Das Kloster Khortschag (Tibetisch 'Khor chags, Chinesisch Kuojia) in Purang, Westtibet (Präfektur Ngari, Autonome Region, VR China), gegründet zu Ende des 10. Jahrhunderts unserer Zeitrechnung, ist eines der drei ältesten buddhistischen Klöster des historischen Westtibet. In der Nähe des heiligen Berges Kailas gelegen, ist das Kloster bis heute in ganz Tibet wegen seines Erbes alter sakraler Kunst berühmt. Die visuelle Dokumentation seiner Architektur und der in Khortschag erhaltenen Wandmalereien, Skulpturen und Ritualgegenstände sowie der religiösen und festlichen Traditionen, die in diesem Band mit großteils neuen Informationen zum ersten Mal vorgestellt und erläutert werden, bietet reichhaltiges Studienmaterial für alle, die diesen historisch bedeutenden Ort besuchen oder studieren. Mit mündlichen und schriftlichen Berichten zu den Verhältnissen in vormodernen Zeiten sowie Angaben zur Erhaltung und Wiederherstellung der spezifischen religiösen und kulturellen Traditionen vermittelt dieser Band einen Überblick über die Geschichte, sozio-ökonomische Organisation, Baukultur, Kunstgeschichte und religiösen Traditionen dieses Klosters und gibt Einblick in die kulturellen Traditionen der Dorfbevölkerung, wie zum Beispiel Lied- und Tanztraditionen und die Aufführung religiöser Stücke. Founded in the late 10th century CE, Khorchag monastery in Purang, Western Tibet (Ngari Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, PR China), is one of the three earliest Buddhist monasteries of historical Western Tibet and, due to its ancient sacred artistic heritage, renowned all over Tibet. The detailed visual documentation of the architecture, wall-paintings, sculptures and ritual paraphernalia extant in Khorchag, as well as the intimate visual documentation of ritual and festival traditions, provides rich and to a large degree new information and substantial study material for visitors and students of this important place. Most of this material is recorded, presented and discussed in this volume for the first time. Including oral and written accounts of relationships in pre-modern periods as well as reports on recent achievements in preserving and restoring specific religious and cultural traditions, this volume gives an overview of the history, socio-economic organisation, building structure, art history and religious traditions of this monastery. It also provides insight into the cultural heritage of the village population, such as local song and dance traditions and performances of religious plays.

An Overview of its History and Culture

Khorchag

The present publication offers to the academic readership for the first time a translation, transliteration and facsimile edition of three medieval and rare manuscripts recently traced in the Central Tibetan monastery of g.Ya’-bzang located in Yar-stod, foremost among which counts the g.Ya’bzang chos ’byung composed in 1475 A.D. Together the texts constitute a unique and compelling source for the post-dynastic history of the region of upper Yar-lung (i.e.Yar-stod) in southern Central Tibet. The sources deliver valuable information concerning the history and genealogy of the local royal house of the lHa Bug-pa-can-pa,and shed light on the formative history and rise of the religious throne of g.Ya’-bzang (est.1206), the key site of the g.Ya’-bzang bKa’-brgyud school, in particular emerging under the active patronage of this noble house. Throughout the 13th and 14th century it developed into the influental g.Ya’-bzang myriarchy (khri skor).

The sources include the biography of the central figure behind this powerful local entity, the charismatic g.Ya’-bzang-pa Chos kyi smon-lam (1169–1233 A.D.), whose monastery at the foot of the holy Sham-po Mountain turned into a powerful spiritual centre in this part of southern Tibet. A fascinating and illustrative portrait is drawn here, depicting the political and ideological mechanisms that governed the establishment of local post-dynastic rulership and its claims for legitimacy.

The study,combining philology,historical research and social anthropology, may serve as a sort of case-study by investigating the background and formation of these local ruling structures with their symbiotic politico-religious relationship to the religious institutions that flourished in their domain.  

Tsering Gyalpo

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Khorchag

Civilisation at the Foot of Mount Sham-Po. The Royal House of lHa Bug-pa-can and the History of g. Ya'-bzang