Gerdeng Monastery (Kirti Monastery)

Gerdeng Monastery (=Nagwa Kirti Monastery) is the largest monastery of the Gelug School (Yellow Hat Sect) of Tibetan Buddhism in Aba County. It is renowned for its grand building complex, solemn Buddhist stupa and profound religious ambience. First built in 1870, the 9th year of the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty, it evolved from the former Donggou Monastery and boasts a history of over 150 years. Covering around 18,000 square metres, the monastery is home to more than 1,000 monks.

Kirti Monastery

Location

This monastery is located by northwest corner of downtown Aba County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province.

Highlights

The monastery complex resembles a small walled town. The Main Assembly Hall stands at the heart of the whole monastery. Supported by 120 pillars, it is vast enough to accommodate thousands of monks for scripture recitation. Its interiors are adorned with exquisite carvings and murals, including the Eight-Legged Lion (Sangzigangji) symbolising peace, and the Wheel of Six Realms illustrating karmic rebirth, all possessing extraordinary artistic value. A clay statue of Maitreya Buddha standing roughly 20 metres tall is enshrined inside the hall, presenting a dignified sight.

Gerdeng Great Stupa stands on the southwest side of the monastery, the 49-metre-high Great Stupa is another landmark. This five-storey stupa houses different Buddha statues on each level; devotees may climb the stairways inside for pilgrimage. Twenty-four smaller white stupas encircle the main stupa, forming a spectacular scene likened to stars surrounding the moon.

A circumambulation corridor built around the entire monastery, stretching two kilometres and fitted with over 5,000 prayer wheels, creating a magnificent view. Turning the prayer wheels alongside local pilgrims offers a unique way to experience authentic local religious culture.

Protector Deity Hall (Jarkang) enshrines the monastery’s Dharma protectors and carries a solemn aura. The Sacred Arrow Grove and Sang Offering Platform in front of the hall are key prayer sites for pilgrims, where visitors can witness the intimate connection between religion and daily life.