From the top of East Mountain, rises the bright moon. 

Mom’s amiable face comes across my mind. 

This very song can be heard in Tibetan inhabited areas, Han people inhabited areas, and other ethnic groups inhabited areas even in foreign lands. These lyrics were written by Tsangyang Gyatso.This is one of his poems. This year marks the 333rd anniversary of Tsangyang Gyatso’s birth. After such a long time, instead of being forgotten by Tibetan people, he becomes more and more famous.

Tsangyang Gyatso was born in Monyul. More specifically, his birthplace was Lhawo Yulsom in Monyul. His birthplace was called “Mon”, or Lhomon.

It is a tranquil and cozy place and is called Lungpa Gyalmo Rire Deyore in Khampa language.

Lho (south) of Lhomon locates at the south of the Himalayas, the east of Drumpa, the west of Zayul and Lhoyul, and the north of Asamo, India. People call it Payul Gyalmojon.

It is high in the north and low in the south with numerous ravines. Natural resources are rich there while the traffic is poor. It is torrid as well as arctic, abound in herbs and other raw materials. This place is totally covered by woods. Some woods are too flourishing that the sun cannot pierce inside.

Grass and trees are varied so do the wild animals and natural resources. The many gorges and rivers,interweave a net.

For example, Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon, the famous grand canyon worldwide, sits in Mon and Lho of Monyul. Natural resources are rich there too.

According to an old saying, there were five kinds of grains in Tibetan-inhabited areas,

8 in Han-inhabited areas, while 12 in Monyul. Actually, the number of grain types in Tibetan-inhabited areas were 5. Han-inhabited areas have 8 while Monyul has 12. Natural resources are rich with so many grain types. That’s why it is cozy there.

Speaking of the resources there, a case in point is wood that is used to carve books, Many planks come from Monyul. Besides the woodblock Kanjur and Tanjur, there are many other books in this version.

Wood used in the woodblock is produced in Monyul. When I was learning Tibetan characters, we wrote them with Siniu. Siniu is a kind of solid bamboo which also grows in Monyul. Rice, sugarcane, tangor and banana are mainly produced in Monyul.

In the past, officials of Tibetan local governments would buy rice in Tsona and Monyul.

I read the record of rice bought. It was 90,000 kg. This was government purchase. They asked herdsmen to transport salt from northern Tibet to Monyul and bartered them with rice.

There was such a custom. Furniture made by Monyul bamboo and wood were too much. There was one Lhoma in Tsang area. While there were a dozen of Lhomas in Monyul, such as Sosa, Lhoma, Doran, Gong, etc. Species there were varied.

These were signs for the abundant natural resources. Tsangyang Gyatso was born there.

As the saying goes “the greatness of a place lends glory to a man”. Many people have studied resources there. I have been there myself and I am quite impressed.

Dawang was a main town in Monyul. It was the political and religious center with many main monasteries. Dawang had a bigger population than that of other places. There was a palace called Baigar Pozhang in Urgyenlin, about 3 km away from Dawang. Baigar Pozhang firstly was built by descendants of Zanpu. The royal offspring lived in Baigar.

His mother was the queen, Tsewang Lhamo. She was also called daughter of the state. His father was Tantric master Tashi Donchen, a master in Nyingma sect.

His mother’s family had big fame, wealth and power. His father might not be that powerful and influential in the society since he devoted himself to practicing Buddhism. This was the family in which Tsangyang Gyatso was born.

He was born on the year of Water Pig on Tibetan calendar or 1683 AD. The intelligent boy was born on the 1st day of the 3rd month on Tibetan calendar.

He was able to talk when he was little and his utterances could always surprise you. Like “My residence was Potala. Tibetan areas were my territory. My ashram. I want to go back to my dwelling.”

He then became more and more famous in the whole Monyul. He even had a fame in Drumpa and gradually he was known in the whole Tibetan inhabited areas. People started to pay attention to him and worship him. Many places wanted to invite him.

Drumpa had some conflicts with Tsang. So Drumpa wanted to invite him. Drumpa had this idea so did Tibetan local governments. There were many conditions and legends pertaining to the very thing.

The fifth Dalai passed away in 1682. Samgye Gyatso was born in 1683. The time could fit in. On hearing there was such an intelligent boy in Monyul, Garsha government highly valued him and planned to invite him. So Desi Samgye Gyatso gave the order to invite him. Therefore, Tsangyang Gyatso was invited from Monyul.

He was invited to Monyul at the age of 3 according to the Tibetan calendar. He was able to instruct people when he was 3. In fact, he was not yet 3 years old according to the Gregorian calendar. He was invited to Shawu from Urgyenlin after crossing over Mt. Pangla.

Shawu was an important place, which used to be the fort of Tibetan areas. Tsangyang Gyatso was invited to this fort.

They had one night off from Shawu to Opu. And they stayed in Mondro for one night.

They arrived in Tsonazoin on the 14th day of the 12th month on the Tibetan calendar. Tsangyang Gyatso was invited to Tsonazoin in this way. Leaders in Tsonazoin took bribes of Drumpa and they attempted to murder the kid.

In spite of the orders to honor the kid, and take good care of him, they threw the orders behind. The Bribery from Drumpa was too big so leaders in Tsonazoin did not follow the orders.

>> Watch the video of The Hometown of Tsangyang Gyatso on Kangba Lecture, please click here!

>>The song lyrics by Tsangyang Gyatso: From the Top of East Mountain