At 9:05 a.m. on January 7, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted Dingri County, Xigaze of the Xizang Autonomous Region. Zongbu Monastery and Senga Chode Monastery in Dingri County were seriously damaged. Local villagers and cadres carried out rescue operations immediately. The monks and nuns of the two monasteries were rescued quickly and were resettled properly.

Zongbu Monastery on the hillside after the earthquake.

Against the Clock, Save Lives First

Zongbu Monastery, with a history of more than 600 years, is a nunnery on the hillside. Tenzin Quzong was still scared when recalling the earthquake at that time.

“When the earthquake occurred, we were chanting sutras in the main hall. After being evacuated to a safe place, we immediately went to Zongbu Monastery.” Ngawang Tsering of Senga Chode Monastery pointed to Zongbu Monastery on the opposite mountain. Even from of the settlement point, we could easily see that the monastery had experienced serious collapse. Locals including Ngawang Tsering first searched and rescued by digging soil with their hands to successfully rescue several trapped nuns until professional rescue forces came.

Kunga Lhakyi, a nun from the Zongbu Monastery, is recalling the earthquake.

For Proper Settlement, Portable Houses Were Built Rapidly

At the settlement point for the disaster-stricken monks and nuns, portable houses were neatly arranged one after another. The monks and nuns were igniting firewood, boiling water, and cutting up Chinese cabbage to prepare for the lunch of today.

Monks and nuns at the temporary settlement point are preparing lunch for the day.

“On the first day of the earthquake, we lived in tents. On the second day, the portable houses had been built for us. On the third day, we could eat fresh vegetables.” Losang Delek, a monk of Senga Chode Monastery, was very moved. “We have taken into account daily necessities, including beef, mutton, vegetables, tea bricks, bowls, and chopsticks to ensure that the disaster-stricken monks and nuns are resettled properly and supplies are sufficient.” Related rescue personnel said.

The lamp lighting room being built at the relocation site for the disaster-stricken monks and nuns of Zongbu Monastery and Senga Chode Monastery.

Respect Customs While Meeting the Demands of Religious Services Reasonably and Legally

“Except for the personnel on duty at the settlement point, all the monks and nuns started to go to the homes of the victims after simple resettlement and adjustment, and provided religious services in accordance with the wishes of the people,” said Tsewang Rigzin of Senga Chode Monastery. Four of his relatives died in the earthquake, and only two elders of his family have survived. His left hand was also injured in the earthquake. “The families of the victims became calm when seeing us. As long as we could do at that time, we would try our best to meet the demands of the families of the victims.” Tsewang Rigzin added.

Facing the earthquake, the disaster-stricken monks and nuns did not hang back. Instead, they met the religious service demands of the disaster-stricken people reasonably and legally, spiritually comforted them, and gave full play to the positive roles of religion.

Senga Chode Monastery after the earthquake.

Full of Confidence in the Task of Monastery Reconstruction　　

At the entrance of Zongbu Monastery, the journalist met Kunga Lhakyi, who had just been discharged from the hospital. Seeing that the monastery she was familiar with was not what it was before, she was concerned about the loss of the monastery.

Zongbu Monastery is a county-level culture relic protection site, while Senga Chode Monastery is a cultural relic protection unit at the autonomous region level. Before the rescue forces carrying out the properties transfer work, the disaster-stricken monks and nuns voluntarily gave priority to people suffering more severe damage.

“The monastery reconstruction is a systematic project. According to the evaluation, we will consolidate or rebuild different monasteries,” said a related person in charge.