Sumtseling Monastery
Shangri-La is known as an "earthly paradise" not only for its fascinating, otherworldly landscapes, but also for its ancient temples. Beneath the snow-capped mountains, red-robed monks, mani stupas, prayer cylinders, white towers and prayer flags on the peaks inspire respect and devotion. Among all the large and small temples in Shangri-La, the most unforgettable is Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, also known as Guihua Monastery and hereinafter referred to as Sumtseling Monastery, which enjoys the reputation of being the "Little Potala Palace." ".
As one of the largest Tibetan Buddhist temples in Yunnan Province, Sumtseling Monastery is hailed as the "Little Potala Palace" due to its unique architectural design, and is a masterpiece of Tibetan architectural art. Built into the side of a mountain, Sumtseling Monastery, seen from afar, closely resembles the Potala Palace in Lhasa. It was built in 1679 and completed in 1681, giving it a history of more than 300 years. It is said that the first ray of sun at dawn and the last ray of sun at dusk always land on the top of Sumtseling Monastery, which is why it is also known as the "City of the Sun" (the "City of the Moon" It is the ancient city of Dukezong, and both combine to form the sun and the moon in the heart). Under the sunlight, the gold and bronze tiles shine brightly. The yellow and white walls and bronze tiles together draw one of the most beautiful landscapes of the Tibetan Plateau, especially when the entire architectural complex is reflected in the Lamuyangcuo Lake, you can't help but think of the word "mystery". It is very close to the city of Shangri-La, but has the tranquility of being away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The monastery, backed by sacred mountains and facing a sacred lake, exudes a feeling that prevents you from approaching: too solemn, too pure, welcoming the world with tolerance and love.
Walking around the monastery, hearing the chants like a heavenly melody and watching the crows fly over the monastery, you can feel the compassionate depth and breadth of Buddhism. In this wonderful and magical atmosphere, the architectural aesthetics of Sumtseling Monastery presented themselves before their eyes. The red eaves, pinkish-white walls and golden roofs shine brightly under the hot sun of the plateau, dazzling everyone. Seen from afar it looks like a castle, up close like a series of partial paintings, one landscape after another slowly forming a large-scale ancient temple.
The eight large kangtsen, monks' cells and other buildings of Sumtseling Monastery surround and protect the three main temples: Zhacang, Jikang and Zhukang. Zhacang, Jikang and Zhukang are built at the highest point, in the center of the monastery. The large temple is oriented from north to south and is a five-story Tibetan building. The upper floor of the main hall has gilt bronze tiles, and the corners of the roofs with eaves beasts also show the style of Chinese temples. The great hall on the lower floor has 108 columns. The main building, Zhacang, whose name means monastery in Tibetan, is where the monks study the classics and practice the doctrine. While there, you can see the murals on the walls, beautifully decorated and full of details, with bright and vivid colors. The Buddha statues in the center and on the sides of the grand hall radiate a solemn atmosphere, filling his heart with a mixture of indescribable emotions: respect, curiosity, admiration and fascination. The monastery also houses a large number of treasures and relics, including gilded Shakyamuni Buddha statues, palm leaf manuscripts, thangkas exquisitely painted with colored ink, gilded and silver incense burners, eternal lamps, and more than two hundred works, including ten volumes of the "Kangyur" (two of which are handwritten in gold ink) and the "Tengyur".
This is one of the places not to be missed on a trip to Shangri-La, and is an essential "room" to understand Tibetan architectural culture. At Sumtseling Monastery, perhaps you can find an inner peace, and that feeling of being away from the world that belongs to Shangri-La. Take a moment to feel your respect for life and your gratitude for nature's gifts. Experience the faith and devotion of Buddhists.
