Folklore concerning Tsong-kha-pa

Abstract

The article is a selective translation of tales centering around Tson-kha-pa (1357-1419), the great Tibetan Buddhist reformer, and Taer Temple, the monastery near Xining, Qinghai, located on the spot where Tsong-kha-pa is believed to have been born and where his remains are kept and venerated. The tales, from the regions surrounding Taer Temple, relate the circumstances of Tsong-kha-pa's birth, his youth and development, and some of the miracles he performed. They also recount the origin of the highest offices of Tibetan Buddhism - those of the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama - and of some of the main rituals heald annually at Taer Temple. The tales present a picture of how the common people view the great Tibetan saint. A brief introduction describes the ethnic and geographical setting of the tales.