Historic Tsunmo Tsel Monastery with the body of Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen
Tsunmo Tsel Monastery is located in Tsunmo Tsel village, an area that has a deep connection to some of Tibet’s most important historical figures. The area is in the Dagze (སྟག་རྩེ་ཆུས།) district of Lhasa in Tibet. Tsunmo in Tibetan means ‘princess’ while Tsel means ‘find’. So in Tibetan, Tsunmo Tsel means the place the princess found. The Tang dynasty Princess Wencheng visited this special place in the 7th century. Captivated by its beauty, she built an estate there, which eventually became the residence where she and the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo spent their summers. The estate has since been destroyed. Tsunmo Tsel Monastery, founded by Duldzin Drakpa Gyatsen in 1420, is located behind the place where Princess Wencheng’s residence once stood.
Princess Wencheng: The Princess Who Brought Jowo Rinpoche to Tibet
Statue of Princess Wencheng in the Potala Palace (click to enlarge)
Princess Wencheng (文成公主), or known in Tibetan as Mung-chang Kungco, was a member of the royal clan of the Chinese Tang dynasty. She was granted by Emperor Taizong of Tang to King Songtsen Gampo (b. 617 – d. 650) of Tibet for marriage under the “marriage alliances” (和亲) arrangement. This arrangement was part of a diplomatic deal the Chinese Empire worked out called the “tribute system”, which was established to prevent other empires or countries from attacking China. Princess Wencheng is popularly known in Tibet as Gyasa, or “Chinese wife”.
She brought with her a large retinue of officials, scholars, and craftsmen, in addition to a large amount of Tang products such as silk, porcelain, fine furniture, musical instruments, jewellery and texts. She also brought an image of the Buddha, Jowo Rinpoche, that is still enshrined today in the main hall of Jokhang Monastery, the spiritual centre of Tibet and focal point for all Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims.
Together with King Songtsen Gampo’s Nepalese wife, Princess Bhrikuti, they were credited for introducing Buddhism to Tibet. Tibetan folk legends view King Songtsen Gampo as the reincarnation of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, the patron and protector of Tibet, while Princess Wencheng was considered an emanation of White Tara, the consort of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. Princess Bhrikuti Devi was considered the emanation of Green Tara.
Statues of King Songtsen Gampo with his two wives, Princess Wencheng (right) and Princess Bhrikuti (left)
Princess Wencheng was said to have influenced King Songtsen Gampo’s decision to stop the custom of face tattooing and painting among aristocrats, along with wearing clothes made of felt and skins. She was also credited with introducing new agricultural methods and skills, such as metallurgy, weaving, construction and more. As a result of the marriage, Chinese scholars and texts were brought into Tibet, children of Tibetan aristocrats and students were sent to China for education. Later, King Songtsen Gampo also requested China for silkworms’ eggs, wine presses, and workmen to make paper and ink. The diplomatic marriage brought peace to Tang China for about two decades, as well as cultural exchanges between Tang China and Tibet.
Her story was recorded in “Gyelrab Selwe Melong” and later became a popular play of the Tibetan folk opera. It has now evolved into a multimillion-dollar opera that plays most nights for tourists in the Tibetan capital Lhasa, choreographed by the famous Chinese film director Zhang Yimou, who also directed the Beijing Olympics’ opening and closing ceremonies.
Thonmi Sambhota: The Scholar Who Invented Tibetan Alphabet & Script
Thonmi Sambhota
Tsunmo Tsel Monastery is also significant in the history of the Tibetan language as the monastery has been the guardian of a very important stone stele. Thonmi Sambhota (b. 619 – d. unknown), the inventor of Tibetan script, offered the first Tibetan inscription text to King Songtsen Gampo after his invention. This stone stele of the inscription is still available in the monastery today for visitors to view.
The first Tibetan inscription text offered by Thonmi Sambhota to King Songtsen Gampo, which is still preserved in the monastery (click to enlarge)
King Songtsen Gampo had sent a group of Tibetans to India to learn the Indian writing systems in order to invent Tibetan script. The only person who was successful was Thonmi Sambhota. The earliest sources about the invention of Tibetan script are the treasured texts known as “The Pillar Testament” and the clan history called “Testament of Ba”. It is stated in the “Old Tibetan Chronicle”:
“Previously there had been no writing in Tibet but during the time of this tsenpo—from the reign of Tsenpo Tri Songtsen—the entire good basis of Tibet’s customs was created: Tibet’s great legal and governmental system, the [system of] ministerial rank, the division of ranks into greater and lesser, the rewards for the good, the punishments for the wicked and deceitful, the equal division of fields and pasturelands into tülka, dorka and lung, and the equal division of elds and pasturelands into bre, pül, srang and so on. All men felt a great gratitude for his kindness and in return, they called him Songtsen the Profound (Songtsen Gampo).”
