Situated at the periphery of the cultivated area of Tetang are five protective devices known as Rigsum Gönpo, which literally means the three (gum) protectors (moon-po) of the families (rigs) of Bodhisattvas identified as Manjusri, Avalokitesvara and Vajrapani. Indeed each Rigsum Gönpo consist of three chortens, each of them painted in a different color: red (the color associated with Manjusri) , white (the color associated with Avalokitesvara) and black (the color associated with Vajrapani). Rigsum Gönpo are in a sense the "walls" of a settlement, a barrier against the intrusion of unwelcome visitors and evil spirits.