Wengdu Monastery and the Former Residence of the Panchen Lama in Haidong Region

Wengdu Monastery and the Former Residence of the Panchen Lama in Haidong Region

Wengdu Monastery and the Former Residence of the Panchen Lama in Haidong Region are national key cultural relics protection units.

Wengdu Monastery, also known as "Biandu Monastery" or "Biangduo Monastery," is called "Wengdu Gongqin Zhaxi Qukorlang" in Tibetan, meaning "Auspicious Continent of Wengdu Great Monastery." It is located 17 kilometers southwest of the county seat, on the northern side of a mountain valley in Ladai Village, 5 kilometers southwest of present-day Wengdu Township. The earliest construction of Wengdu Monastery can be traced back to before the Yuan Dynasty. Legend has it that initially, a small scripture hall was built on the mountainside above the current monastery site.

The late 10th Panchen Lama’s former residence is situated in Mariri Village, Wengdu Township, 20 kilometers southwest of the county seat. On the third day of the first lunar month in the 27th year of the Republic of China (1938), the Panchen Lama was born here. His ancestral home was in the Sakya region of Tibet. His family migrated to Xunhua in the early Yuan Dynasty, became hereditary centurions from the Ming Dynasty onward, and were promoted to chiliarchs in the late Qing Dynasty, governing the "Seven Clans of Wengdu."

Mariri Village is located at the foot of Xiadang Mountain, boasting beautiful scenery and a pleasant climate, with a small river flowing from south to north into the Yellow River. A road running through the village connects Jishi Town of Xunhua and Tongren County in Huangnan. The Panchen Lama’s former residence stands beneath a tall, towering ancient tree. The residence has three courtyards: the outer courtyard includes a parking lot, storage rooms, and warehouses; the western courtyard is the old residence, where family members lived; the eastern courtyard features two-story Tibetan-style buildings on three sides, with the main Buddhist hall situated in the center of the northern side. To its left are a reception room and the Panchen Lama’s bedroom. The beams, columns, and doors are all painted and decorated, giving the place a magnificent, solemn, and elegant appearance. Above the door of the Buddhist hall hangs a plaque inscribed with “Source of the River, Mount Sumeru,” flanked by a couplet: “In winding streams, peace meditates, patriotism spreads early to repel invaders; in all directions, conversion safeguards teachings to secure the nation.” This was a gift presented on October 1, 1983, by local urban and rural friends to celebrate the completion of the Panchen Lama’s new residence. The former residence has now become a site for tourists to visit and for Buddhist devotees to worship. A poem reads:

A land of brilliance shelters auspiciousness, the Source of the River, Mount Sumeru, flourishes eternally;

Loving the nation and faith, guiding all beings, the glorious name and Zen heart resound through heaven and earth.

Leaving the former residence and heading south, you cross Xiadang Mountain to reach Wengdu Monastery, a renowned site in the Xunhua area. On Zhide Mountain opposite the monastery, a lush virgin spruce forest sets off the temple with exceptional serenity. Wengdu Monastery was the main place where the Panchen Lama studied scriptures, received precepts, and conducted Buddhist activities upon returning to his hometown. On the 15th day of the eighth lunar month in 1991, the Panchen Lama Memorial Stupa was completed and consecrated. The stupa features characteristics of Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan architectural style, standing grand and majestic. To the east of the hall is the Panchen Lama Memorial Hall, which introduces his life through stone carvings, photos, and texts. It is often visited by devotees and tourists. A poem reads:

Clouds and rosy clouds billow, prayer flags flutter, the ancient temple reopens after trials;

Carved beams, painted pillars, and tortoiseshell-like decorations, thangkas and murals bring auspiciousness.

Statues of Guanyin and arhats display diverse expressions, ferrying compassion;

Shrines hold flickering lamps amid incense, the gold-inlaid memorial hall shines.

Chanting voices echo through halls and towers, only sincere Zen hearts navigate the sea of awakening;

Pines and cypresses with flowing water inspire awe, the stupa and temple both radiate glory.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units