In 1374, the first ruler of Chamdo area Pagbalha Dechen Dorje had a monastery built at the pass of the Temo La Mountain in southeast Tibet's Nyingchi.

    He named it Demo Monastery and appointed Kunchok 'byung-gnas as the abbot. Therefore, Kunchok 'byung-gnas also became the first Demo Living Buddha.

    The Demo Monastery is an important cultural symbol in the history of Tibet and is also related closely to Kul Gling in Chamdo. When the 4th Demo Living Buddha and the 5th Dalai Lama were on their way to Beijing in 1653, the 5th Dalai took an instant interest in the place and praised it as the "residence for immortals." That is how the name Klu Gling, "palace for dragon king" or "valley for dragon king" in the Tibetan language, was derived.

File photo shows the scenic view of the Klu Gling scenic spot in southeast Tibet's Nyingchi Prefecture. (Photo: tibettour.com) Photo Gallery>>>

    The Demo Monastery belonged to the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. With its key geographical position, its prestige and influence, the monastery became one of the major base monasteries for the 5th Dalai Lama in terms of religion and politics.

    According to a book written by Demo Wangchug Dorje, son of the 10th Demo Living Buddha, before the 4th Demo Living Buddha, the Living Buddha only enjoyed reputation among locals. However, after him, he became an important Living Buddha in Tibet. Later on, the sixth, seventh and ninth living Buddhas all held important posts in the Gaxag Government of old Tibet.

    The Demo Monastery was burnt down because of its feud with a local despot in neighboring Bome when the 4th Living Buddha was in Beijing. The ruins are still in the Klu Gling scenic spot.

    The Demo Monastery was rebuilt in Mirui County. However, the moastery was destroyed in an earthquake of magnitude 8.4 on the Ricther scale in Nyingchi in 1950. It was not until 1952 that the Gaxag Government agreed that the 10th Demo Living Buddha went to Mirui and had the monastery rebuilt.

    The renovation project went on for decades. In the 1990s, Wangchug Dorje, son of the 10th Demo Living Buddha, restarted the reconstruction of the monastery and the renovation of the main hall was finally finished in 1994.