The gate of the Zuglakang Monastery, the Thousand-Buddha Verandah and the Johkang Hall, plus the small encircled yard, seem to play the role of ascreen wall, and together constitute an axial symmetric space series. The encircled yard and the concave temple gate form a small square in front of the monastery, which is the starting-point of the series. The Thousand-Buddha Verandah is wide and spacious, while the Johkang Hall is closed and inhibited, providing a stark contrast. The golden roof of the Johkang Hall is full of distinguishing features: short eaves are arranged surrounding the top of the entire square outer wall to bind up the whole hall, and extend outward from the four golden-top halls that create a multi-eaved effect. Additionally, with the set-off of the turret, the image is particularly rich and beautiful.
Sha-lu Monastery
Sha-lu Monastery in the southeast of Xigaze was first built in 1087 during the Song Dynasty. Sha-lu means tender leaf, perhaps containing the meaning of the rejuvenation of Buddhism. The original monastery was destroyed by earthquake, and was rebuilt at the end of the 1athcentury during the Yuan Dynasty.
In the center of the ground floor is the main hall Sha-lu La-kang. It is a square, large scripture hall, the flat-top of the center part protruding. Light streams in through the skylight between the high and low flat-tops. This layout was later called the “Du-khang method”, and was commonly used by the Ming and Qing dynasties. The left, right and back sides of the scripture hall are closely encircled by several Buddhist halls, and a ring of winding corridors are added to the outer side. Monks can take a right-hand walk and chant scripture in the corridor.
The second floor is asiheyuan (courtyard with houses on all sides) encircled by four purely Han-style halls. According to ancient Tibetan documents, when the Sha-lu Lakang was built, many skilled Han craftsmen were invited, therefore forming an early Tibetan/Han mixed style.
In the early 15th century (early Ming Dynasty), the eminent monk TSongkhapa from Qinghai introduced religious reform in Tibet and created the Gelug-pa or Yellow Hat sect. It eventually gained the upper hand not only in religion, but also in politics. He constructed six famous major temples of the Yellow Hats, which are also the largest temples of Tibetan Buddhism, Such as the Lhasa Ganden Monastery (1409), Bras-spungs Monastery (1416), Sara Monastery (1419), Tashilungpo in Xigaze (1447), Tar Monastery in HuangZhong of Qinghai (156O), and Blabrang Monastery in Xiahe of Gansu (1709). They were all built at the foot of mountains, represented by Blabrang Monastery.
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