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. |
Tibet
