Aubotekure Temple

Aubotekure Temple

Aubotekure Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Aubotekure Temple

Aubotekure Temple is located at No. 007, West Temple Street, Aubot Town, Hoboksar Mongol Autonomous County, 200 kilometers from Karamay City, 39 kilometers from National Highway 217, and 2 kilometers from Provincial Highway 318. Also known as “A’erbudubuleng” (in Mongolian, meaning “strong and prosperous”), it is also called “Wanghuoxiongkure.” It was first built in the 30th year of the Chongzhen reign of the Ming Dynasty (1640) on the earthen hill behind the Prince’s Mansion in what is now the county town. It was rebuilt in the 17th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1752), and the third reconstruction took place in the 6th year of the Jiaqing reign (1801). The Qing government’s Lifan Yuan bestowed upon it the plaque “Pu’en Temple.” The fourth reconstruction occurred in the 3rd year of the Tongzhi reign (1864), led by the 12th Shaluwan Hutuktu, who also resided there. By the 14th year of the Guangxu reign (1888), the renowned Sertar Monastery—Jiangbukirfu, one of the three great monasteries of Lhasa well-known both domestically and internationally, was invited to the county town and undertook another reconstruction of the temple. Initially built at Tuogerkehage, it was relocated to Hoboksar in the 19th year of the Guangxu reign (1893). In 1913, the temple had 50 halls and over 500 monks. In August 1945, after the Three Districts National Revolutionary Army captured the county town, most of the tens of thousands of taels of gold and silver stored in the cellar beneath the main hall were lost during the chaos of war. As the county town was about to be taken, defending troops demolished parts of the temple buildings to construct fortifications. During the Cultural Revolution, the main halls and Buddha statues were destroyed, golden Buddhas and scriptures were lost, and all valuables were burned. The temple was rebuilt in 1983, and in 2000, a new 260-square-meter temple was constructed. On festival days, one can witness grand ceremonies where numerous monks, clad in valuable silk robes and silver-adorned headdresses, each holding a bell, sit on “Jiabude” meditation cushions, chanting from loose-leaf Tibetan scriptures with clear, graceful, and solemn melodies. After the scripture recitation, the monks beat leather drums and blow long, tube-like copper trumpets, producing deep, resonant sounds that drift out of the temple gates and echo through the surroundings.

The current Aubotekure Temple was rebuilt in 2003 and currently houses over 50 monks.