Source: A New Look at the Tibetan Invention of Writing
Old Tibetan Documents Monograph Series, Vol.III, 2011
https://www.academia.edu/2039996/A_New_Look_at_the_Tibetan_Invention_
of_Writing
After Thonmi Sambhota formulated the Tibetan alphabet, it was taught to King Songtsen Gampo and some members of the royal household. Buddhist texts, including those that were kept in the palace such as the “Secret Potency”, were translated into Tibetan. The King himself went into a retreat of 4 years to learn to read and write Tibetan. After coming out of his retreat, the King wrote down ten laws for his subjects of the Tibetan empire.
Duldzin Drakpa Gyeltsen: The Vinaya Holder
Duldzin Drakpa Gyeltsen, one of Lama Tsongkhapa’s heart disciples (click to enlarge)
The founder of Tsunmo Tsel Monastery, Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen (b. 1374 – d. 1434), was an important figure in the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. Dulwa Dzinpa Drakpa Gyaltsen (1374–1434) was one of the eight main disciples of Lama Tsongkhapa, and was a role model for his practice of guru devotion in serving his lama all his life. Famous for his strict upholding of the monastic codes and for his mastery in writing on the Vinaya, he was given the title “Vinaya Holder”, or in Tibetan, “Dulwa Zinpa”, which was then shortened to Duldzin.
In order to preserve and propagate the teachings of his teacher that were highly sought after from all over Tibet, Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen built the first ever Gelug monastery, Gaden Monastery in Lhasa. When Lama Tsongkhapa entered parinirvana, Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen was requested to ascend the throne as the first Gaden Tripa, Throneholder of the Gelug. Duldzin humbly declined the offer, choosing to dedicate the rest of his life to uphold the precious teachings of his Guru instead. Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen stayed in Tsunmo Tsel Monastery until he entered into clear light, leaving behind a legacy of many great disciples, the monasteries he built, as well as his extensive written works in Tantra. His disciples included all of the most important Gelug lamas of his day, such as Jamyang Choje Tashi Pelden (1379-1449), the founder of Drepung Monastery.
Gaden Monastery in Lhasa, Tibet
When the 14th Dalai Lama’s tutor, Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang visited the monastery in 1928, he described his experience in his autobiography as below:
I spent one night at Tsunmo Tsal Monastery, where Dokhang House had made arrangements for my stay. There I made offerings before the stupa containing the holy body of Dulzin Drakpa Gyaltsen. Not only had it been long known that the body of Dulzin Rinpoché was at Tsunmo Tsal Monastery, but it was reputed that at some point in time, when the temple housing the stupa required renovation and the monastery invited the predecessor of the current Gyalsé Tulku of Lhopa House at Ganden and Geshé Chödrak of Dokhang House to perform the construction ritual, after the stupa was dismantled, the entire body was found in excellent condition in a box inside the vase structure of the stupa. Quite a lot of hair had grown on its head; the body had remained in an upright position, wrapped in two sets of monastic robes—an old and a new set—and an old wooden monk’s teacup filled with dried fruit still sat in his lap. The fragrant scent of pure moral discipline permeated the entire place. I had heard of this previously while at Ganden from Geshé Chödrak himself.
Source: Page 120, The Magical Play of Illusion: The Autobiography of Trijang Rinpoche
According to the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, this story shows how highly attained Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen must have been for his body to have remained in such condition. This phenomenon is related to “Tukdam”, a meditative state that great practitioners of Buddhism enter into when they pass away from this life, in order to take a controlled rebirth. During this meditative state, the physical body does not decay or deteriorate, and the person does not emit any unpleasant smell. This is because the mind, or the consciousness of the person, is still in a deep meditative state within the body. Amazingly, the body is not affected by temperature, weather conditions, or the external environment. There are many cases of great masters of the past and present entering this high state of meditation, and the miracle of their bodies not decaying is an external sign of their practice of controlled rebirth.
The Buildings
The stupa containing the body of Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen (click to enlarge)
One of the prayer halls
(click to enlarge)
The main building of the monastery is two storeys. There are 3 prayer halls on the ground floor and two prayer halls on the first floor. The central hall is where Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen’s stupa is housed.
