Sacred Mountain Tea House Clinic
Location: Mount Kawakarpo, Yunnan, China
Background Information
The Sacred Mountain Tea House Clinic is situated on Mount Kawakarpo, the highest mountain in Yunnan, China. Kawakarpo is considered one of the most sacred mountains to Tibetan Buddhism. According to legend, it is the home of a spiritual warrior god who pre-existed Buddha’s arrival in Tibet. As such, the mountain receives approximately 20,000 pilgrims annually.
Activities of Organisation
As a result of the high altitudes and the long journey the pilgrims make, many suffer from illnesses and various ailments. The China Exploration and Research Society (CERS) established a Tea House Clinic to treat and to conduct research about the pilgrims. Firstly, CERS restored the suspension bridge that crosses the upper Mekong at the beginning of the route circling the mountain. This was in poor condition before the arrival of CERS and constituted a safety hazard to the pilgrims. Secondly, CERS constructed two buildings next to the suspension bridge: a clinic equipped with Western medicine to serve the pilgrims and a tea house to welcome researchers conducting surveys of the entire plateau. From here researchers conduct interviews with pilgrims to contribute to knowledge of the region's culture. The site is also used to train young researchers. Moreover, the tea house serves to disseminate conservation information for the pilgrims to spread and provides materials for them to take, such as playing cards featuring endangered animals of the plateau.
Consensus Community Perspective
The Himalayan Consensus is dedicated to the preservation of local cultures in the Himalayan region. The Sacred Mountain Tea House Clinic symbolizes this principle. The restoration of the suspension bridge makes it more convenient and safer for travelers to make their pilgrimage, which allows for them to express their culture and beliefs. The continuation of which will serve to preserve this culture in the future. Additionally the findings from research projects on the site will provide substantial documentation of local cultures and enrich our libraries.
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