Antiquities of Zhang Zhung Edited by Geoffrey Barstow, Mickey Stockwell and Michael White | Tibetan & Himalayan Library
Copyright © 2010 by the author.
Published under the THL Digital Text License. |
I.2. Residential Structures in Other Locations: Religious and Elite Residences
Setrap TsamkhangBse khrab mtshams khang
Basic site data
- Site name: Setrap TsamkhangBse khrab mtshams khang
- English Equivalent: Hardened Leather Cuirass Meditation House
- Site number: B-17
- Site typology: I.2a
- Elevation: 4730 m
- Administrative location (township): BaryangBar yangs
- Administrative location (county): Drongpa’Brong pa
- Survey expedition: UTAE
- Survey date: April 14, 15, 2001
- Contemporary usage: None.
- Identifiable Buddhist constructions: Prayer flags.
- Maps: UTRS XI, HAS C5
- View Place Dictionary Entry
- View Site Images
General site characteristics
Setrap TsamkhangBse khrab mtshams khang is named after the well-known Nyingmarnying ma protective deity (sungmasrung ma). The all-stone residential structure of Setrap TsamkhangBse khrab mtshams khang has been reduced to crumbling walls. It sits on a broad sandy slope above Tara GönpaRta ra dgon pa, a small Nyingmarnying ma monastery. The well-drained site faces east and overlooks a large marshy basin formed by various branches of the TsachuTshwa chu river. This area constitutes an important pastoral resource in the BaryangBar yangs region. The exact plan of Setrap TsamkhangBse khrab mtshams khang is no longer evident. The approximate maximum dimensions of the edifice are 14.5 m by 8 m. Wall fragments up to 2 m in height have endured. There appears to have been at least eight small rooms in this dry-stone (?), random-rubble structure. Fortunately, one of these rooms has survived with its corbelled stone roof largely intact (3 m by 1 m by 1.5 m).
Oral tradition
According to the residents of nearby TaraRta ra monastery, Nyingmaparnying ma pa meditators used Setrap TsamkhangBse khrab mtshams khang for many centuries. It is said that six meditation cells in the edifice were intact until the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Much of the structure was then dismantled to construct livestock pens on the site. These corrals have fallen out of use and many of the stones have been carried off.
Site elements
Outlying structures
There are reported to have been many ancient walls in the vicinity of Setrap TsamkhangBse khrab mtshams khang and Tara GönpaRta ra dgon pa. Since the late 1980s, however, the rebuilding of manima ṇi walls and the wholesale removal of stones by truck has eradicated many of these structures. West of Setrap TsamkhangBse khrab mtshams khang on a small sandy plateau there is a poorly preserved foundation (7 m by 11 m) (31º 10.3΄ N. lat. / 83º 36.3΄ E. long. / 4750 m). There are at least eight other crumbling superficial structures 45 m to the northwest of this foundation, which extend over a 100 m transection. These dissolving walls resemble the superstructures of tombs. Stones up to 1 m in length were used in their construction. One hundred meters to the northeast of these wall footings there is a remnant of a slab wall. There are just a few upright slabs in situ, the largest of which is 60 cm in length (it protrudes 15 cm above ground level). Continuing in a northeast direction for another 28 m there is a double-course slab wall segment (6 m long). The two lines of slabs are spaced about 70 cm apart. The largest stone in this slab wall is 80 cm in length and sticks as much as 35 cm out of the ground. Just south of Tara GönpaRta ra dgon pa there are the remains of what appears to have been another slab grave. The largest in situ slab in this structure is 70 cm in length and it projects 50 cm above the surface.
Tara GönpaRta ra dgon pa
According to the late head of Tara GönpaRta ra dgon pa (Horse Corral Monastery), Minyak Pema Wanggyel RinpochéMi nyag pad ma dbang rgyal rin po che (died in his eighties in 2002), it was named after a large horse corral that the epic hero Ling GesarGling ge sar built at the site. GesarGe sar is said to have come to the region to battle his adversary Takzig Norgi GyelpoStag gzig nor gyi rgyal po. GesarGe sar is also supposed to have founded the monastery around 900 years ago and to have resided here for sometime. To support his assertion, Minyak Pema WanggyelMi nyag pad ma dbang rgyal cites Düjom RinpochéBdud 'joms rin po che’s (Jikdrel Yeshé Dorjé’Jigs bral ye shes rdo rje) SungbumGsung bum, where it states that GesarGe sar was active during the second rapjungrab byung (1087-1147 CE).111 Later, the great architect Tangtong GyelpoThang stong rgyal po (15th century CE) is thought to have founded an assembly hall (dükhang’du khang) of 12 pillars on the site. This structure stood until circa 1943 when it was destroyed by a marauding band of Kazaks. Unfortunately, a registry (karchakdkar chag) containing valuable information about the monastery was destroyed in the Chinese Cultural Revolution. After the Kazak attack a lama called Shang RinpochéShangs rin po che built a smaller temple at the site, which survived until the Chinese Cultural Revolution. In 1989, after returning from exile in DolpoDol po, Minyak Pema WanggyelMi nyag pad ma dbang rgyal rebuilt the current monastery on the same site as the old assembly hall. The presence of what appear to be slab graves as well as the archaic architectural style of Setrap TsamkhangBse khrab mtshams khang illustrate that the highly desirable TaraRta ra site has been occupied since ancient times. The localized GesarGe sar epic tale preserves this fact in a distorted or allegorical fashion.
Affiliated sites
Kyangbum DzongRkyang bum rdzong
South of the Yarlung TsangpoYar lung gtsang po river in HorpaHor pa township there is a later historic era fortress known as Kyangbum DzongRkyang bum rdzong (30° 04. 44΄ N. lat. / 83° 01. 48΄ E. long.). According to some local sources, this fortress is so named because its protective deities appeared as 100,000 stampeding onagers to defeat the Gorkha enemy of the late 18th century CE. It is also reported that Kyangbum DzongRkyang bum rdzong was associated with the SingpaSing pa of the cis-Himalaya. This rammed-earth facility was established on the top of a pyramidal hill rising 40 m above the broad Yarlung TsangpoYar lung gtsang po valley. The site has three main complexes: north (11 m by 8 m) central (7 m by 12 m) and east (11 m by 21 m). There are also ruined chötenmchod rten and inscribed plaques at Kyangbum DzongRkyang bum rdzong. Significant amounts of timber fragments litter the site.
Notes
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- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- 1. The Archaic Archaeological Sites of Upper Tibet
- 2. An Introduction to the Author’s Archaeological Exploration of Upper Tibet and Survey Methodology
- 3. Criteria Used in the Determination of Archaic Archaeological Sites
