Jamyang Mawai Sengge Ling was founded in Ngawa in Amdo by The Second Amchok, Konchok Tenpai Gyeltsen, in 1823 at the command of The Third Gungtang Konchok Tenpai Dronme. It is said that during construction a worker found a statue of a lion, giving the monastery its name, Jamyang Mawai Sengge Ling, "sengge" meaning "lion."