Despite these speculations, researchers were led to a large rock said to be the place where Gorsa gave birth to Gesar in Dege County.

To commemorate Gesar's birth, local people built the Temple of King Gesar near the large rock. Today, the temple has been renamed the Sutra Hall of King Gesar.

Legend has it that the temple was built during the reign of Emperor Daoguang of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

But some insist that it was erected during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) by Ling Gesgyia, the offspring of Wonbo Nganu Huasang -- one of the four major headmen from the Ling area. Ling Gesgyia was said to be one of Gesar's four bravest generals.

Moreover, the temple served as the family temple belonging to the Headman of Ling Cang, which has been documented in the Family Record of the Mobudong Tribe and that of Headman Ling Cang.

Before the peaceful liberation of Tibet in 1951, the temple housed Gesar's ivory seal, the family records of Gesar's bailiff, Nganyichageng, arrows used by General Nyiancha Ngadain, armour and weapons used by Gesar, relics belonging to Gesar's father-in-law, a statue of Gesar's horse, and clay figurines of Dainma, Xinba and Zhumao.

In the temple were also frescoes depicting 30 generals of the State of Ling who served under Gesar's rule, 80 heroes who had distinguished themselves during the expeditionary war, 13 Buddhist guardians and 18 of Gesar's concubines. Other frescoes depict Gesar fighting his enemies.

Although the temple was damaged during the Cultural Revolution" (1966-1976), in 1987 the Government of Dege County earmarked some 30,000 yuan (US$3,600) for repairs.

After that, the living Buddha Bagyia managed to raise money for further renovations of the Sutra Hall of King Gesar, which was consecrated on August 8, 1999 (although Bagyia declined to serve as its abbot).

Today, Sutra Hall enshrines King Gesar's sculpture, with statues of 80 heroes behind him and his generals and concubines standing in front.

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