How to Get There
Tsunmo Tsel is 56 kilometres (31 miles) away from Lhasa city. By travelling on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway section of the China National Highway 318, you can reach Tsunmo Tsel Village in 40 minutes from Dagze district by car.
There are two buses travelling along the 35 kilometres (21 miles) Dagze-Tsunmo Tsel passenger line, departing to Tsunmo Tsel from Dagze district twice daily.
More Pictures of Tsunmo Tsel Monastery
Source
- 人民网，拉萨河纪行：文成公主找到的地方, 28 August 2013, http://xz.people.com.cn/n/2013/0828/c138901-19409123.html ( accessed: 29 March 2019)
- 尊木采寺, 丁三琪释觉然法师的博客, 丁三琪释觉然法师, 29 August 2014, http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_b9c645da0102v0pu.html (accessed: 29 March 2019)
- 月下门旅行网，尊木采寺（尊木才寺）景点, https://www.yuexiamen.com/jingdian/8022.html (accessed: 29 March 2019)
- Lonelyplanet, Princess Wencheng Temple, https://www.lonelyplanet.com/china/yushu/attractions/princess-wencheng-temple/a/poi-sig/1238945/356061 (accessed: 29 March 2019)
- MCLC RESOURCE CENTER, Rethinking the Princess Wencheng story, 12 October 2016, https://u.osu.edu/mclc/2016/10/12/rethinking-the-princess-wencheng-story/ (accessed: 29 March 2019)
- Mun Sheng Kong Co and Kim Sheng Kong Co Two Chinese Princesses in Tibet, Hugh Richardson, https://www.jstor.org/stable/43300601?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents (accessed: 29 March 2019)
- “The Chinese Princess Wencheng in Tibet: A Cultural Intermediary between Facts and Myth.” In: Gálik, M. – Štefanovičová, T., eds.: Trade, Journeys, Inner- and Intercultural Communication in East and West (up to 1250), Martin Slobodnik, https://www.academia.edu/2579578/_The_Chinese_Princess_Wencheng_in_Tibet_A_Cultural_Intermediary_between_
Facts_and_Myth._In_G%C3%A1lik_M._%C5%A0tefanovi%C4%8Dov%C3%A1_T._eds._Trade_Journeys_Inner-_and_Intercultural_Communication_in_East_and_West_up_to_1250_ (accessed: 29 March 2019) - Lily Xiao Hong Lee, Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: Tang Through Ming, 618-1644, https://books.google.com.my/books?id=Cw0pAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA204&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false (accessed: 29 March 2019)
For more interesting information:
- Becoming Dulzin Drakpa Gyaltsen
- The Vinaya Holder Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen
- Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen
- Wonderful Lhasa
- Best Things to Do in Lhasa, Tibet
- The Sacred Vajrayogini of Ratsag Monastery
- Tengboche Monastery – Nepal
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Tsunmo Tsel Monastery was once a summer residence for Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo and Princess Wencheng. Tsunmo Tsel is a Gelup monastery that was founded by Duldzin Drakpa Gyeltsen in 1420 in central Tibet. Interesting history of this Gelup monastery , located in Tsunmo Tsel village, Tibet where Dulzin Drakpa Gyaltsen’s body was placed in a stupa. It’s a beautiful Stupa and so blessed able to see it during my trip back in 2019. It seems that during renovations when his body was removed from the stupa, a fragrant scent permeated through the entire place. Well its a sign of his pure moral discipline being a close disciple of Lama Tsongkhapa. He was well-known for holding his vows . Interest read.
Thank you Rinpoche for this wonderful sharing.
Tsunmo Tsel Monastery located in Tsunmo Tsel village, an area that has a deep connection to some of Tibet’s most important historical figures. Its a summer residence for Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo and Princess Wencheng, the famous princess who had brought Buddhism teachings to Tibet with her.
Interesting read about the history of the monastery where it was founded by Duldzin Drakpa Gyatsen. Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen’s stupa is housed at this monastery.The stupa was dismantled during the renovation works as described by Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang that the entire holy body of Duldzin Drakpa Gyatsen was found to be in good condition. Amazing this has then proven that how highly attained Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen was to remain in such a state.
Reading this post , it reminds me of my visit there last May with my friends.
I went and I saw the beautiful Holy stupa containing the body of Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen at this Tsunmo Tsel Monastery. I could not believe what I saw…..simply blinking and stunning stupa with a long history related to it.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
Tsunmo Tsel Monastery stands sui generis on the outskirt of Lhasa while the lone tree in the courtyard seems to have bore witness to the history that came and gone. But do not be fooled by the humble setting of the monastery, as it houses the body remain of Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen in a golden stupa in the central prayer hall. Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen, the Vinaya Holder, was an important figure in the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. As practitioners, we are fortunate that his body remains and stupa had been preserved for us to pay homage too. Thank you for this sharing.
Since child, I have heard about the name Pricess Wencheng, and know there are stage performance about Princess Wencheng, but because of the technology that time, I didn’t managed to read more about her, and eventually forgotten about this legendary person. Until today when I read about this article, I was very excited to read again the name I have heard about it long time ago.
Although Princess Wencheng is a female and female is always considered lower status compared to man in the olden days, but just like Magadha Sangmo (read more from: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/magadha-sangmo.html), Princess Wencheng had brought Buddhism into Tibet and it spread massively during 8th century under the ruling of King Trisong Detsen, until today, Tibet is still considered as the spiritual country as there are many holy places inside Tibet. It is interesting to read about Princess Bhrikuti as well, it was also known as Bhrikuti and Wencheng are said to have worked together to establish temples and Buddhism in Tibet.. I have no doubt if you said Princess Wencheng is the emanation of White Tara and Princess Bhrikuti is the emanation of Green Tara, it is because of them, Buddhism can be so widely spread in Tibet and to the whole world today.
I enjoyed reading this interesting article very much. It’s amazing to know that Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen’s body still remained in excellent condition according to Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang after his passing so many years ago. Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen was a highly attained lama who has uphold the precious teachings of his Guru .It is proven for his strong Guru devotion and dharma practice. Thank you Rinpoche and blog team for this very interesting article.???
Amazing facts about Tsunmo Tsel Monastery. It was founded by Duldzin Drakpa Gyatsen,as a summer residence for Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo and Princess Wencheng. Tsunmo Tsel Monastery is well known in the history of the Tibetan language as the monastery has been the guardian of a very important stone stele. Princess Wencheng played an important role introducing Buddhism to Tibet and introducing new agricultural methods and skills. Interesting read of the legends and history of this monastery. Glad to know that the miracle body of Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen is still intact not decaying found in the Stupa at the monastery. Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen was a highly attained lama who has uphold the precious teachings of his Guru .Its has proven the importance of Guru devotion.
Wow….Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang visited this monastery too. I do hope I could visit and see for myself the beautiful Holy stupa containing the body of Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen at the monastery during my coming trip.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
I am amazed to know that Lord Duldzin’s body still remained in excellent condition according to Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang, in his biography, after Lord Duldzin had passed on for 600 years. His body never decay, has proved to us, He was truly a highly highly attained lama at that time. For someone to achieve that stage of mind, i am sure He had attained Bodhicitta. What’s most amazing was His body has the fragrant scent after sitting in the stupa for 600 years. For what He had done in His life, His pure guru devotion, upholding his vinaya vows purely, He collected vast merits. Hence this is not something mystery or just a legend or folklore that people talked about. It’s real. We can achieve that stage of mind if we practice like Lord Duldzin.
Practicing guru devotion is very important. It’s a practice that covered all dharma practice. It’s not for our Guru. Our Guru gets nothing from us, but for our own mind transformation. Our Guru is the one who gives us teachings that can release our sufferings, he care, love and skilfully train us everyday, so that we can one day liberate ourselves, cut off the attachments in samsara. Not only that He protects us and our family from danger and death, even after death. Overall, our Guru prepares us for buddhahood. if we cannot treat our Guru well with love, care, respect, and even scarify ourselves to transform, who else? Our Guru has taken the burden for our spiritual path which is not only for now, but for many lives to come.
May I never separated from my Guru in this life and all future life.
Thank you, Rinpoche and the blog team for sharing about this amazing monastery in Lhasa. What stood out for me in this blog post is the Dulzin Drakpa Gyeltsen stupa that is in the monastery and Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche’s quote from his biography.
It is said that Dulzin Drakpa Gyeltsen’s body remained in perfect condition after his passing so many years ago. This is a testimony and also proof of the effectiveness of Dharma. It was also said that there are sweet fragrant that came out from the Stupa. This is the direct outcome of practicing Vinaya and never transgress it.
From here we can see that Dulzin Drakpa Gyeltsen is a highly attained monk who is believed to have the same attainments with Lama Tsongkhapa. He is one of Dorje Shugden previous incarnation. It is not possible for the mind to degenerate when they pass away and become evil. It is just not possible.