Samye 桑耶寺

About Samye

The central Utse hall stands for Mount Meru, with surrounding temples, four differently coloured stupas and a circular enclosure completing the composition. Founded under Trisong Detsen in the eighth century, it is closely associated with the establishment of Tibet’s monastic community. The hall combines Tibetan, Chinese and Indian architectural traditions, while murals and early inscriptions add historical detail. Begin with the overall plan before concentrating on the central hall and the contrasting stupas.

The monastery was closed in the middle of the ninth century and reopened in the late tenth century as a Nyingma centre. Later repairs and the arrival of Sakya monks established a community shared by the two traditions. The complex was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution and rebuilt after 1988.

The grounds cover about 110,000 square metres. Utse Hall (乌策大殿) faces east and occupies about 8,900 square metres. Its exterior appears to have five storeys, but the interior has three, each between 5.5 and 6 metres high. An encircling gallery opens through gates on the east, south and north, with double rows of columns and mural-covered walls. The monastery became a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level (全国重点文物保护单位) in 1996 and a national 4A tourist attraction (国家4A级旅游景区) in 2005.

What to look for

• The central Utse hall and its combination of architectural traditions.
• The red, green, black and white stupas within the circular monastery enclosure.

Location & getting there

Getting to Samye

Use Samye town in Dranang/Zhanang County, on the north bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo below Hapori/Habu Mountain.

• The monastery’s principal gate is on the east side; confirm the open interior route from there.