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| Sakya Monastery |
The monastery is a place that visitors cannot
miss. The monastery lies 130 kilometers (80 miles) southwest of
Shigatse. Sakya, meaning "Grey Soil" in Tibetan since the soil
around is grey, is the center monastery of Sakyapa sect of
Tibetan Buddhism. Its wall was painted with 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 "Second Dunhuang".
The monastery is divided into the Northern Monastery and the
Southern Monastery by Drum River. The Northern monastery was the
first one which was founded by Khon Konchog Gyalpo in 1073, from
which Sakyapa arose and once ruled Tibet. Unfortunately, it is
nothing but ruins now due to severe destruction in the Cultural
Revolution (1966-1976), however the ruins reflect its glory and
resplendence. The Southern Monastery was built in 1268 by the
fifth Sakya Throne Holder, Drogon Chogyal Phakpa, known as
Phakpa. Phakpa was the spiritual guide of Kubilai khan, a
Mongolian Chinese emperor who granted Phakpa secular and
religious authority over Tibet. From him, Sakyapa ruled over 100
years in Tibet.
The Southern Monastery remains in better condition. A typical
Mongolian structure, the fortress-like monastery has a moat
around and an outer wall and an inner wall, with fortifications
and battlements atop, covering a space of 45,000 square meters.
It has only one entrance on the east.
Lakhang Chenmo, the Main Changing Hall, is the central structure
in the inner courtyard. The hall, 5,700 square meters, has 40
huge pillars, four of which are 1.2 meters (4 feet) in diameter
and are said pillars send to the monastery by Chinese Emperor,
tiger, Nereus and wild yak respectively. Murals on the wall in
the hall depict the stories about the pillars. Except statues of
Buddhas, the hall houses the greatest religious library in
Tibet, containing tens of thousands of sutras written in
Tibetan, Chinese, Mongolian, and Sanskrit and Kanjur and Tanjur
written in gold power. In the chapel west of the hall techniques
to made mandalas are taught. Ngudung Lakhang, or the North
Chapel, houses 11 stupas, wrapped in silver, of former Sakyapa
Throne Holders. Pukang, the Manjushri Chapel contains a Jowo
Sakyamuni and a Manjushri and other statues.
Sakya has countless murals, mostly of the Yuan dynasty
(1271-1368). Among them, murals of mandalas and former Sakya
Throne Holders are outstanding. Sakyapa allows marriage and its
religious power is descended from paternal uncle to nephew while
its political authority from father to son. The treasure trove
of Sakya also collects 3,000 pieces of pattra sutras written in
Tibetan, Chinese, Mongolian and Sanskrit covering a wide range
of knowledge, and other artifacts such as seals, crowns, robes,
Buddhist vessels and statues granted by emperors of the Yuan
dynasty.
Seventy million Yuan (8.5 million US$) national fund has been
allocated to renovate and rebuilt Sakya Monastery last year. The
reconstruction has begun although the Northern Monastery is
still covered with gravels except for a newly built stupa in
which relics of the first Sakya Throne Holder is held. |
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