Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s3.t23.3

v1.c7.s3.t23.3

Designed by Santaraksita and Padmasambhava, Samye Monastery is a grand monastery with complete construction and unique style. There are three versions about the reference model based on Ou Danda Pu Li Temple in Magadha built by King Gopala of ancient Indian Pala Dynasty, consulting the world prospect described in Abhidharma-kosa and imitating the Mandala in the Esoteric Buddhism. In fact, the construction of Samye Monastery combines different features of the mentioned three. For example, the main temple in centre is a grand three-storey building and represents Mt Meru, the Buddhist universe centre. The four continents (Purva Videha, Jambudvipa, Apara Godaniya and Vttara Kuru) in the ocean around Mt Meru are represented by four temples at the cardinal points, each flanked by two smaller temples to symbolise eight islands in the ocean. The Sun and Moon chapels stand in two flanks of the main temple. In the four corners of the main temple lie four Pagodas with different colour representing different meanings. For example, the White one is Bodhi pagoda, Red for Dharma pagoda, Black for Dagoba and Green for Heaven pagoda. All these Pagodas symbol the Buddhism idea of conquering all demons and curbing all disasters.