Monasteries in Tibet

　　Tibetan Buddhism constitutes the foundation of traditional Tibetan culture, and exerts, through monasteries, a profound influence on Tibet's politics, economics, education, lifestyle and customs.
　　The Samye Monastery was the first Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Tibet. Under the aegis of Tubo King Trison Detsan, construction of the monastery began in 779 and was completed in 12 years. The presence of the monastery indicated the growing strength of Tibetan Buddhism. However, the Tubo king's policy of supporting lamas at the expense of the populace fostered wide spread public disaffection. Buddhists met with suppression soon after the king's demise. Towards the end of the 9th century, when Tibet was racked by 100 years of incessant warfare, the public harbored a strong desire for social stability and the recovery of production. The traditional system of slavery was replaced by feudal serfdom, a transitional period which demanded the establishment of a new ruling order. Buddhism rose and flourished again.
　　In 1054, Atisa, an Indian monk who lectured on Buddhism in Ngari in 1038, passed away. In 1076, a Fire Dragon Year Summons Ceremony was held in his honor under the aegis of the Guge king in the Toding Monastery. The event was followed by a massive increase in monastery construction in various parts of Tibet.
　　Various Buddhist sects, which appeared in the ensuing development of Tibetan Buddhism, built their own monasteries. For example, the Nyingma Sect built the Dojechag Monastery near Lhasa in the late 16th century and the Minzhoiling Monastery in the mid-17th century. Both monasteries became the birthplaces of two branches of the Nyingma Sect. The Gedain Sect, rising in the recovery period of Tibetan Buddhism, built the Razheng Monastery in 1054. The Razheng Monastery was where the Gedain Sect was expanded. In the ensuing years, the Butog, Qeka and Gyibug monasteries were built. These monasteries annexed smaller ones to form a group of monasteries that administered large tracts of land. Few of these monasteries survived the later changes brought on by the dissolution of the sect. The Natang Monastery in Xigaze is one of the survivors. At its peak of prominence, the monastery had a population of some 3,000 monks and 13 sutra hall. Its sutra printing house was the oldest of the three major ones in the Tibetan -inhabited areas. It boasts a huge collection of Tibetan printing blocks and hand-copied Buddhist scriptures. Tripitaka engraved and printed in 1732 and 1742 were the oldest of their kind. Gangyur of the Tripitaka is legendarily the only authentic edition of the Gelug Sect.
　　The Sagya Sect was expanded around the Kun tribal family. Goinqog Gyaibo, who divorced from the Nyingma Sect in the early 9th century, built a monastery in 1073 in Sagya. In Tibetan, Sagya means white color or no color. As the monastery was built near a white clay hill, it was named the Sagya Monastery. This was the beginning of the Sagya Sect. As the monastery walls were painted with blue, white and red stripes, the Sagya Sect was also nicknamed the "stripe sect." The Gyichag Monastery, built in 1449, was the major venue for lectures on Buddhism for the Sagya Sect. The Gegyu Sect, also known as the White Sect, boasted many branches, each possessing its own monasteries. Pagmo Zhuba Gagyu built the Zetang Monastery in 1351, and it was a major monastery during the time preceding the rise of the Gelug Sect. A consecration ceremony was held for the monastery on the fifth day of the second month of the Tibetan calendar (in 1410) at the Gandain Monastery, which was built under the aegis of Zongkapa. This demonstrated the rise of a new Buddhist sect, the Gelug Sect, which is also known as the Yellow Sect. Zongkapa passed away in 1419, As he had many disciples, the Gelug Sect grew even stronger. Many monasteries were built in its service. Jamyang Qugyai built the Zhaibung Monastery in 1415 to pray for prosperity. In 1418 when Jamyang Qugyai went to pay homage to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) Emperor Yongle, he was given a handsome reward which he used to build the Sera Monastery. Sera means wild rose in Tibetan, hence the Sera Monastery's name roughly translates as the "Wild Rose Garden Monastery." The Gandain, Zhaibung and Sera are considered the three major monasteries of the Yellow Sect in the Lhasa area. In 1447 Gundain Zhuba built the Tashilhungpo Monastery in Xigaze, which came under the administration of various generations of the Bainqen Erdeni. Of the above-mentioned three major monasteries, the Gandain Monastery, where Zongkapa lectured on Buddhism in person, became the Buddhist research center for the Gelug Sect. The Zhaibung Monastery, whose abbot Zhaxi Bedain was born into a wealthy family that maintained close ties with the Pagmo Zhuba regime, was actually the seat of power of the Gelug Sect. Gundain Gyaico, another VIP for the Gelug Sect, made great contributions to the construction and administration of monasteries. Upon his death, Soinam Gyaico, son of a Pagmo Zhuba regime official, was confirmed as his reincarnation and ensconced in the Zhaibung Monastery, which marked the beginning of the sect's reincarnation system. From then on, the title of the Dalai Lama was adopted. Soinam Gyaico posthumously confirmed Gundain Zhuba and Gundain Gyaico the titles of the 1st and 2nd Dalai Lama. He himself was the 3rd Dalai Lama.
