Ling Chapels & Chortens

Now the renovation work still continues at Samye. Also, the original ling chapels are slowly being restored. You can wander around and see which are open. In the following is a clockwise tour recommendation.

There are some interesting bits and pieces in the square in front of the Monastery Guesthouse. The stubby isolated building to the north, which constitutes the remains of a nine-storey tower. The tower was used to display festival thangkas.

Tsemang Ling
Then you can go from the eastern gate, following the prayer wheels south to the Tsemang Ling. The monastery is once the monastery printing press. You can  look for the sacred stone in the center of the chapel.

If you happen to pass the residential college of the Shetekhang around 9.30am or 6pm, you can listen out for the debating sounds in the attached courtyard. The restored Aryapalo Ling was Samye’s first building. The style of the building is quite ancient. The statue of Arya Lokeshvara is like those in the Potala Palace. Originally, the Drayur Gyagar Ling was the center for the translation of texts. The wall murals shows the fact clearly. The main statue is one of Sakyamuni on the upper floor. The statue is flanked by his Indian and Chinese translators.

Jampa Ling
The Jampa Ling locates on the west side. It is the place where held the  Samye’s Great Debate. Go into the building, you will find a mural depicting the original design of Samye with zigzagging walls. All of these are right on your right. Also, the place houses an unusual semicircular inner kora. The kors is decorated with the image of Jampa. Take the way to the north, and you will find a chorten. Pilgrims usually circumambulate around the chorten. The south of it  is a sacred tree. Pilgrims usually tied stones there. The triple Mani Lhakhang to the north has beautiful murals.

Jangchub Semkye Ling
The Jangchub Semkye Ling is a green-roofed Chinese-style building. It lies to the north of Jampa Ling. The place is home to a number of bodhisattvas, which are around a statue of Marmedze. There is also a 3-D wooden mandala to the side. You can hold a torch and see the central Asian style Murals.

Kordzo Pehar LIing
Go east from here, and you will find the Kordzo Pehar LIing. The oracle Pehar used to live here before he moved to Nechung Monastery outside Lhasa. On the locked entrance of the ground-floor chapel, there are sticked with passport photos of those pilgrims. There are also two ancient-looking leather bags flank the chapel. The upstairs portico has some old cane helmets. The inner chapel has a strong smell of alcohol. And many hooks are hanging from the ceiling. Besides, there are demons’ hands reaching out from their cases, frightening the tourists as if they would be grabbed into the demons' hands.

You can also pay a visit to the four reconstructed concrete chortens.
 

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