Chinese authorities confirm death of prominent Buddhist leader Tulku Hungkar Dorje

Tenzin Nyidon 

DHARAMSHALA, April 3: The Chinese government has issued an official notice confirming the death of a prominent Buddhist leader Tulku Hungkar Dorje, who is the revered abbot of Lungngon Monastery in Gade County, Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, according to the Dharamshala-based Tibetan news outlet Tibet Times. However, authorities have failed to disclose the circumstances surrounding his demise and have refused to hand over his body. 

Reports from 2024 indicated that Tulku Hungkar Dorje had been detained by Chinese authorities; By August of that year, the Chinese government declared him missing, triggering conflicting accounts regarding his whereabouts. Some speculated that he had managed to escape into exile, while others asserted that he remained in Chinese custody. Now, a reliable source inside Tibet has informed TT that Chinese officials privately relayed the news of his death to seven or eight key figures, including representatives from Lungngon Monastery. Yet, no details regarding the location, cause, or circumstances of his passing were provided.

Sources suggest that the charges levied against Tulku Hungkar Dorje stemmed from his refusal to extend an enthusiastic welcome to the Beijing-appointed Panchen Lama, Gyaltsen Norbu, during his visit to Golog. Additionally, he was accused of defying state directives by independently establishing multiple monasteries and schools. Authorities further alleged that he was a destabilizing figure, advocating for the rights of impoverished and marginalized Tibetans. These purported offenses, according to sources, led to his death at the hands of the Chinese government.

Born in 1969 in Gade County, Golog Prefecture, Tulku Hungkar Dorje was the son of Lama Pema Tumdrak Dorje and Kadza Dukkar Dolma. His early education took place at Lungngon Monastery, where he studied Buddhist scriptures and traditional Tibetan knowledge from 1980 to 1989. Seeking further scholastic and spiritual enrichment, he went into exile in India, studying at Drepung Gomang Monastery from 1989 to 1994. Between 1995 and 1997, he pursued advanced studies in the United States before returning to Tibet. In 2002, the Chinese government sanctioned his enthronement as the 10th throne holder of Lungngon Monastery. He later undertook specialized Buddhist studies in Beijing from 2004 to 2006.

Beyond his religious duties, Tulku Hungkar Dorje was deeply committed to the preservation of Tibetan culture, education, and social welfare. In 2004, he founded the Tsongon Gesar Welfare Foundation to safeguard and promote the rich heritage of Gesar culture. Recognizing the pressing need for accessible education in Tibet’s nomadic and rural communities, he established the Hunkar Dorje National Vocational High School in 2007 with the approval of the Golog Prefecture government and education department. Over the years, he went on to establish approximately 14 primary and middle schools, offering free education to thousands of Tibetan children. Additionally, he founded numerous monasteries and Buddhist academies, playing an instrumental role in the revitalization of Tibetan religious and cultural traditions.