- 1) Sites in BönBon literature attributed to personages, events, facilities, and locations associated with the Zhang ZhungZhang zhung and SumpaSum pa kingdoms
- 2) Monuments attributed in local oral traditions to the ancient Bönpobon po, the MönMon, personalities in the Ling GesarGling ge sar epic, and the pantheon of genii loci
- 3) Monuments exhibiting early design, constructional and morphological features
- 4) The siting of monuments in desolate environmental niches
- 5) Monuments and rock art comparable to those in other regions of Tibet
- 6) Monuments and rock art comparable to those in other Inner Asian territories
- 7) Art and artifacts that exhibit archaic stylistic and fabrication traits:
- 4. The Chronology of Archaic Archaeological Sites
- 5. A Typological Outline of Archaic Monuments and Rock Art
- A Typological Description and Analysis of Archaic Monuments
- I. Residential Monuments
- I.1. Residential Structures Occupying Summits: Fortresses, breastworks, religious buildings, palaces, and related edifices
- Nam DzongGnam rdzong
- Dzong PipiRdzong pi phi
- Takzik NordzongStag gzig nor rdzong
- Wangchuk Gönpo KharDbang phyug mgon po mkhar
- Mapang Pömo KharMa pang spos mo mkhar
- Gya Nyima KharRgya nyi ma mkhar
- Jomo Rirang KharJo mo ri rang mkhar
- Drakchak KhongkhaBrag chag khong kha
- KharngönMkhar sngon
- Naktsuk KharNag gtsug mkhar
- Hala KharHa la mkhar West
- Hala KharHa la mkhar East
- Gyülgül KharRgyul ’gul mkhar
- Kaling KharKa gling mkhar
- TsarangRtsa rang
- Zhayé KharZha ye mkhar
- Chumurti KhargokChu mur ti mkhar gog
- PemochéSpe mo che
- Kharlung KhargokMkhar lung mkhar gog
- Lungpa Rakpa KharLung pa rag pa mkhar
- Gyammuk KharGyam smug mkhar
- Purok KharSpu rog mkhar
- Dungkar KhardongDung dkar mkhar gdong
- Saten KharSra brtan mkhar
- Kyungmo DrakkharSkyung mo brag mkhar
- Lhünburtsé DzongLhun ’bur rtse rdzong
- Domra DzongSdom ra rdzong
- Jiu KyéByi’u kye
- Nakra Drakseng DzongNag ra brag seng rdzong
- DrakgozhakBrag mgo bzhag
- Drakla DzongBrag la rdzong
- Tochu KharMtho chu mkhar
- Nakra DzongNag ra rdzong
- Takla KharStag la mkhar
- Jiu KharByi’u mkhar
- Wangdrak PukDbang brag phug
- Posa KhargokSpo sa mkhar gog
- Kharru KhargokMkhar ru mkhar gog
- KharpochéMkhar po che
- Sherang KharlungShe rang mkhar lung
- YilungDbyi lung
- Gekhö KharlungGe khod mkhar lung
- Chulung Okma KharChu lung ’og ma mkhar
- MarlungMar lung
- Luring NakhaLu ring sna kha
- Khaser Ramo Gyamo KharKha ser ra mo rgya mo mkhar
- Deu Nakgu KharRde’u nag gu mkhar
- Tönkha LungkharMthon kha lung mkhar
- GülringMgul ring
- Drakgu SeldrönBrag gu gsal sgron
- Gartsang KharMgar gtsang mkhar
- Tang KhartséStang mkhar rtse
- Zarang KhartséZa rang mkhar rtse
- Pia KharPhi’a mkhar
- Balu KharBa lu mkhar
- Kardung KharDkar dung mkhar
- Bargyi KharBar gyi mkhar
- Ribong KharruRi bong mkhar ru
- Belpa KharSbal pa mkhar
- KyidzongSkyid rdzong
- DongmarGdong dmar
- KharkarMkhar dkar
- Dosham Möngyi KharMdo gsham mon gyi mkhar
- Dosham Möngyi YülMdo gsham mon gyi yul
- Lung PukLung phug
- Cholo PukCho lo phug
- KhartakMkhar ltag
- Rakkhashak Möngyi KharRag kha shag mon gyi mkhar
- Jangtang KharByang stang mkhar
- Khar MarpoMkhar dmar po
- Sharlang KharShar lang mkhar
