Dongga Temple: The White Conch Sanctuary and the Golden Medicine Buddha Stupa

1.The Divine White: Conch on the Golden Horse Grassland

Located approximately 6 kilometers northwest of the county seat of Seda, Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Dongga Temple (Dongga Monastery) sits majestically atop Dongga Mountain. The mountain itself is considered a sacred geographical wonder, shaped like a white conch shell—one of the eight auspicious symbols of Buddhism—giving the temple its name ("Dongga" means "white conch" in Tibetan). Established in 1686 (the 25th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign) by the First Dongga Living Buddha, Sangsang Wujin, the temple overlooks the vast and fertile Jinma (Golden Horse) Grassland and the winding Seke River. As a renowned monastery of the Nyingma (Red Hat) school of Tibetan Buddhism, it holds a pivotal place in the history of the region, having once served as the political and religious center for the Washu Seda tribes,.

A Treasury of Nyingma Art and Architecture

Dongga Temple is celebrated for its magnificent architecture and exquisite artistic details. The complex covers an area of approximately 80,000 square meters and includes two grand assembly halls, a meditation center, living quarters for the Living Buddhas, and hundreds of monk cells. The main assembly hall is a masterpiece of Tibetan craftsmanship, featuring imposing red pillars carved with coiling dragons and intricate floral motifs. The walls are adorned with vibrant murals depicting Buddhist biographies, protector deities, and the "Eight Auspicious Symbols," creating a solemn and spiritually charged atmosphere,. The temple is also a repository of rare cultural relics, including Bhutanese tributes, ancient Thangkas, and precious musical instruments used in religious ceremonies.

The World's Largest Medicine Buddha Stupa

2.One of the most striking landmarks of Dongga: Temple is the Medicine Buddha Stupa (Yaoshi Fo Ta), which is acclaimed as the largest of its kind in the world. The stupa's golden top shines brilliantly against the deep blue plateau sky, serving as a beacon of health and peace. Inside the stupa, visitors can find sacred scriptures and religious objects dedicated to the Medicine Buddha, symbolizing the dispelling of suffering and the granting of longevity. Standing at the base of the stupa offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding mountains and the sprawling Jinma Grassland, a sight that is particularly stunning in summer when the fields are carpeted with wildflowers, or in winter when the land is wrapped in silver snow,.

A Living Center of Esoteric Practice

Unlike some more commercialized tourist spots, Dongga Temple remains a vibrant center of learning and practice. It houses a college for exoteric and esoteric Buddhism, where hundreds of monks study the "Five Sciences" (including logic, medicine, and philosophy) and practice the Great Perfection (Dzogchen) teachings of the Nyingma lineage. The temple is famous for its religious festivals, particularly the Lotus Master Prayer Festival held in the third month of the Tibetan calendar. During this time, the monks perform the spectacular Vajra Dance (Cham dance) to exorcise evil spirits and pray for world peace, a dynamic display of faith that attracts thousands of believers and visitors,.