Songzanlin Monastery

Songzanlin Monastery in Shangri-La

#Songzanlin Monastery, also known as Guihua Monastery, is located in Shangri-La County, about 5 kilometers north of Zhongdian City. This monastery is the largest Tibetan Yellow Hat Lama monastery in Yunnan Province, with a history of over 300 years. It was built during the reign of the 5th Dalai Lama in the 18th century during the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty. The architecture of Songzanlin Monastery was modeled after the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. Therefore, it is nicknamed the Little Potala Palace.

The monastery consists of two Tibetan monasteries: Zhacang and Jikang. The copper roof is covered with gold, giving the monastery a Tibetan feel. There are 108 stone pillars, which are an auspicious number in Buddhism. It can accommodate more than 1,600 monks for chanting. There are 146 steps leading up to the main hall, which is decorated with murals depicting stories and legends of the Buddha. The temple is also filled with many valuable items, including large Chinese Buddha statues, golden lanterns, silver incense burners, Tibetan prayers, and many more. Another interesting point is Lamuyangcuo Lake in front of the temple, which is the best place to take pictures of the Songzanlin Monastery reflecting on the water.

Tibetans here still maintain traditions that are held during festivals. For example, every year from December 26 to 29 according to the Tibetan calendar, the Gedong Festival is held. Tibetans dress up in masks of horses, cows, sheep, crows, and yaks and gather in the temple square of Songzanlin Monastery, dance mask dances, play gongs, and people inside the temple chant in front of the Buddha statue.

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#China
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#SongzanlinMonastery
#Zhongdian
#Yunnan

Post by Thisirak | Dec 14, 2023