Samye
was Tibet's very first monastery and has a history that spans over 1,200
years. It is designed to represent the Buddhist universe and many of
the buildings in the courtyard are cosmological symbols. The central
building of Samye, its foremost feature, comprises a synthesis of architectural
styles: the ground and first floors were originally Tibetan in style,
the second floor was Chinese and the third floor Indian.
Samye
was Tibet's very first monastery and has a history that spans over 1,200
years. It is designed to represent the Buddhist universe and many of
the buildings in the courtyard are cosmological symbols. The central
building of Samye, its foremost feature, comprises a synthesis of architectural
styles: the ground and first floors were originally Tibetan in style,
the second floor was Chinese and the third floor Indian.