Sakya Pa Monasteries

Dranang monastery is also called Dratang monastery, and just 2 kilometers away from Dratang down which the monastery is located. It was found in 1081 by Drapa Ngonshe, whom was a native of Dranang valley and one of the 13 Holy men of Dranang valley.

Brief

Dranang monastery is an important conservation site for the artistic heritage of Tibet, and it is thought to be one of the evidence to prove the Tsangpo River valley region is the source of Tibetan and Tibetan culture.

Damage and Rebuild

Dranang monastery became Sakya pa in the 14^th-15^th century, and then being damaged by the Dzungar armies in the 18^th century. It was repaired in the 1920’s and 1930’s by Reting Rinpoche, whom was the regent of Tibet from 1922-1941. Then it was damaged again during the 10 years culture revolution in 1960’s. Despite such enormous loss, the ground floor of the assembly hall has preserved a series of frescoes which are unique in Tibet. That is regarded to represent important synthesis of the Pala Indian Style and central Asian style;

Construction

The construction of Dranang monastery is similar to Samye monastery. Its main hall are surrounded by an elliptical wall, as a form of Mandala. The corridor murals depict the life of Sakyamuni and the careers of major Bodhisattvas, such as Avalokiteshvara.

The inner Sanctum to the west is entered through a triple gateway, adorned with paintings of the four guardian kings and Bodhisattvas. This eight-pillared inner sanctum once contained a large 3.4 meters image of the Buddha which was unfortunately destroyed.

However, the murals have survived, those of which are on the south, north and west walls dating back from 11^th century. Those of the east extremities of the north and south walls from the later Sakya Pa period. There are another 10 groups of early murals and paintings, among of which, those on the west wall are the best preserved, which the stylistic line and vibrant colors can still be seen

How to get to there

Dranang Monastery is about 50 kilometers from Tsetang county, and 115 kilometers from Lhasa

There is no bus to the monastery, but there are buses that connect Lhasa and Tsetang passing through Dranang county quite often, it is convenient to take bus and get off at Dranang county from which you can take local minibus to this site, or walk for about 2 kilometers from the bus stop to this monastery

The simplest way is by taxi or chartered vehicle, which may cost RMB 50.00 – 60.00 per person for a one way journey from Tsetang to here by a 7 seats minivan

Lhagang monastery is also called “Tagong monastery”. Its full name is “Minyag Lhagang Yongdzog Rabgyal Lhakang Thongdrol Samdrubling” in Tibetan. In its name, the “Yongdzog Rabgyal Lhakang” means the temple of prosperous end.

Brief

Because Lhagang monastery was built in 652 AD by the 33^rd Tibet king of Songtsam Gampo for his Chinese wife – the Princess Wencheng. And this monastery was the last one among of the 108 temples and monasteries that he ordered to build across Tibetan plateau.

Inheritance

Lhagang monastery is thought to be the 1^st Tibetan Buddhism monastery in Kham. It was initially the monastery practicing Kamar Kagyu lineage, then after converted to be Sakya Pa. It now has 108 white stupas behind the main temple and a hundreds of prayer wheels all around the monastery.

Stupa of Mahasiddhas

According to Tibetan Buddhism history, Huchen Kara, whom was one of the Indian Eighty Mahasiddhas, visited this holy place building a stupa and named it as Drupthok Choeten which literally means “Stupa of Mahasiddhas”. Later great scholars of Brahmin Saraha, Brahmin Gunpo, Vairochana, Padmasambhava, Yudra, Phakpa and four other Minyag local scholars built stupas which are still exist with other holy remains like speaking statue of Avalokiteshvara, Divine Conch Shell, Trumpet and conch of Vairochana, footprint of Dharmaraj Phakpa….

Status and development

Lhagang monastery is one of the popular monasteries in the Kham region and it receives thousands of local pilgrims every year to see its most holy image of Jowo Shakyamuni. Four spiritual mountains of Avalokiteshvara, Vajrapani, Manjushri and Tara surround the monastery. The statue of Songtsam Gampo and his chinese wife Princess Wenchen of Tang Dynasty are now still worship in the holy temple that is on the left of the assemblly hall.

It now houses about 100 monks and more than 70 monk students have been learning in the Lhagong Buddhist Institution, which receives students across the entire Tibetan plateau including Tibet, Kham and Amdo. One of their studying course is to debating which is arranged in the yard of the monastery. The visitors are allowed to join them but without disturbing their debating process

In recent year, a school is opened and supported by Lhagang monastery that teaches Tibetan language and Buddhism

How to get to there

Lhagang monastery is about 50 kilometer from Kangding airport, about 1 hours drive, so the quickest way to get to this site is by flight;

By flight

There are daily flight between Chengdu and Kangding, then switch to local vehicle to get to Lhagang monastery

By vehicle

• Bus : There are more than 15 local mini bus in between Kangding and Lhagang, with rate RMB 20 per person
• Chartered vehicle: about RMB 200 – 300 round trip

Lhagang Puja

Sakya monastery is located in the central Tibet, some 130 km southwest from Shigatse. “Sakya” is a translation from Tibetan pronunciation, it means “Grey and White Soil”.

• The white color that represents Avalokitesvara
• The red color that represents Manjushri
• The blue color that represents Vajrapani

Brief

Sakya monastery is to be painted with the above three colors, therefore it is also called as “Flower Pa”

The monastery cover more than 18,000 square meters, while the huge assembly hall covers 6,000 square meters. It was founded in 1073 by Konchok Gyelpo (1034–1102), whom was originally a Nyingma pa monk and became the 1^st Sakya Trizin. His powerful family governed Tibet during the 13^th and the 14^th centuries under the over-lordship of Yuan dynasty.

Artworks

It contains some of the most magnificent surviving artworks in Tibet, which have not been damaged even in the Culture revolutionary that happens in the 60’s of 20^th century

Its Mongolian architectural style is quite different from other monasteries of other sects of Tibetan religion. Moreover around 84,000 scrolls were found sealed in a wall 60 meters long and 10 meters high at this Monastery in 2003. It is anticipated that they will be Buddhist scriptures, as well as literature, history, philosophy, astronomy, mathematics and art from ancient times. Those scrolls are said to have remained untouched for hundreds of years.

How to get to there

Sakya Monastery is located in the center area of Sakya county, it is about 5 minutes walk from Sakya county Bus Terminal

There are 3 buses between Sakya county and Shigatse county,

From Shigatse to Sakya county, with departures at: 10:00 am, 13:00 pm, 14:30 pm
From Sakya county to Shigatse, with departures at: 08:30 am, 10:30 am, 15:30 pm

Dzongsar Monastery is loacated in Dege County in the Kanze (or Garze, Ganze) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan, approximately 10 – 11hrs trekking east to Pelpung monastery.

Brief

It was founded in 746 AD and was rebuilt in 1983. It now only has six large and small temples. The main temples cover 48,200 square meters. There are more than 200 monks residing at Dzongsar.

Featuring

Dzongsar runs a school teaching Tibetan traditions, it is noted for its openness to most of the teaching sects of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery is also known for its incense and sells it commercially as Dzongsar Tibetan Incense Powder and Dzongsar Tibetan Incense Sticks. The incense is made from precious, natural herbal materials from the highlands of Eastern Tibet and is said to have healing effects for the mind and soul, and have the ability to prevent infectious diseases.

“Rime Movement”

Dzongsar monastery is one of the sources of “Rime Movement” which is the Sect Undifferentiated Movement, also known as the Non-Sect Movement. It is an important spiritual revival movement of modern Tibetan Buddhism that originated in the pre-Tibet area in the 19^th century. Most of the initial promoters came from the Nyingma and Sakya Sects.

They hope to unify the differences between different sects of Tibetan Buddhism, and to have equal respect for the teachings and inheritance of different sects, so as to return to the original teachings of the Buddha and preserve the traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.

How to get to there

There are two ways to enter the valley that this Sakya Pa monastery is located

• From Pelyul county, it takes about 3-4 hours by rented vehicle to cover the distance
• From Derge, which has one bus to the Da Ma village, 2 buses a week

The best way to get in this valley is to rent local vehicle, which costs usually RMB 300 – 400 one way from Pelyul, or RMB 400 – 500 from Derge; The rental cost for a round trip in one day will be cheaper than to rent it one way or round trip in two or more days