Wala Monastery

It is one of the most influential early monasteries of Sagya Sect in Chamdo Prefecture, 30 kilometers away from the Gyamda county town. It was said to be set up by the originator of Sagya Sect, Master Kunga Nyingbo, in the 1st year of Baoyuo of Southern Song Dynastong. The monastery was built alongside the mountain, of great momentum. The best treasures of the monastery are an exquisite bronze gilt statue of Sakyamuni and a statue of Buddhist Guardian carved from willows. They were said to be presented by Pagpa when he passed Wala Monastery. The monastery has a long history and is one of the main monasteries inheriting Sagya. It once belonged to the White Sect of Bon. Later it was changed into monastery of Sagya Sect by the imperial teacher pf Yuan Dynasty, Pagpa. It is the priginal monastery of King Derge. The solar disk and the Buddhist shrine behind the bronze gilt statue of Sakyamuni enshrined in the monastery are both made of bronze. The supernatural beast guarding Buddhism and the auspicious patterns carved on the Buddhist shrine are really vivid; the hair of Sakyamuni worn in a bun is spiral in form, on top of which there is a hunch. The top bob, the hair f the Buddha and the back light are all in crimson cyan color, while the solar disk is vermeil, which are of obvious artistic style of the hinderland of China. At present 256 statues of Buddha and over 100 thangkas are treasured in the monastery. Furthermore, the frescos the monastery are in gay colors and rich in the content, so they have double aesthetic value; religious and artistic.

Tens of small blockhouse are built on the precipices beside Wala Monastery, where the monks close the door and practice asceticism. During the asceticism, the monk should live along in the small house, only drink water and take a little food, sit in meditation and realize the sutras all the day. At least two years later, the monk could finish the practice and get out of the door.

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