Choling

Choling is a term that appears in multiple unrelated contexts, so its meaning depends on the context. In toponymy, Choling (often transliterated as Chöling, Choling, or Cho Ling) is a place name used for several villages or districts in parts of Asia influenced by Tibetan or Chinese transliteration; such locations typically have agrarian livelihoods and are referenced in local administrative records. In onomastics, Choling functions as a surname or given name among families in Himalayan communities and their diasporas. The etymology is not uniform; in some usages it is derived from elements meaning "Dharma" or "teachings" and "place" in Tibetan-influenced languages, but transliteration variation makes exact meanings vary.

In religious or cultural contexts, the term is incorporated into the names of monasteries, temples, or hermitages, signifying a sacred site or place of practice. The phrase "Choling Monastery" or similar is found in historical and contemporary sources, though such institutions are not homogenous and operate independently.

Because of transliteration differences and overlapping geographic names, distinguishing between a place, a person, or an institution named Choling requires additional context or citation. Current scholarship treats Choling as a polysemous term with multiple distinct referents rather than a single well-defined concept.