Society

Monks pray for monastery restoration in Yushu

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-06-26 11:27

YUSHU - In a large tent on a grassland in Quake-hit Yushu, more than 200 monks are sitting with crossed legs, chanting Buddhist scriptures.

The tent is one of the three chanting "halls" surrounded by a circle of almost 100 smaller tents where the monks from Trangu Monastery are living.

The 700-year-old monastery, like 86 others in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, was severely damaged in the magnitude-7.1 quake on April 14 that left at least 2,220 people dead.

Fourteen days after the quake, the monks resumed their religious lives in tents while waiting for their monastery to be restored.

"The living conditions are alright. There are free meals and all kinds of daily supplies," says monk Norbu Rinchen. In his tent, thick blankets and quilts are folded neatly on the ground. Food, bottled water and other goods are piled near a rug in the middle of the tent on which he entertains guests.

But 16-year-old Rizin Wonchi seems less satisfied. He became a monk six years ago and has been educated in the monastery's school.

"Now we only have classes in Tibetan and scriptures. I miss other classes -- maths, English and especially sports."

For living Buddha Lodro Nyima, the greatest concern is the monastery's restoration. Yet he advised the contractors to build the villagers' homes first. "The people need homes to live. Our monastery can wait."

Trangu Monastery will be among the first monasteries to be restored. According to government plans, reconstruction is scheduled to start at its original site on June 30.

Puriwa, deputy head of Yushu monastery reconstruction and Qinghai's Ethnic Affairs Committee, has been discussing the restoration of the monastery with Lodro Nyima for more than two months.

"We are about to issue a detailed reconstruction plan. In addition to restoring the old buildings, we are to add medical and entertainment rooms to improve the monks' lives," Puriwa said.

In the quake zone reconstruction plan issued on June 13, the government pledged to attach great importance to rebuilding monasteries.

About 1 billion yuan will be allocated to restoring the 87 damaged monasteries in Yushu, covering an overall area of 171,012 square meters, according to Qinghai's Ethnic Affairs Committee.