tsurphu Gompa, 1993 • Illustration — Pilgrims, Tsurphu Gompa, 1993 • Illustration — Nomad camp above Tsurphu Gompa, 1993. Smoke is from juniper burning for ceremony.