Zizhu Temple, a thousand-year-old temple

Zizhu Temple is the oldest, most important, and highest temple complex of the Bon religion. It is located on Zizhu Mountain, a famous sacred mountain in Dingqing County, Chamdo, eastern Tibet. With a long history, Zizhu Temple was built in Tubo by the second Tibetan king, Muchi Zanpu, in the 10th century BC. Zizhu Temple is a huge complex under the six peaks of Zizhu Mountain. Centered on the temple, there are three circumambulation paths outside the temple, which are the pilgrimage routes for believers. Inside the temple, there is the main hall, the Mahavira Hall, and four educational places, namely the Inner Ming Academy for learning religious content, the Ming Academy for learning scriptures, the Zha Cang Academy for learning debate, and the Zen Academy for learning meditation, as well as the Lharong where the living Buddhas of all ages lived and the monks' quarters where the monks lived. Most of the buildings are reinforced concrete frame structures and Tibetan-style rammed earth wall buildings, with ancient Xiangxiong-style patterns inside, and painted with Bon religious statues and murals. Zizhu Temple is not only the central holy place for the surrounding Bon believers, but also attracts Bon believers from other places, and its disciples are widely distributed throughout the country. In addition, at the twelve-yearly divine dance festival, the divine dance drama "Heaven and Hell" is performed, which is the most grand Buddhist event in Zizhu Temple. As the most famous Bon temple in Chamdo, eastern Tibet, Zizhu Temple is also a branch temple of the famous Bon temple, Yungdrungling Monastery, in Namling County, Shigatse, Tibet, and is one of the oldest and most important Bon temples in eastern Tibet. With its unique geographical location, long history, and profound religious and cultural heritage, it attracts many tourists and believers to visit and worship. Zizhu Temple