Gongtang Pagoda

　　Highlights: The pagoda houses an Amitabha Buddha (Amitayus) statue brought from Nepal, which enjoys fame both at home and abroad. With its unique design and exquisite craftsmanship, the pagoda reaches a perfect and sacred realm in both architectural artistry and religious significance.

　　　 Introduction

　　　　Gongtang Pagoda is located at the southwest corner of Labrang Monastery. It was first built in 1805 by the Third Jamyang Zhepa, Gonchok Hutuktu Tenpai Dronme, originally named the Present Enlightenment Golden Stupa. It gained fame both domestically and internationally for enshrining the Amitabha Buddha (Amitayus) statue brought from Nepal. The pagoda features a distinctive shape, exquisite craftsmanship, and achieves a perfect and sacred state in terms of architectural art and religious meaning. The current pagoda was initiated by the Sixth Jamyang Zhepa, Wangchuk, in order to revive Buddhist traditions, promote teachings, and benefit the people. On February 8, 1991, he held a purification ritual on the original site of the pagoda and oversaw its reconstruction. The project was completed in July 1993, and the consecration ceremony was held on the sacred day of Shakyamuni Buddha’s First Sermon. The Gongtang Pagoda has five levels and stands 31.33 meters tall. It is designed in the shape of a bodhi tree and covers an area of 2,144.16 square meters. The structure consists of the spire, the body (or "bottle"), and the base. The spire represents the sun, moon, and stars; the body features eight gilt bronze relief statues of great bodhisattvas; and the base is a three-story, four-cornered building decorated with glazed tiles.

　　　　The exterior of the pagoda is resplendent and majestic, while its interior is intricately constructed and richly adorned. At the center of the pagoda are four interconnected two-story shrine halls that house the stupas or gilded wooden statues of past Jamyang Zhepas, as well as over 20,000 volumes of Buddhist scriptures. The hall ceilings are adorned with statues of Amitabha Buddha, the Second Jamyang Zhepa, and a thousand Buddha copper figures. Gongtang Pagoda stands proudly alongside the Daxia River and the spruce forested monastic grounds, presenting a magnificent and awe-inspiring sight. It is now open to visitors.