Sakya Monastery
This monastery is a "must see" for visitors to
Tibet. The monastery lies 130 kilometers (80 miles)
southwest of Shigatse. Sakya, meaning "Grey Soil" in
Tibetan since the soil surrounding it is gray; it is
the central monastery of Sakyapa sect of Tibetan
Buddhism. Its walls were painted in red, white and
grey strips, which represent Manjushri,
Avalokiteshvara and Vajrapani respectively. Since
the monastery has a colossal collection of highly
valuable art pieces, it is deemed as the "Second
Dunhuang". The Drum River divides it into the
Northern Monastery and the Southern Monastery.
Established first, the Northern monastery was
founded by Khon Konchog Gyalpo in 1073, from which
Sakyapa rose and once ruled Tibet.
Unfortunately, it is nothing but ruins now due to
its severe destruction during the Cultural
Revolution (1966-1976). However the ruins still
reflect its glory and splendor
Tashilhunpo Monastery
Tashilhunpo Monastery, meaning "Heap of Glory", was
commissioned in 1447 by Gedun Drub, the nephew of
the founder of the Gelug sect, who was retroactively
entitled the First Dalai Lama. As such, it is one of
the six main monasteries of this Yellow-Hatted sect
along with Drepung, Sera and Ganden in Lhasa and
Kumbum and Labrang in Amdo.
Tashilhumpo is a vast monastery with its own
streets, housing sectors, plazas, back alleys and
complex of temples and halls. Tashilhumpo is located
in the town of Sigatse and was founded by Gedun Drup,
a disciple of Tsongkapa, the founder of the Gelungpa
Sect in Tibetan Buddhism. Gedun Drup was later
recognized as the first Dalai Lama. The monastery
was built in 1447 and continuously expanded by the
subsequent Panchen Lamas. The Ngagpa College (Tantric
College), one of its four monastic colleges, was the
residence of the Panchen lamas. One of the most
attraction of Tashilhumpo monastery is the giant
Maitreya (Future Buddha) erected by the 9th Panchen
Lama in 1914 which took 4 years to complete. This
twenty six meters tall statue is very big where lots
of precious things like pearls, turquoises, corals
and ambers were used with its 275 Kg. of solid gold.
Shalu Monastery
The Shalu Monastery is located 20 kilometers (12
miles) south of Shigatse. The monastery was founded
in 1040 by Chetsun Sherab Jungnay. The story of its
founding involves Chetsun and his teacher. His
teacher suggested that Chetsun shoot an arrow, and
found a monastery where the arrow hit. The flying
arrow hit a new bud. The monastery was named Shalu,
meaning "new bud" in Tibetan.
The monastery is architecturally distinctive. In
1329, an earthquake destroyed the monastery. In
1333, Buton rebuilt it under the patronage of the
Chinese Mongolian emperor. Since many Chinese Han
artisans participated in rebuilding the monastery,
the style combined the local Tibetan style with the
Chinese style of the Yuan Dynasty. This is the only
monastery in Tibet that combines these styles.
Shalu Lakhang is the central hall of the monastery.
Other buildings of the monastery surround it. On the
ground floor, the Tschomchen (also a hall) enshrines
Sakyamuni and his disciples. Sakyamuni was one of
the Buddhas. The chapels flanking the Tschomchen
house Tanjur and Kanjur, two very important sutras
of Tibetan Buddhism. Chapels in the roof floor are
of typical Chinese blue tile design. The chapels
enshrine Sakyamuni, Shalu Monastery's own Buton, and
the Arhats. Arhats are those who have attained
enlightenment, but whose rank and power is lower
than that of a Buddha. Massive, delicately painted
murals cover the walls of the monastery. Most of the
murals depict stories from the life of the Buddha.
The murals badly need restoration to preserve and
protect them.
Drepung Monastery
Situated 5 kms' distance to the western suburb of
Lhasa at the foot of Mt. Ganpoi Uze. Drepung
Monastery was founded in 1416 by Jamyang Choje, a
disciple Tsongkapa, the founder of Gelugpa Sect. The
Monastery , occupying an area of 250,000 sq. m. with
a fixed number of 7,700 monks, is the largest
monastery in Tibet. The monastery keeps plentiful
historical relics. Buddhist scriptures, arts and
crafts.
Sera Monastery
Situated at 3 kms' distance to the northern suburb
of lhasa. Sera Monastery was founded in 1419 by
Jamchen Choje, a disciple of Tsongkapa, the founder
of Gelugpa Sect. The monastery is erected grandly at
a mountain slope with a colorful architecture. Sera
Monastery together with Ganden Monastery and Drepung
Monastery in Lhasa are known as the Three Great
Monasteries of Tibet.
Samye Monastery
It is the first monastery ever built in Tibet. It
was founded by the Tibetan King Trisiong Detsen and
belongs to the Nyingmapa and Sakyapa sects. The
construction consists of three styles, namely, the
Han, the Tibetan and the Indian. It is said that the
monastery was destroyed by fire and was rebuilt
three hundred years as the residence of the 6th
Dalai Lama.. Finally it was completed by Rating
Rimpoche.
Ganden Monastery
Located in Taktse County 70 Kms east of Lhasa City
at an altitude of 4,300m, was founded in 1409 by
Tsongkapa, the founder of the Gelugpa Sect, it is
the earliest of the Three Great Monasteries of
Tibet.
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