Saika Gutuo Monastery

Brief Introduction of Saika Gutuo Monastery

Saika Gutuo Monastery is also named Sangka Gutuo Monastery. It is located in Luozha County, Shannan Prefecture, Tibet, about 600 meters from west of the site of government. It is at the altitude of 3700 meters. At first, the Saika Gutuo Monastery was the monastery of Kagyu Monastery. Later, it changed to the monastery of Gelug Sect. The Saika Gutuo Monastery is state-level key unit of cultural relic protection. So, you should not miss it in your Tibet tour.

Buildings of Saika Gutuo Monastery

The Saika Gutuo Monastery is located on western side and faces with eastern side. The whole monastery is in the shape of square. It is surrounded by walls. The whole monastery is 98 meters long from east to west and 48 meters wide from south to north. The main hall of Saika Gutuo Monastery is the great hall which is named Garwa Jiuni. In the center of Saika Gutuo Monastery, there is a 28 meters high watchtower. In the watchtower, there are nine floors. The top of the watchtower is golden roof. In addition, there are monk's dormitory and other buildings in Saika Guoto Monastery.

The watchtower of Saika Gutuo Monastery is with nine floors. The first floor and second floor are basement and storage room. The third floor, fourth floor, fifth floor, sixth floor and seventh floor are its original building. The eighth floor and ninth floor were rebuilt in 1985. Except the fist floor and second floor, there are Buddha statues in each floor. One third of each floor is the part of stair.

The Dukhang Great Hall is located on west of the ancient watchtower. It is said that the hall was built by Bawa Zhulachenwa in first half of 16th century. There is winding corridor and scripture hall in front of Dukhang Great Hall. In the scripture hall, there are frescos on the four walls. Behind of the scripture hall, there is a Buddha Hall. On west of the Buddha Hall, there is an Esoteric Hall with various esoteric status in it. The second floor of the Dukhang Great Hall is monk's dormitory and storehouse.

History of Saika Gutuo Monastery

About in 1080, Marba who is famous master of Buddhism in Tibet provided funds and asked Mila Riba who is his disciple to build watchtower. With countless hardships, Mila Riba built Seka Gutuo (means "princess castle with nine floors) and Garwa Jiuni Hall (means "hall with twelve pillars") under the watchtower.

Until the first half of 16th century, Bawa Zulachenwa who is great scholar of Kagyu Sect ever repaired and enlarged the Saika Gutuo Monastery in large scale and formed present scale. It is said that frescos in the Dukhang Great Hall were painted by Zhulachenwa.

During the fifth Dalai Lama in power, the Kagxia Government set the rule that repair the Saika Gutuo Monastery every twelve years. In 1944, the Living Buddha in Sangzhu Monastery directed the last time repair. After this repair, the Saika Gutuo Monastery started to hold the religious activities which focus on doctrine of Gelug Sect.