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Shannan Region -- Samye Monastery --
Home Tibet Travel Guide : Tibet Attractions : Shannan Attractions : Samye
Monastery :
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Located in the quiet piedmont area of the Shannan Region, the Samye
Monastery is the first temple to be built in Tibet and the first complete
with the three Buddhist jewels of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. With these
unique features, this splendid temple has become an attraction for
visitors from near and far.
History
The temple was built by the Trisong Detsen (reigned 742-798) of the Tubo
Kingdom and was presided over by the Buddhist master Padmasambhava. The
Detsen contributed a lot to the project. First, it was said the name
(meaning surprise in Tibetan) originated from an exclamation he made.
When the temple was completed, Detsen took part in the foundation
ceremony and then ordained seven descendants of blue blood to cultivate
in the temple. They became the first group of monks to live at the temple
and later the so-called 'Seven Enlighten Disciples of Samye'. Since then,
Buddhism had become widespread within Tibet and forms a branch of
splendid culture. Now, the temple is listed as one of the cultural relics
of national importance under the protection of the state.
Layout
The whole construction of the temple is very grandiose and complicated.
It replicates the universe described in the sutras exactly. The central
world Mount Meru is represented by the majestic Wuzi Hall. The Sun and
Moon chapels stand in the north and south as the sun and moon in the
universe. Four larger halls and eight smaller halls are distributed
around all sides of the central hall, symbolizing the four large
continents and eight small ones. In the four corners lie the Red, White,
Black and Green Pagodas guarding the Dharma like the Heavenly Kings. A
circular wall surrounds the temple as if marking the periphery of the
world. The layout of Samye Monastery resembles the Mandala in the
Esoteric Buddhism.
Attractions
The Samye Monastery is renowned for the characteristic art of its
buildings and the vivid murals as well as other ancient relics stored
within them.
The three-story Wuzi Hall is the soul of the whole monastery. Its design
is very special. All of the layers follow different styles, the bottom
Tibetan, the middle Han and the top Indian. Hence the monastery is also
called the 'Three-styled Temple'. There are also many substantial murals
here. On the porch of the middle story is inscribed the reputed 'Painted
Historical Records' of Tibet, which extend 9.2 m. (10 yd.) and contains
the religious history of Tibet as well as many related legends. Besides
these, the murals depicting the 'Historical Records of Samye Monastery'
and the 'Biography of Padmasambhava' on the other two levels are also of
high aesthetic value.
There are four gates to the Wuzi Hall. The eastern gate leads to the
front entrance of the hall. In front of the gate is a nine-story hall,
however, only three stories remain standing. On the January 5 and May 16
of the Tibetan Calendar, the large embroidery of Sakyamuni is hung on the
wall for people to make homage to, hence the name 'Zhanfo Dian' (Buddha
Unfolding Hall). There is also an ancient stele and a bell made during
the Tang Dynasty (618-907) along with a pair of stone lions. On the stele
Trisong Detsen's edicts for establishing Buddhism as the state religion
in 779 are recorded. The bell was the first one made in Tibetan history
and is said to memorize the third concubine of the Detsen who led 30
aristocratic women to renounce the world and who later became the first
group of nuns in Tibet.
Travel tips
The Samye Monastery is located at the foot of Mount Haibu Rishen, north
of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. You can travel there by a regular bus from
Lhasa to Samye Ferry and cross the river by boat or bridge. Then you can
take the special monastery bus to get there. The mountain top is also the
best place to photograph a panoramic view of the monastery.
For dining and accommodation, the monastery includes a restaurant and
guest house. Alternatively there are other restaurants outside the
Eastern Gate and guest houses in the nearby village. When visiting the
monastery, bring a flashlight as it is quite dark in the halls.
Admission Fee: CNY 45
Recommended Time
for a Visit Two to three hours
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