News and Views on Tibet

Nearly 13 monasteries, nunneries damaged by earthquake in Dingri, Tibet

Share on facebook
Share on google
Share on twitter
Damages to properties are reported to be widespread in Dingri, Tibet after the January 7, 2024 earthquake (Photo/AFP)

Tenzin Nyidon 

DHARAMSHALA, Jan. 22: A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Dingri County in Shigatse Prefecture on January 7, causing extensive structural damage to the region’s cultural and religious heritage. Nearly two weeks after the disaster, the VOA Tibetan service confirmed that at least 13 monasteries and nunneries—some of them centuries old—suffered varying degrees of destruction.

Among the affected sites are Dzekar Choede, Tsonga, Tsogo, Gonta-phuk, Choelung, Dhakphuk, Tashi Zomrung, and Choeling monasteries. Of these, Dzekar Choede, Tsonga, and Tsogo sustained particularly heavy damage. Despite the significant impact on these historic religious centers, the Chinese government has made no mention of their condition in official reports.

The earthquake caused widespread devastation across neighboring areas, including Lhatse, Dramtso, Chula, Tsogo, Sakya, Tingkye, and Ngamring. Dewachan Monastery in Chulho and Dzekar Choede Monastery in Dramtso were severely affected, with substantial damage to their assembly halls and the destruction of three main Buddha statues. Many of the sacred statues housed within these shrines were also destroyed.

Dzekar Choede Monastery, a 15th-century structure housing numerous holy Buddhist relics, has seen these relics transferred to the custody of Dingri County officials. Meanwhile, damage assessments in Tingkye, Lhatse, and Sakya counties remain incomplete, as Chinese authorities continue to impose restrictions on information sharing about the disaster.

At Choeling Monastery in Lhatse, more than half of the shrine has been reported destroyed. The full extent of the destruction remains unclear amid tightened control over communication in the region.

Chinese state media reported that a local cultural heritage team had conducted inspections at monastic centers in Sakya, Lhatse, Tingkye, and Dingri counties. On January 12, the team completed surveys in Lhatse and Dingri counties, stating they would submit their findings to the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA), the agency responsible for preserving cultural relics across China.

Official Chinese media have not reported damages sustained by these religious sites, which form an integral part of the local Tibetan communities. Social media posts highlighting the ground realities including plight of the local Tibetans have been censored and individuals warned against the threat of punishment, according to multiple sources.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *