Gongkar

Gongkar lies in the Yarlung Tsangpo valley south of Lhasa. Its monastery, Gongkar Chöde, is an important Sakya foundation and a home of distinctive Tibetan religious painting. Fields and settlements occupy the river valley below, while the monastery's halls contain images of teachers and deities of the Sakya tradition. Kunga Namgyel founded Gongkar Chöde in 1464. The artist Khyentse Chenmo spent twelve years painting and sculpting its main temple, from 1464 to 1476. His murals, noted for their lively portraits and close observation of animals and birds, became examples of the Khyentse style of Tibetan art. Scenes of the Buddha's life and portraits of Sakya masters joined religious teaching to the decoration of the monastery.