The Phagpa Preaching Platform

The Phagpa Preaching Platform

The Phagpa Preaching Platform

In 1278, during his return journey from the Yuan Dynasty capital (Beijing) to the Tibetan region, Phagpa, the Imperial Preceptor of the Yuan Dynasty, preached Buddhist teachings, conferred empowerments, and spread sutras here. The ruins of the “White Lotus Seat” of Phagpa’s preaching platform are located near the Gajang Monastery in Chenwen Town.

In 1265, on his way back to Tibet from the capital, Phagpa passed through Yushu and preached and conferred empowerments at Gawalongba (now Chenwen Township, Chenduo County), gathering an audience of over ten thousand people. He also accepted two brothers, Ani Dangba and Ani Zhongba, as disciples in Shangzhuang.

In 1268, following Phagpa's instructions, the two brothers founded the Gajang Monastery in Chenduo and built the “Baima Gaba” at the site where Phagpa had preached, as a memorial. Phagpa gifted the monastery a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, a complete set of the Kangyur scriptures written in silver on black paper, a 1.5-foot-tall alloy stupa, a nine-pronged ritual bell, and issued an official decree requiring local residents to offer butter, gold, barley, and livestock to the monastery. He also bestowed two seals—one made of ivory and the other of sandalwood—upon the person in charge of the local religious and political affairs.