SHALU Association

PROJECT INDEX

Shalu - The monastery of Shalu was founded by Chetsun Sherab Jungnay in the region of Nyangro near the present day town of Gyantse. In the early fourteenth century it became the most important centre of learning under Butön Rinpoche (1290-1364), one of Tibet's greatest scholars.

Drathang - When Giuseppe Tucci visited this small monastery in the 1940s, he found the original wall paintings and large stucco figures in excellent condition. Clear and distinct influences from the surrounding Buddhist civilisations: Central Asia, India and Nepal, were manifest in both sculpture and painting, making Drathang an excellent source for the study of the development of early Tibetan art.

Gongkar - The monastery of Gongkar belongs to the Zung branch of the Sakyapa school, and was decorated in the 16th c. with beautiful wall paintings by the celebrated founder of the Khyenri school of Tibetan painting, Jamyang Khyentse Wangchuk (born 1524).

Sekhar Guthok - Shalu Association had the opportunity in October 1996 to inspect the site of Sekhar Guthok, "nine-storey son's house", the legendary tower Marpa ordered Milarepa (1040-1123) to build for his son. The site is situated in Lhodrak district, north of the Bhutanese border.

Namseling - This splendid manor, built on the banks of the Tsangpo River, opposite the monastery of Samye, is one of the oldest manor houses in Tibet, going back to the time of the Phagmodrupa dynasty in the fourteenth century. It is also one of the rare noble fiefs to have survived the Cultural Revolution, and although little is known at present about its history, it merits conservation as a fine example of Tibetan lay architecture.

Yemar - Founded at the beginning of the "Later Diffusion" of Buddhism in Tibet, the modest temple of Yemar has three chapels which were adorned with majestic stucco figures and fine wall paintings.

Rithang - This monastery, founded by Riwo Khyentse at the beginning of the "Later Diffusion", is rarely mentioned in Western sources because it is located near the former prefecture and fortress of Tsona, on the border with Bhutan, which has been out of bounds to foreigners for a long time.

The Dzong-Gyap Lukhang - The Lukhang Temple stands on a small island in a park behind the Potala Palace, on the north side, west of the old city of Lhasa. The Association hopes in the future to contribute to the conservation of this unique cultural monument.