Pictures of ‘Khor gdong Monastery in Khams

By Varvara Chatzisavva, 2019–2025

This post presents pictures by Varvara Chatzisavva documenting the Byang gter monastery of ‘Khor gdong in eastern Tibet. This is to be used together with her forthcoming article entitled “The present and future of ’Khor gdong Monastery
in Brag ’go (Khams, Eastern Tibet) and Siliguri (West Bengal, India).”

The presentation was initially given during the First International Conference on the Northern Treasures held at the Inalco, 2 rue de Lille, Paris, on Octobre 18-20.

‘Khor gdong Monastery

‘Khor gdong from the 1980 to 2024
The main temple as rebuilt by dBon chen bSod nams ’od gsal
The main temple as currently restored

Brag ‘go Town (ch. Luhuo) in the Tre hor district of Khams, in eastern Tibet

Figures 1-6:

Figure 1

Quarter of the prayer wheels in Brag ‘go

The line of prayer wheels seen in the middle of fig. 7 and in fig. 8 and 9 has been destroyed and replaced by a wall (fig. 10) surrounding new government buildings and a police station (fig. 11-12).

Fig. 7

Board displayed in ‘Khor gdong Monastery

Larger board:

In Chinese: “Keluodong Temple Publicity Board in Luhuo county”

In Tibetan: “Propaganda Poster in ’Khor gdong Monastery in Brag ’go rDzong”

Smaller board:

“Adhere to the direction of sinicization of religion in China and promote the healthy inheritance of Tibetan Buddhism”

Fig. 13

Treasures held in ‘Khor gdong Monastery

Fig. 14: To the right is the statue of ‘Khor gdong ‘Gyur med rdo rje (1887–1967). On the shelves on the left (fig. 15) are sku gdung, or fragments of them of gTer chen Nus lden rdo rje (1802–1864), mChog sprul ’Gyur med rdo rje (1887–1967), gTer sprul ‘Chi med rig ‘dzin (1922-2002), Bya bral padma chos dbyings khyab brdal (1920–1997), etc.

Renovation in the Monastery

Fig. 24

Items sold in the shop

Fig. 28 represents a hotel restaurant belonging to the ‘Khor gdong Monastery in Bra ’go. The products on fig. 29-31 are taken from the Monastery’s shop, selling products (e.g., soaps, bottled mineral water) labelled with the Chinese brand name of the monastery shop QIMAIPULI.

The Shedra

Fig. 31

Daily schedule of the shedra:

Fig. 32
MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday
Laws & RegulationsPractice of RitualsWritingNational Security LawGrammarTantra
Inner PrinciplesReal-time PoliticsAstrologyPractice of RitualsRegulations on Religious AffairsInner Principles
TantraEpistemologyTantraPolicy of benefiting temples and monksMathsGrammar
Lunch break
Regulations on Religious AffairsPoeticsAbhidharmaCalligraphyAbhidharma 
PrajnaparamitaGrammarLaws & RegulationsInner PrinciplesSynonymics 
AbhidharmaPhysical EducationMathsTantraLaw 
Fig. 33: Rules in the shedra

Monasteries associated with ‘Khor gdong

Shugs ’byung monastery

Baḥ gnas monastery

Baḥ smad monastery

Fig 38

Li mdo chos sgar in Ser rta

Fig. 40

Statues

FIG. 41: Statue in the new temple




















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OpenEdition suggests that you cite this post as follows:
cecileducher (September 5, 2025). Pictures of ‘Khor gdong Monastery in Khams. Northern Treasures Histories. Retrieved April 11, 2026 from https://doi.org/10.58079/14ltp


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