Bongya Monastery is the largest Bon monastery in Rebgong (Tongren), Qinghai, China.
Full name: Bongya Menri Shedrup Mindröl Ling (བོན་བརྒྱ་མན་རི་བཤད་སྒྲུབ་སྨིན་གྲོལ་གླིང་།).
Location
Village/Town: Muhesha Village, Chu Khol (Ququhu) Township, Tongren County (Rebgong), Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province.
Elevation: ~3,200 m.
Distance: ~30 km southwest of Rongbo (Tongren Town).
Setting: North slope of the Bon brgya Valley, surrounded by mountains.
History
Founded: 1062 AD (tradition).
Lineage: Affiliated with the Menri school of Bon, founded by Nyame Sherab Gyaltsen (1356–1415).
Head: The Bon brgya Trulku (reincarnate lama), holder of the “gold throne” (gser khri).
Monastery Life & Study
Monks: ~80 resident monks/novices; ~30 visiting scholars.
Curriculum:
Philosophy School: 12-year program (logic, debate, metaphysics, grammar, poetry).
Meditation Academy: 6-year practice (Bon meditation preliminaries and main stages).
Library:
3 copies of Bonpo Kanjur
1,000+ volumes of Bonpo works
1 copy of Buddhist Kanjur/Tanjur
Collections of major Bon and Buddhist masters.
Art & Architecture
Main Structures: Grand assembly hall, temples, monk quarters, and a large gate.
Art:
Intricate Bon thangkas (scroll paintings)
Wall murals of Bon deities and cosmology
Traditional Tibetan woodcarving and decoration.
Key Festivals
Great Prayer Festival (Monlam): 4th–11th days of the 1st lunar month (major Bon ceremony).
Annual Rituals: Bon-specific masked dances, scripture recitations, and initiations.
Visitor Info
Best Time: May–October (mild weather)
Access: From Tongren Town, drive ~30 km southwest to Chu Khol Township.
Notes: Respect local customs; photography inside halls may be restricted.
