Langyi Monastery

Langyi Monastery

Langyi Monastery is a cultural tourism attraction.

Langyi Monastery is located about 2 kilometers from Aba County and is the largest Bon monastery in Aba and even northwestern Sichuan, with over 700 monks. There are three Bon monasteries in Aba County: Duodeng Monastery, built on the hillside opposite Langyi Monastery, and another in Lower Aba. Bon is the original religion of the Tibetans before Buddhism was introduced to China. They believe in animism, worshiping celestial beings and natural objects. After Buddhism was introduced to China, Bon absorbed many Buddhist doctrines and developed its own teachings, but they have become largely similar to Buddhism. To differentiate itself from Buddhism, Bon adopted certain anti-Buddhist practices, the most noticeable being the counterclockwise direction of prayer wheel turning.

Nestled among mountains, Langyi Monastery exudes an exceptional sense of serenity. Its architectural decorations are exquisite and ornate. From the outside, Langyi Monastery doesn't seem much different from other Tibetan Buddhist temples, nor do the monks' attire differ; however, enshrined in the center of the main prayer hall is a giant statue of Tonpa Shenrab, the founder of Bon. Neatly arranged on both sides are 1,113 bronze statues of Tonpa Shenrab, while behind them are gilded statues of all the former abbots of Langyi Monastery. The surrounding walls are covered with beautifully painted murals depicting the history and doctrines of Bon. On the beams of the main prayer hall, the sculptures of fairies in various poses are particularly captivating. About 100 meters directly in front of the main prayer hall stands a tall and majestic Jixiang Ruyi Pagoda. We were told that inside the pagoda are enshrined more than 1,000 statues of Tonpa Shenrab and some scriptures, with the bases of the statues all featuring a blue background.

A Brief History of Langyi Monastery

The earliest lineage holder and founding master of Langyi Monastery was Langyi Dopa I, also known as the Great Venerable Yonten Gyatso. He was born in 1088 AD and was a descendant of the great master Serkha'u of Zhangzhung.

Legend has it that he had an extraordinary and unique appearance, with naturally appearing wing-like patterns on his upper body resembling those of a garuda, dozens of divine characters on his waist, and a tiger-skin skirt around his lower body.

From a young age, Dopa was kind-hearted and dedicated to learning. He studied under Lama Yigong in a place called Jia Gesangzong near Mount Amnye Machen in Qinghai, where he learned both the exoteric and esoteric teachings of Yungdrung Bon, as well as the core secrets of the doctrine. He practiced in a cave for several years. Upon completing his practice, he gained deep respect from local devotees for his profound spiritual powers. Many sought his blessings, and he also used the offerings he received to engage in widespread charity and virtuous deeds, earning immense love and admiration from his followers.

Later, he came to the Aba area to preach and propagate the Bon teachings, establishing the Bon banner. Gradually, he ascended to the Bon throne in the Warma region, becoming the first lineage holder. He married Jiangsha Yizhuoma, a reincarnated dakinī, who revered Bon, was kind-hearted, compassionate, and possessed bodhicitta. She was a peerless beauty. Together, they had three sons: the eldest, Xia Qing Nima Zhen; the second, Jia De; and the third, E Gen. Xia Qing Nima Zhen was intelligent and talented. When he grew up, in 1168 AD, he founded the “Langyi Jiadan Pengcuo Latzhang” — the first temple building, which also served as his residence. He succeeded as the lineage holder and became the abbot of the monastery.

For this reason, some historical texts describe the history of Dopa and his son spreading Bon in the Aba region during this period as: “The initial propagation of the teachings is attributed to the wise Dopa Venerable, and the founding of the temple is rightly the ‘Langyi Jiadan Pengcuo Latzhang’ residence.”

From Dopa to the current Gyarang Luozhou Gyatso, Langyi Monastery has seen 39 generations of lineage holders. Historically, the monastery once housed up to a thousand monks, and even now has six to seven hundred. This shows that the Bon tradition of Langyi Monastery has a heritage of at least nearly 900 years, and the monastery itself has a history of over 800 years.