Sakya Monastery

Sakya Monastery is a major Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Sakya County, historically founded in 1073 and serving as the principal seat of the Sakya school. It is known for its importance in religious scholarship and for distinctive white and red exterior bands on its buildings.

The site contains large assembly halls, shrine rooms and collections of Buddhist texts and thangkas, and it has long been a center for study and ritual within the Sakya tradition. The monastery’s architecture reflects several building phases and includes decorated interiors used for liturgy and teaching.

The monastery was established by members of the Khon family in the late 11th century and became politically influential in the 13th century under Mongol patronage. It sustained damage during political upheavals in the 20th century and has been subject to restoration and conservation efforts since.

Sakya Monastery sits in Sakya County in the Shigatse area of Tibet. It occupies a prominent position in the local valley and functions as both a religious center and a focal point for the surrounding community.

• Founding and school: Founded in 1073 by the Tibetan lama Khon Konchog Gyalpo, it is the historic seat of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism.