Zhebo Sakya Monastery

The Sakya sect was introduced to Yongning during the late Song Dynasty (960-1279) and early Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Under the rule of Emperor Zhizheng of the Yuan Dynasty, a Sakya Monastery was built at Zhebo.

It was reconstructed in 1875. Zhebo Sakya Monastery was located at the foot of Gemu Mountain. It was designed to host 200 lamas and house more than 500 lamas. During the Yuan and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties, the Sakya sect played a dominant role among the Mosuo and Pumi people in Yongning. Walls at the sect’s monasteries are red, white and grey. When Zhebo Sakya Monastery was built, crowds of followers came to burn joss sticks and worship. The monastery is the site of the continuous ringing of temple bells and ever-burning joss sticks.

Zhebo Sakya Monastery was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s. Only ruins remain. After 1983, the monastery was reconstructed with government support and the wide participation of followers who donated funds, material and labor.