Shalu Monastery: A Millennial Buddhist Gem of Han and Tibetan Culture
Located 20 kilometers from the city center in Jiacuoxiong Township, Sangzhuzi District, Shigatse City, on the banks of the Nyangchu River, stands a quiet ancient monastery blending Han and Tibetan architectural styles—this is Shalu Monastery. It is the ancestral monastery of the Shalu school of Tibetan Buddhism, situated at an altitude of 3800 meters. With its thousand-year history, unique "Han-Tibetan fusion" architectural style, and precious murals and scriptures, it is a shining pearl in Tibetan cultural heritage.
Shalu Monastery was founded in the 11th century by the high-ranking Tibetan Buddhist monk, Jezun Sherab Gyaltsen. Later, recommended by the Yuan Dynasty imperial preceptor Phagpa, it was rebuilt and expanded with funding from the Yuan emperor, reaching its current scale. As a national key cultural relics protection unit, it bears witness to the profound integration of Han and Tibetan cultures during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, serving as an important example for studying the development of Tibetan Buddhism and cultural exchange among ethnic groups.
The monastery's core building, the Shalu Main Hall, is a model of Han-Tibetan architectural art. The ground floor of the main hall features a Tibetan-style watchtower structure, with walls built of stone and adobe bricks, thick and sturdy. The upper floor adopts a Han-style hip roof design, with upturned eaves, interlocking brackets, and roof ridges decorated with mythical beasts, showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship of Central Plains architecture. This "Tibetan below, Han above" architectural layout is unique among Tibetan monasteries. The beams and pillars inside the hall are exquisitely carved, and the painted decorations blend Tibetan auspicious patterns with Han-style floral and bird motifs, creating a harmonious coexistence.
The murals and scriptures of Shalu Monastery are considered "artistic treasures." The murals inside the main hall cover an area of over 1,500 square meters, depicting Buddhist stories, historical anecdotes, and secular life. The colors are vibrant, the brushstrokes delicate, possessing both the grandeur of Tibetan painting and the elegance of Han-style painting, earning it the reputation of "the Dunhuang of Tibet." The monastery also houses thousands of Tibetan Buddhist scriptures, some of which are Yuan Dynasty handwritten copies and palm-leaf manuscripts, with neat handwriting and exquisite binding, possessing extremely high documentary value.
As the ancestral monastery of the Shalu school, the temple preserves a unique religious culture. Every year in the first and sixth months of the Tibetan calendar, the monastery holds grand Dharma assemblies, attracting throngs of devotees to circumambulate the prayer wheels and pray for blessings. The chanting of sutras fills the air, and the incense burns brightly. The monks within the monastery practice according to traditional teachings, continuing the unchanging religious rituals of a thousand years, adding a profound atmosphere of faith to the ancient temple.
The surrounding scenery is breathtaking. The Nyangchu River ripples with clear water, its banks lined with barley fields and Tibetan-style houses, while in the distance, majestic snow-capped mountains stand tall, creating a harmonious highland landscape with the red walls and golden roofs of the ancient temple. Today, Shalu Monastery maintains its serene atmosphere of spiritual practice while also being open to tourists. Strolling through the temple, one can touch the textures of the thousand-year-old architecture, gaze upon the exquisite murals, and experience the profound cultural fusion of Han and Tibetan traditions and the dazzling charm of Buddhist art amidst the tranquility of the plateau.