Chiru Lhakhang

Founded during the reign of Emperor Khri Detsugtsen (704–755 CE) of the Tibetan Empire,^[2] it stands as one of Tibet's oldest surviving religious structures and was designated a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit in 2001.^[3]

The monastery's architecture reflects five distinct construction phases spanning over a millennium.^[4] The earliest phase includes the Namu Lhakhang, built during the early-mid Tibetan Empire, followed by the 8th-century Shakyamuni Chapel with its iconic circumambulation corridor and intricately carved pillars featuring motifs like lions and dragons.^[5] Subsequent expansions in the 11th and 16th–17th centuries added the Gaden Chokor Lhakhang—associated with the scholar Atiśa—and assembly halls flanked by prayer corridors. A 1957 renovation modernized facilities while preserving core structures.^[6][7]

Jiru Lhakhang lies within Jieba Township, established in 1959 and later incorporated into Nêdong County (now Nêdong District under Shannan's jurisdiction). The monastery's compact 982 m² complex houses rare artifacts, including 100,000+ pages of Tibetan manuscripts from the imperial era, 16th-century transcribed texts, and a unique collection of Kashmiri- and Nepali-influenced statuary. Its blend of architectural evolution and historical continuity offers unparalleled insights into Tibet's early Buddhist art and imperial-era governance.^[8]