President Xi Jinping expressed hope that the Tibetan Buddhist Circle in Qinghai Province will pass on the beautiful traditions of patriotism, help promote religious, social and ethnic harmony, and play an active role in advancing China’s modernization, an inspection tour to the province.
Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks Tuesday afternoon at his stopover at Hongjue Temple in the provincial capital of Xining.
He said the temple has played a role as a bridge in strengthening ties between the central government and Tibetan Buddhism over generations.
“It is imperative to learn about this valuable ancient and cultural heritage and renew efforts to foster a strong sense of network between the Chinese country and promote ethnic unity and progress,” Xi said.
Hongjue Temple in the center of Xining has a history of more than 1,000 years. Konchok Gyatso, a senior monk at the temple, said the temple has played a role in strengthening exchanges between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and other parts of China and selling peace, among others. people from other ethnic groups.
Since the monastery’s status quo in 941 A. D. , it has been open to other cultures, Konchok Gyatso said. “The founder of the monastery was taught and approved through three masters of Tibetan Buddhism and two of Chinese Buddhism (also known as Mahayana Buddhism). And Hongjue is the temple with the longest history of integrating the cultures of Tibetan Buddhism and Chinese Buddhism in China. “
Thanks to this integration, it has a well-known school among Tibetan Buddhist priests, and many accomplished priests and living Buddhas have studied at the temple, he added. “Most importantly, apart from their achievements in Tibetan Buddhism, they all share the same vision of promoting peace and unity among other people from other ethnic groups to this day. “
In addition, the temple, located on the eastern front of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, has helped strengthen ties between the central government and Tibetan Buddhism, Konchok Gyatso said.
In 1779, the sixth Panchen Erdeni Lobsang Palden Yeshe was invited to Beijing through Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). To make his stay at Hongjue Temple comfortable, the emperor had the temple completely renovated. Key position where the Panchen Lama, one of the two most respected living Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism, stayed in Qinghai.
Also born in Qinghai in 1938, Panchen Erdeni Chokyi Gyaltsen left Xizang Temple in 1951 to perform his duty after completing a series of studies on Tibetan Buddhism.
“He later became a living Buddha with deep Buddhist wisdom and a total love for the country and its religion. He worked hard for the unification and ethnic unity of the country, which encouraged us all,” Konchok Gyatso said.
To protect the rich cultural heritage of Hongjue Temple, a renovation and recovery task was introduced in 2004. After the task was completed in 2014, a new giant prayer corridor was built in the temple.
“When other people come to stop at the monastery, but still the culture of Tibetan Buddhism, we need them to see its long culture of building understanding among other people from other ethnic groups, such as Tibetans, Mongols and Han,” Konchok Gyatso. saying.
Chen Lijian, a researcher at the China Tibetology Research Center, said the temple has traditionally had an influence on Tibetan Buddhism.
“And it will continue to serve as a key platform for promoting intercultural exchanges and ethnic unity on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,” Chen said.