Anjue Temple

Anjue Temple

Anjue Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

This is a Yellow Sect temple of Tibetan Buddhism.

Legend has it that the Fifth Dalai Lama was on his way to Beijing to meet Emperor Shunzhi of the Qing Dynasty when he passed through Kangding. He stayed at the home of Sageng Geba of the Luojia Guozhuang, the residence of the minister of the Mingzheng Tusi. At that time, the eminent monk Luorong Gele was also traveling in Kangding and lamented to the Fifth Dalai Lama about the lack of a place for scripture recitation. The Fifth Dalai Lama pointed out the window to a barren piece of land and said, “Let it be here.”

Later, through the fundraising efforts of these eminent monks and the donations from Guozhuangs such as Sageng Geba and Xiaoba, the temple was completed on the 25th of October the following year — which happened to be the Butter Lamp Festival commemorating the parinirvana of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Yellow Sect.

The construction of the temple involved five occurrences of the number “five,” which is called “An” in Tibetan. As the temple sought offerings from all directions — referred to as “Que” in Tibetan — it was thus originally named “Anque Temple.” In the 1930s, Dai Gong, the head of the Nationalist Government, visited Ganzi to pay homage to the 9th Panchen Lama and passed through Kangding, where he inscribed the name “Anjue Temple” for the site. This name has been used ever since.

The temple is most lively on the 25th day of the 10th lunar month, when the Yuan Gen Butter Lamp Festival is held. Butter sculptures are displayed, scriptures are chanted, and the temple is bustling with activity. Devotees and curious visitors come in an endless stream.