Sewu Monastery

Brief Introduction of Sewu Monastery

Sewu Monastery is located in Namulin County, Shigatse Prefecture. It is about 70 kilometers away from county town. It is at the altitude of 4700 meters. It has over thousand years' history. It belongs to Ningma Sect. In Sewu Monastery, there was one big scripture hall and 11 halls. The main Buddha enshrined in Sewu Monastery is Padmasambhava. In 1984, on the ruin of original monastery, a large scripture hall and nine halls were repaired, with three statues of Padmasambhava and his apprentices in it. Sewu Monastery treasures 16 pieces of precious articles, including three statues of Padmasambhava which were unearthed from Fuzang Valley by Zhengshi Quni Nangshan, shoes of Garmaba, Dakini Yixi Jiacuo's Vajra, black stone, right-handed snails, rock with right hand print of Padmasambhava, etc. On north side of Sewu Monastery, there are three meditation houses and practice holes on the Zongshan Mountain. In the period from December 22nd to December 30th in Tibetan Calendar, the Sewu Monastery will hold rites of religious dance and driving off evil spirits.

History of Sewu Monastery

The building of Sewu Monastery was directed by Zhengshi Dianni Nangshan. Until now, it has over 1000 years' history.

The Sewu Monastery ever had a large scripture hall and 11 small halls and over 150 monks. It main enshrined Padmasambhava.

In the "Ten Year' Great Calamity", Sewu Monastery was destroyed. In 1984, the state appropriated funds to rebuilt the large scripture hall and nine halls on the ruin of original monastery. In the newly built scripture hall, there are three statues of Padmasambhava and his apprentices enshrined, and the practice hole of Dakini Yixi Cuojie(she was the imperial concubine of Trison Detsen, and then studied from Padmasambhava and became famous female Esoteric master). Now, there are 68 monks and 4 nuns in Sewu Monastery.

On southwest of Sewu Monastery, there is a Judedui Pagoda. According to legends, this pagoda was transported there from Indian. In the pagoda, there is the stone with right hand print of Padmasambhava.

Scenery of Sewu Monastery

Sewu Monastery is located in Sewu Valley. The Sewu Valley is very beautiful. There are shrubs, flowers and grasses everywhere over mountains and hills. The peaks around Sewu Valley are in an infinite variety of forms. Some of them look like sword; some of them look like wall; some of them look like birds and animals; and some of them look like figures. The Sewu Valley is like a beautiful painting. The head of Sewu Valley stretches toward southeast to the mountain foot of Gonggar Mountain, and the end of Sewu Valley stretches toward northwest to Langalangqiong Village. Padmasambhava ever practiced in Sewu Valley for 13 years and hid a large amount of scriptures, religious articles and precious jewelry in the valley. Consequently, Sewu Valley is holy land in the heart of Buddhism believers. According to legends, people who heard the name of Sewu Valley can get the Happy Land. People who touched the land, rock and trees of Sewu Valley can get away from all evils.