Tibetan Stupa or Chorten: Tibetan Buddhist Architecture

Tibetan Stupa, called chorten, is a mound-shaped Tibetan Buddhist architecture used to collect Buddhist relics and preserve the bodies of renowned lamas. Tibetan stupa evolved from the monument built by Buddhists after the Nirvana of Buddha Shakyamuni in India. It is directly derived from the eight spiritual pagodas in India. The earliest surviving stupa in Tibet is the White Pagoda located on the west side of the Dharma Cave in the Potala Palace. As the most ancient form of Buddhist art, it is an important part of Tibetan Buddhism and culture, symbolizing Buddha's presence. In addition, the Tibetan Stupa is a fusion of Buddhist stupa and Tibetan architecture, unique to Tibetan Buddhism. It is a precious cultural relic and a masterpiece of Tibetan art.

Tibet has a unique human geographical environment, which has created its unique Tibetan Buddhism and the unique stupa art culture in Tibet. The Tibetan stupa embodies a unique form of Tibetan funeral. It holds a lofty status in the hearts of the Tibetan Buddhists. Most Tibetan monasteries enshrine various stupas. The structure of stupas in Tibet is generally composed of three parts: pagoda, pagoda bottle, and pagoda. It has many types and different shapes. In addition, the structural materials of the stupa include gold, silver, copper, jade, stone, wood, earth, bone, and other structures.

Origin of Tibetan Stupa

The stupas in Tibet are directly derived from the eight spiritual pagodas in India. They are the forms that evolved after the eight spiritual pagodas of India entered the Tibetan region. Tibetan pagoda, the rule widely used in the early days was to build according to the pagoda building writings transmitted from India and the scale of the pagoda left by several masters. It was not until the construction of the Dalai Lama V in the Potala Palace that a unified regulation of the scale of the tower was carried out. Therefore, it was only in the second half of the 7th century AD that the Tibet region widely spread its scale of tower building. The time when the Tibetans built such stupas began in the 9th to 10th centuries. When eminent Buddhist monks and gurus passed away, their bodies were completely preserved in stupas after special treatment. The earliest surviving stupa in Tibet is the White Pagoda located on the west side of the Dharma Cave in the Potala Palace.

Tibetan Eight Stupas

The stupas in Tibet are directly derived from the eight spiritual pagodas in India and are the forms that evolved after the eight spiritual pagodas of India entered the Tibetan region. Therefore, the stupas in the Tibetan region are correspondingly divided into eight categories. These eight types of stupas in Tibet are called the Eight Pagodas of the Good World.

Enlightenment Stupa

The first four-level pagoda has four levels of lotus flowers painted or sculpted on it, and sometimes the seven-level pagoda can also be seen. It symbolizes the birth of Shakyamuni.

Bodhi Stupa

The second Bodhi Stupa has four levels, square and flat. It symbolizes Shakyamuni’s enlightenment in the Rajagriha.

Dharmachakra Stupa

The third Dharmachakra Stupa has four levels, with a slight protrusion in the middle of about one-third of each face. The four levels are painted and sculpted with temple door motifs.

Divine Transformation Stupa

The fourth Divine Transformation Tower has a four-level layer, with a slight protrusion in the middle of about one-third of each face. It shows that Shakyamuni is showing his supernatural power in Shravasti.

God Descent Stupa

The fifth God Descent Stupa is the same as the Divine Transformation Tower, except that there are three rows of descending stairs on the front of the tower bottle. Towers with doubled layers can sometimes be seen. It symbolizes Shakyamuni’s descent into the man’s world after thirty-three days.

Detached Stupa

The fourth level of the sixth Detached Stupa, square, cut corners are octagonal. It symbolizes the peaceful reconciliation of Devadatta’s splitting monastic sects.

Vijaya Victorious Stupa

The seventh Vijaya Victorious Stupa is divided into three layers, circular. It symbolizes Shakyamuni empowered himself to extend three more months of longevity in the man’s world.

Nirvana Stupa

The eighth Nirvana Stupa does not have a four-level layer, and the tower bottle is directly upside down on the tower base, and sometimes it can be seen that the tower bottle is not upside down. It symbolizes Shakyamuni’s nirvana.

Structure of Tibetan Stupa

The structure of stupas in Tibet is generally composed of three parts: pagoda, pagoda bottle, and pagoda, but they are very subdivided and have eighteen names. Holding the earth, the third order, the Dharma seat, Sonni, the basin bow bema, the pending, the ten senses, the fourth layer, the bottle seat, the bottle, the bucket seat, the tower bucket, the umbrella lotus petal, the thirteen dharma wheels, the rain cover, the diva, the nima, the roof of the house.

The base of the tower and the tower body have several kinds of square, round, and polygonal shapes, which are built upwards with steps and gradually converged; Most of the vases are round, with shrines on the front, and some are equipped with "ten phases free" diagrams; The neck of the tower is generally strung with 13 round stones, representing the thirteen stages of Buddha's cultivation of positive fruit, that is, the thirteen phase chakras, layer by layer, in turn; The top of the tower is composed of the sun, moon, and stars. The tower is generally white, but there are also red, yellow, black, and green, but mostly white. The pagoda contains Buddha statues, Buddhist scriptures, valuables, and grains.

Materials of Tibetan Stupa

The materials of the Tibetan stupa include gold, silver, copper, jade, stone, wood, earth, bone, etc. Most of the small and medium-sized pagodas enshrined in the hall are gold, silver, copper, jade, wood, bone, and other materials. In addition, most of the towers built on outdoor hilltops, roadsides, fields, and near towns are civil or earth, stone, and wood structures. They are large, and some are protected by bricks and tiles.

Types of Tibetan Stupa

There are many types of Tibetan stupas and different shapes.

Building Materials

From the building materials of the stupa, there are mud towers, stone carved towers, earthen pagodas, wooden pagodas, brick and tile pagodas, jade pagodas, copper pagodas, silver pagodas, and golden pagodas.

Combination of the Number

From the combination of the number of towers, there are single towers and group towers. The single pagoda is large and small, and the large one is tens of meters high. Small ones are usually only 5 to 10 meters. The group of pagodas has 8 pagodas of the same size, arranged in a zigzag shape, called the Barulai Pagoda, the more famous is the Barulai Pagoda of the Thar Temple, each pagoda has its name: Lotus Pagoda, Bodhi Pagoda, Peace Pagoda, Special Pagoda, Nirvana Pagoda, God Transformation Pagoda, Divine Descending Pagoda, Auspicious Domen Pagoda 8 kinds, representing 8 different stages or 8 different spiritual artistic conceptions in Shakyamuni's life.

Pagoda Nature

From the nature of the pagoda, it can be divided into four types: stupas, special pagodas, flesh spirit pagodas, and relic columbarium towers. When Buddhist monks and outstanding religious leaders pass away, their bodies are preserved in the pagoda after special treatment, which is called the Flesh Spirit Pagoda.