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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 |
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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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