Many people have the impression that Xizang (a recently established official name for Tibet, translator's note) is a region where Xizang Buddhism predominates, with temples of all sizes dispersed everywhere. However, what many people don’t know is that in the upper Yerkalo Village, Markam County, there stands a beautiful church, which has become an alternative religious building in Xizang.
As early as the period of the Guge Dynasty in the early 17th century, Catholicism entered Xizang but failed to establish itself there. Modern Catholicism was introduced to Yerkalo in 1865, when French Fathers Auguste Desgodins and Félix Biet arrived in Genla Village after a long journey. In 1865, they bought the land in the upper Yerkalo from the Gongge Lama and built a church with 15 accommodation rooms. Later, a magnificent Western-style church was built and named as "Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church". Since then, believers have gradually settled in the upper Yerkalo, and the church has gradually expanded. In addition, missionaries introduced various technologies to improve people’s livelihoods, resulting in a growing number of people joining the church.
At that time, there was a missionary area belonging to the Paris Foreign Missions Society in Ganzi, Sichuan Province. They supported the construction of the Yerkalo church and established a Xizang school to train missionaries entering Yerkalo. This played an important role in the development of the Yerkalo church.
The fourth parish priest of the Yerkalo Church was Nie Delong (his original Western name was not found, translator’s note). He not only translated a large number of Xizang scriptures but also established evening schools and hired local teachers to teach believers, allowing them to read and translate Xizang scriptures. Catholicism flourished in Yerkalo.
Certainly, the development of the Yerkalo church was not smooth. Due to differences in belief and culture, there were many conflicts with Xizang Buddhism. Lamas even organized armed forces to attack the church, resulting in the murder of seven priests. Gangda Temple (transliteration) illegally occupied the church in 1940, and armed monks were occupying the building.
In 1951, Catholic believers applied for the restoration of the church, and the church once again became a venue for Catholic activities. Afterward, the church was damaged during a special period and was officially restored after the reform and opening up. The current church was established in 1987.
The rebuilt Yerkalo church consists of four buildings. The largest building is the church hall, covering hundreds of square meters. With a high dome and a golden color scheme, it is relatively simple without complicated paintings or delicate sculptures.
Currently, 80% of local villagers believe in Catholicism. There is a local Xizang priest presiding over church affairs and chanting the Bible translated into Xizang. Believers are named by the priest, all with the names of holy martyrs of the church, and weddings and funerals are also conducted according to Catholic rituals. In addition, the church has gradually integrated with the local culture. In addition to celebrating Christmas, Easter, and other festivals, it also celebrates traditional Xizang festivals.
- Translated by Charlie Li
在很多人印象中，西藏是以信奉藏传佛教为主的地区，遍布着大大小小的寺庙。可很多人不知道的是，在芒康县上盐井村，坐落着一座精美的教堂，成为西藏宗教建筑的另类。
早在17世纪初的古格王朝时期，天主教就进入西藏，却未能在此立足。而近代天主教则是在1865 年传到盐井，邓德亮神父和比神父两位传教士长途跋涉到达根拉村。1865 年，他们从贡格喇嘛手中买下了上盐井的这块地皮，并盖起了教堂，有十五间的住宿。后来又盖起了壮观的西式教堂。从此教徒们慢慢聚集在上盐井落户，教堂也随之逐步扩大。此外传教士还引进各种技术，改善民生，从而让加入教会的人日增。
当时四川甘孜有了属于巴黎外方传教会的传教区，他们支持盐井教堂的建设，并设立了藏文学校，以培养进入盐井的传教士。这对盐井教堂的发展起了重要作用。
盐井教堂第四位本堂神父叫尼德龙，他不仅翻译了大量的藏文经书，而且设立了夜校，聘请本地的老师为信徒授课，让他们认字，自己翻译藏文经书，从而天主教在盐井蓬勃的发展起来了。
当然盐井教会的发展并非一帆风顺，由于信仰与文化的隔阂，与藏传佛教发生了多次冲突，喇嘛甚至组织武装，对教堂进行攻击，其中就有七位神父遭到了杀害。1940年，盐井教堂更是被武装僧人占用，教堂也被刚达寺非法占用。
1951年，天主教信徒申请恢复教堂，教堂再度成为天主教徒的活动场所。之后，教堂在特殊年代遭到了损毁，直到改革开放后才正式恢复。并在1987年建立了现在的教堂。
重建后的盐井教堂，由四栋建筑构成，其中最大的一栋建筑是教堂大厅，数百平米，高高的穹顶，以金色为主色调，没有复杂的彩绘，也没有精致的雕塑，相对比较简约。
目前，当地百分之八十的村民信奉天主教，现有一位当地藏族神父主持教务，吟诵译成藏文的《圣经》。信徒由神父取名，全是教会圣徒的名，而红白喜事也按天主教的仪轨进行。此外教会也逐步与当地文化融合，除了过圣诞节、复活节等节日外，同样也过藏族的传统节日。
西藏地区唯一的教堂
Many people have the impression that Xizang (a recently established official name for Tibet, translator's note) is a region where Xizang Buddhism predominates, with temples of all sizes dispersed everywhere. However, what many people don’t know is that in the upper Yerkalo Village, Markam County, there stands a beautiful church, which has become an alternative religious building in Xizang.
As early as the period of the Guge Dynasty in the early 17th century, Catholicism entered Xizang but failed to establish itself there. Modern Catholicism was introduced to Yerkalo in 1865, when French Fathers Auguste Desgodins and Félix Biet arrived in Genla Village after a long journey. In 1865, they bought the land in the upper Yerkalo from the Gongge Lama and built a church with 15 accommodation rooms. Later, a magnificent Western-style church was built and named as "Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church". Since then, believers have gradually settled in the upper Yerkalo, and the church has gradually expanded. In addition, missionaries introduced various technologies to improve people’s livelihoods, resulting in a growing number of people joining the church.
At that time, there was a missionary area belonging to the Paris Foreign Missions Society in Ganzi, Sichuan Province. They supported the construction of the Yerkalo church and established a Xizang school to train missionaries entering Yerkalo. This played an important role in the development of the Yerkalo church.
The fourth parish priest of the Yerkalo Church was Nie Delong (his original Western name was not found, translator’s note). He not only translated a large number of Xizang scriptures but also established evening schools and hired local teachers to teach believers, allowing them to read and translate Xizang scriptures. Catholicism flourished in Yerkalo.
Certainly, the development of the Yerkalo church was not smooth. Due to differences in belief and culture, there were many conflicts with Xizang Buddhism. Lamas even organized armed forces to attack the church, resulting in the murder of seven priests. Gangda Temple (transliteration) illegally occupied the church in 1940, and armed monks were occupying the building.
In 1951, Catholic believers applied for the restoration of the church, and the church once again became a venue for Catholic activities. Afterward, the church was damaged during a special period and was officially restored after the reform and opening up. The current church was established in 1987.
The rebuilt Yerkalo church consists of four buildings. The largest building is the church hall, covering hundreds of square meters. With a high dome and a golden color scheme, it is relatively simple without complicated paintings or delicate sculptures.
Currently, 80% of local villagers believe in Catholicism. There is a local Xizang priest presiding over church affairs and chanting the Bible translated into Xizang. Believers are named by the priest, all with the names of holy martyrs of the church, and weddings and funerals are also conducted according to Catholic rituals. In addition, the church has gradually integrated with the local culture. In addition to celebrating Christmas, Easter, and other festivals, it also celebrates traditional Xizang festivals.
- Translated by Charlie Li
The Only Catholic Church in Xizang
