The Ancestral Court of the Flower Sect: Dege Gengqing Monastery and the Golden Legacy of the Tusi

The Spiritual Heart of the Dege Kingdom

1.Located in Gengqing: Town, Dege County, Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Dege Gengqing Monastery (Gengqing Si) stands majestically on the northern bank of the river valley, flanked by the rugged Queer Mountain. As the ancestral temple of the Sakya tradition (known as the Flower Sect) in the Kham region, it holds a position of supreme religious and political significance. Historically, it served as the domestic temple for the powerful Dege Tusi (chieftains), who ruled a vast area of Kham for centuries. The monastery is inextricably linked with the world-famous Dege Parkhang Sutra-Printing House; in fact, the Printing House was originally established as part of the monastery's cultural expansion. Together, they formed a vibrant center of religion, culture, and politics, influencing the spiritual life of Tibetans across Sichuan, Tibet, and Qinghai. The monastery's name, "Gengqing," translates to "Grand and Auspicious," symbolizing the perfection and vastness of the Dharma,,.

A Treasure House of Sakya Art

2.Walking into Gengqing: Monastery is like entering a museum of Tibetan religious art. The complex covers an area of about 30,000 square meters and is famous for its distinct Black Background Gold Murals (Hei Di Jin Hui). These mysterious and solemn paintings adorn the walls of the main assembly hall and the protector deity temples, depicting wrathful deities and mandalas with exquisite detail and spiritual power. The monastery houses precious statues of the Five Founding Masters of Sakya (Sakya Gongma Nam) and the main assembly hall (Cuoqin) can accommodate thousands of monks chanting in unison. The pillars are carved with coiling dragons, and the beams are decorated with intricate motifs, reflecting a unique blend of Tibetan solidity and the refined aesthetics of the Tusi court. The monastery also preserves rare Thangkas, imperial gifts from the Ming and Qing courts, and ancient ritual instruments that date back to the Yuan Dynasty,.

A Legacy of Imperial and Tribal Power

3.The history of Gengqing: Monastery is a saga of the rise of the Sakya sect in Kham. It was originally founded in the Southern Song Dynasty (13th century) and rose to prominence in the Yuan Dynasty when the Sakya Imperial Preceptor Kunga Lodro Gyaltsen presided over it, establishing it as the "Ancestral Court" of the region. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the Dege Tusi family lavished wealth upon the temple, expanding its halls and inviting high lamas to teach. The monastery became a bridge between the central imperial government and the local tribes. It is said that the site was blessed by Padmasambhava, and the snowy peaks of Queer Mountain serve as its natural guardians. Despite damage during historical upheavals, the monastery was extensively rebuilt in the 1980s, restoring its golden roofs and red walls to their former glory, standing as a testament to the resilience of the local faith,,.

A Living Tradition of Tantric Practice

Today, Gengqing Monastery remains a vibrant center of religious practice, housing hundreds of monks. It features a Shedra (Buddhist college) and a retreat center where monks study the "Five Major Sciences" and practice the esoteric rituals of the Sakya lineage, particularly the "Path and Fruit" (Lamdre) teachings. The atmosphere here is one of deep devotion and rigorous study. Visitors can often witness dynamic scenes of debating in the courtyards, where monks clap their hands and stomp their feet to emphasize logical points. During major festivals like the Vajra Dance Festival (Cham Dance) in the lunar 5th month or the Sakya Monlam in the lunar 1st month, the monastery transforms into a stage of spiritual celebration. Monks perform sacred masked dances to dispel negativity and pray for peace, attracting thousands of pilgrims from the surrounding grasslands. The sound of long horns and drums echoing through the valley offers a profound connection to the ancient soul of the Tea Horse Road,.