- Markar Juru KharMar dkar byu ru mkhar
- Drakkar KharBrag dkar mkhar
- Mani Tang KharMa ṇi thang mkhar
- KölkharKol mkhar
- Kamsang MönkharSkam srang mon mkhar
- Khargok Dorjé YudrönmaMkhar gog rdo rje g.yu sgron ma
- Kolok KhargokKo logs mkhar gog
- Serzhung KhargokGser gzhung mkhar gog
- KharnakMkhar nag
- Jekar KhargokBye dkar mkhar gog
- Wutsé KharDbu rtse mkhar
- Chuti KharChu sti mkhar
- Riwa MönkharRi ba mon mkhar
- Rinti GangkharRi lti sgang mkhar
- PukkharPhug mkhar
- Balu KharBa lu mkhar
- Ronglha Gyeltsen MönkhangRong lha rgyal mtshan mon khang
- KharchungMkhar chung
- KharlungMkhar lung
- Dziden ChungwaBrdzi gdan chung ba
- Arong MönkharA rong mon mkhar
- Shangtsé BönkharShang rtse bon mkhar
- Shiri MönkharShi ri mon mkhar
- Rula KharRu la mkhar
- I.2. Residential Structures in Other Locations: Religious and Elite Residences
- Bönpo PukBon po phug
- ApukA phug
- Shötram PukShod tram phug
- Khyunglung YülméKhyung lung yul smad
- Setrap TsamkhangBse khrab mtshams khang
- Takrong TsamkhangStag rong mtshams khang
- Zhapkar DruppukZhabs dkar sgrub phug
- Menla PodrangSman bla pho brang South
- Rechen PukRas chen phug
- Jomo RirangJo mo ri rang
- Chilbu GönpaSpyil bu dgon pa
- Riu GönpaRi’u dgon pa
- Dzuntrül PukRdzu ’phrul phug
- PukchenPhug chen
- KyarangKya rang
- TakchenStag chen
- Pukgu ChusumPhug dgu chu sum
- ZimpukGzims phug
- Yachü DrakpukG.ya’ bcud brag phug
- Lungten PukLung bstan phug
- Dechö GönpaSde chos dgon pa
- LhalungLha lung
- Gekhö Kharlung (Mepa)Ge khod mkhar lung (smad pa)
- Gönpé DoDgon pa’i do
- Taser GokMtha’ ser gog
- Khangpa MargokKhang pa dmar gog
- Drakgam DzongBrag sgam rdzong
- Menla PodrangSman bla pho brang North
- AwangA dbang
- Sinmo DzongSrin mo rdzong
- Manam KharMa nam mkhar West
- Jiu Singpé KharByi’u sing pa’i mkhar
- YüllungYul lung
- Lung NgakLung ngag
- Dechö Kelmön LungpaSde chos skal mon lung pa
- Doring KhangroRdo ring khang ro
- Puling YültongSpu gling yul stong
- Kyidrom GönpaSkyid sgrom dgon pa
- Garsöl DrakpukSgar gsol brag phug
- Gönro MardingDgon ro dmar lding
- Sinpo DzongSrin po’i rdzong
- TrandraKhra ’dra
- Dongmar DokhangGdong dmar rdo khang
- Dzomo Lungra TrawoMdzo mo lung ra khra bo
- MönbuMon bu
- Purbu GyangmarPhur bu gyang dmar
- Khangpé KyéKhang pa’i skyed
- Bar MönkharBar mon mkhar
- Tokmé DeuburThogs med rde’u ’bur
- Jangru DingByang ru sdings
- KyangtangRkyang thang
- Bumo LhakhangBu mo lha khang
- Zicha MönkhangZi cha mon khang
- SaraSa rā
- Pangtra Dzong KarSpang bkra rdzong dkar
- Gyamchung PukpaGyam chung phug pa
- Ombu Zhang Zhung Gönpa’Om bu zhang zhung dgon pa
- Tara MardingRta ra dmar lding
- SemodoSe mo do South
- SemodoSe mo do West
- DotagaDo rta sga East
- DotagaDo rta sga South
- DodrilbuDo dril bu
- TsodoMtsho do
- DoserDo ser
- Domuk TsamkhangDo smug mtshams khang
- Draklung LhomaBrag lung lho ma
- DopukRdo phug
- I.1. Residential Structures Occupying Summits: Fortresses, breastworks, religious buildings, palaces, and related edifices
- II. Archaic Ceremonial Monuments
- Supplemental Data on Archaeological Sites First Surveyed before 2001
- Tables of the Names and Locations of All Archaic Monuments and Rock Art Sites Documented to Date
- Map Index
- Bibliography