| Nangqên County | |
| Other Name: | Nangchen |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 815200 |
| Settlement Type: | County |
| Pushpin Map: | China Qinghai |
| Pushpin Label: | Nangqên |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the seat in Qinghai |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | China |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Qinghai |
| Subdivision Type2: | Autonomous prefecture |
| Subdivision Name2: | Yushu |
| Seat Type: | County seat |
| Seat: | Xangda |
| Area Total Km2: | 12741 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Total: | 90307 |
| Population Footnotes: | [1] |
| Coordinates: | 32.203°N 96.481°W |
| Timezone: | China Standard |
| Utc Offset: | +8 |
| S: | 囊谦县 |
| T: | 囊謙縣 |
| P: | Nángqiān Xiàn |
| Wylie: | nang chen rdzong |
| Zwpy: | Nangqên Zong |
| Order: | st |
Nangqên County, or Nangchen, is currently a county of the Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and is the southernmost county-level division of Qinghai province, China, bordering the Tibet Autonomous Region to the south. Until 1951, the region was known as the Kingdom of Nangchen.[2] It was one of the five kingdoms of the historical region of Do Kham.
The county seat is Xangda, built in a side valley and on the right bank of the Dza Chu (upper reaches of the Mekong). In 2000, the county's population amounted to people, inhabiting a surface of 11539km2.
The county's name is derived from the former king (nang chen rgyal po) and Kingdom of Nangchen, a tribal confederation that emerged as a unified Buddhist kingdom in the 13th century.[3] The present-day's county comprises the core area of the old kingdom of Nangchen.
Memories of the Kingdom of Nangchen play a role in local politics, and among Tibetan refugees who came to India from the area. Scholar Maria Turek reported that in 2015 she heard about “a man who went to various Tibetan communities in India, introducing himself as ‘the king of Nangchen’ not without some success, even though he had no credentials to prove his claim.”[4]
A Yelpa Kagyu monastery, Tana Monastery (Jang Tana), was founded by Yelpa Yeshe Tsek in 1068. It is considered a branch monastery of Tsurpu.[5] [6] [7] [8]
Nangqên County is divided to 1 town and 9 townships.
| Name | Simplified Chinese | Hanyu Pinyin | Tibetan | Wylie | Administrative division code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Town | ||||||
| Xangda Town (Xarda, Xiangda) | Chinese: 香达镇 | 632725100 | ||||
| Townships | ||||||
| Zhêca Township (Baizha, Bêca) | Chinese: 白扎乡 | 632725200 | ||||
| Jiqu Township | Chinese: 吉曲乡 | 632725201 | ||||
| Nyagla Township (Niangla) | Chinese: 娘拉乡 | 632725202 | ||||
| Mozhong Township (Maozhuang) | Chinese: 毛庄乡 | 632725203 | ||||
| Gyozhag Township (Juela) | Chinese: 觉拉乡 | 632725204 | ||||
| Domba Township (Dongba) | Chinese: 东坝乡 | 632725205 | ||||
| Gaxung Township (Gayang) | Chinese: 尕羊乡 | 632725206 | ||||
| Ji'nyinsib Township (Jinisai) | Chinese: 吉尼赛乡 | 632725207 | ||||
| Zhongxog Township (Zhogxog, Zhuoxiao) | Chinese: 着晓乡 | 632725208 | ||||