　　When the Qing Dynasty was founded in 1644, the Central Government showed great concern for the development of Tibetan Buddhism, especially the role of the Gelug Sect. In 1652, the ninth year of the reign of Qing Emperor Shunzhi, the 5th Dalai Lama was invited to visit Beijing together with the Panchen Lama and Gushri Khan, the Mongolian leader of the Hoxot tribe. They were warmly received, and the Qing emperor conferred on the Dalai Lama the title of honor "All-Knowing, Vajra-Holding Dalai Lama," a title which established his position as the paramount Buddhist leader in Tibet. After Gushri Khan died in 1654, the Dalai Lama managed to expand his political forces and the Gelug Sect emerged as the ruling sect of Tibetan Buddhism, with more than 3,000 monasteries coming under its control.
　　Tibetan Buddhist monasteries feature a combination of palaces, halls and pagodas, a fact which demonstrates the exercise of political and religious administration over the region by the monasteries. Some major monasteries were fashioned after Tibetan, Han Chinese and even Indian architectural styles, with overlapping halls propped up by delicately engraved pillars and beams. Some monasteries, such as the Jokhang Monastery, were built on flat land, while some others, such as the Potala Palace and the three major monasteries (the Gandain, Sera and Zhaibung), were built by or on hills.
　　Tibetan Buddhist monasteries include the Sakyamuni Hall where Sakyamuni, founder of Buddhism, is enshrined, the Maitreya Hall where the Future Buddha is enshrined, and the Zongkapa Hall where Zongkapa, founder of the Gelug Sect, is enshrined. Other Buddhas enshrined in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries include Manjusri, known as the Wisdom Buddha, and Avalokitesvara, known as the Goddess of Mercy, as well as numerous other guardians of Buddhist doctrine. Buddhist objects adopted by various monasteries are of a dazzling variety of usages, including those used as a token of respect, those used for worship, and others used to offer advice. Although various Buddhist sects hold their own Buddhist activities, most major Buddhist ceremonies are held in much the same way.
　　The Grand Summons Ceremony, which is the most important Buddhist activity, is held in Tibet from the 3rd to 25th day of the fist month of the Tibetan calendar. The ceremony is large in scale and rich in content, and exerts a great influence on the Tibetan people.
　　The Lesser Grand Summons Ceremony, which is held on the 15th day of the second month of Tibetan calendar.
　　The Treasures Fair, which is held on the 30th day of the second month of the Tibetan calendar. Lamas, nobles and officials display their curios in front of the Potala Palace that day and then return to the Jokhang Monastery via the Ramoche Monastery.
　　The Sagya Dawa Festival, which is held on the 15th day of the 4th month of Tibetan calendar to mark the birth and the attainment of nirvana of Sakyamuni, founder of Buddhism.
　　The Shoton (Sour Milk Drinking) Festival, which is held from the 15th day of the 6th month to 30th day of the seventh month of Tibetan calendar.
　　The Dragon Demise Festival, which is held on the 8th day of the 7th month of Tibetan calendar. Lamas and laymen meet in the Zhaibung Monastery to worship the holy stupas of the 3rd and 4th Dalai Lamas in the Grand Sutra Hall.
　　The Lantern Festival, which is held on the 25th day of the 10th month of Tibetan calendar to worship Master Zongkapa's attainment of monkhood.
　　The Evils Dispelling Festival, which is held on the 29th day of the 12th month of Tibetan calendar. Various monasteries perform the sorcerer's dance in hopes of obtaining good luck in the next year. The sorcerer's dance held in the Potala Palace is the largest and most magnificent of all.
　　Tibetan Buddhist monasteries boast a huge collection of Buddhist artist works and historical relics. Engravings, frescoes and various kinds of art works are of superb workmanship. Various major monasteries in Tibet also have a large collection of Buddhist scriptures as well as literary works, history books, Tibetan medicine codes, and classics on geography, philosophy and calendar production. Hence each monastery is held as a museum of Tibetan history, culture and arts.
　　Wars and natural disasters such as thunderbolts and earthquakes have caused significant damage to Tibetan Buddhist monasteries throughout their long period of existence. After Tibet's peaceful liberation in 1951, the Central Government became very concerned with the situation of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. The Potala Palace, the Jokhang Monastery and some other major monasteries were put under national or Tibetan protection as cultural relics. In the last 10 years, the Central Government has invested more than 200 million yuan in repairing the Potala Palace, the Tashihungpo Monastery, the Jokhang Monastery, the Samye Monastery and some other major cultural relics without changing their flavor and style. All of their frescos and sculptures were renovated to shine more brightly. Today, there are over 1,400 monasteries in Tibet. Major festivals honored by various Buddhist sects are celebrated.