Samye Monastery

Overview
 

Location
The Samye Monastery was located in the quiet plateau area of the Shannan Region, and was the first temple built in Tibet at the foot of Mt. Haibusi, on the north bank of the YurlongTsangpu River in Jialang County.
 
History
Samye Monastery was built in 761 by the Trisong Detsen (reigned 742-798) of the TuboKingdom and is the first formal monastery that establishes triratna in Tibet. Combining Chinese, Tibetan and Indian architecture style, the structure reflects the ideal universe of Buddhism. There are many valuable and unique murals which hardly can be seen at anywhere else. It is accessible by taking a ferry across the YurlongTsangpu River. The name Samye means "surprise" in Tibetan.
When the temple was completed, the Trisong 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 who were later called the Seven Enlightened Disciples of Samye. Since then, Buddhism had become widespread within Tibet. Today the temple is listed as one of the cultural relics of national importance under the protection of the state.
It is said that the monastery was destroyed by fire and was rebuilt three hundred years as the residence of the 6th Dalai Lama.

Attraction
Samye Monastery is a great example of Tibetan architecture. 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.

Features
The first temple built in Tibet A great example of Tibetan architecture