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Features of Tibet Monasteries

Location 

Tibet Monastery
 
The location of a monastery in Tibet is usually at a plain place or against a mountain. For instance, Jokhang temple is a monastery built at a plain place. But most of the Tibet monasteries are constructed against the mountains. The buildings in the monasteries are well-proportioned due to the topography, such as Potala Palace. If you make a Tibet monastery tour, you would find that there are 13 floors from the ground to the top. Taking an overlook from the ground, tourists would find the monastery and the original mountains were integrated together. 
 
Architecture
 
Tibet monasteries
 
Tibet monasteries always cover a large area and the grand complex is usually composed of shrine palace, Buddha hall, the Tripitaka Sutra Pavilion and the dwelling of the lamas. For example, Drepung Monastery covers an area of 0.28 million square meters. The construction of some of the monasteries covers the while mountain and looks like a city if you take an overlook in distance.
Most of the monasteries enjoy a palatial architectural feature. The important monasteries are always decorated with a splendid golden roof, which symbols the status of the monastery. Except for the golden roof, some of the monasteries even have a gold-plated pavilion. There are 3 golden palaces and 5 golden pagodas in Potala Palace. The rows of Tibetan prayer wheels in front of monasteries would also make the monasteries looked more solemn and magnificent. 
 
Though most of the Tibet monasteries enjoy a similar architectural style, each monastery has their distinctive features due to the different natural environment and different religion culture. Tourists making a Tibet monastery tour would find that the architectural and decoration style of the monasteries belong to Bon and Tibetan Buddhism are quite different from each other. Taking Samye Monastery as an example, it is the earliest monastery of Tibetan Buddhism. All the affiliate buildings in Samye Monastery were constructed around the main shrine hall.
 
In addition, the precious murals and sculptures presented in the monasteries would make the monasteries more respectful.
 
Functions
 
Tibet monastery
 
Monasteries in Tibet are places for holding all kinds of religious activities. Teaching and learning Tibetan Buddhist scripture is still the main activity in a monastery. A monastery in Tibet is served as a Buddhism university. For example, Drepung Monastery, the principal seat of the Gelugpa School, has a system of education for the monks. The monastery has three Exotoric Buddhism colleges and one Esoteric Buddhism college. 
 
Tibetan Monasteries are also the place for celebrating Tibetan festivals. As most Tibetans are Buddhist, Tibetan people usually go to do ritual walk around a monastery or do donation to monasteries on a festival. Besides, during some traditional Tibetan festivals, grand thangka of Buddha would be exhibited for Tibetan Buddhist to worship the Buddha. For instance, a great thangka of Buddha would be unfolded in Drepung Monastery during Shoton Festival. Tashilunpo Monastery in Shigatse even would celebrate a festival, known as Buddha Exhibition Festival erupting for three days in the middle of the fifth lunar Tibetan month.    
 
Monasteries in Tibet are also served as schools. Young Tibetan men, often second sons of their families, would receive education in reading and writing at a local monastery before embarking for Lhasa, where they would enroll in one of the colleges of the monastic universities and live in communal houses with other monks from their home region. They can learn language, poetry, medicine, astronomy, history, philosophy, drama and so on in monasteries. Some monasteries in Tibet are served as library, too. 
 
Master Catherine Jigme

About the Author - Master Catherine Jigme

With exceptional passion and outstanding leadership, Mrs. Catherine has dedicated herself to Tibet inbound tourism and China tour for 15 years. As one of the handful females who see great potential of Chinese inbound tourism, Catherine has made great contribution to promoting Tibet tourism and enhancing the employment of Tibetans and prosperity of local Tibetan community.

Over the years, she travelled overseas with Tibet Tourism Bureau many times to promote Tibet tourism. Currently, Catherine works as the marketing director of Tibet Vista, an opinion leader behind the whole team of Tibet Vista.

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