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Labrang Monastery is one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug Pa of Tibetan Buddhism, and is located in Xiahe County of Gansu province, which was in the traditional Tibetan Cultural Area of Amdo.

Brief

Labrang Monastery, a variation of the Tibetan word “Ladrang,” means “the residence of the living Buddha.”

The full Tibetan name is “Gadan Shadrub Dargya Tashi Yisu khyiyuling,” and it is commonly referred to as “Tashikyi monastery” or Labrang Monastery.

Labrang Monastery is Located on the western outskirts of Xiahe County, at the foot of the Fengling Mountains, on the north bank of the Daxia River, with the northwest mountains resembling a lying elephant and the southeast mountains resembling verdant pine forests. The Daxia River meanders from west to northeast, forming a right-handed spiral shape, and is revered by the local Tibetan people as a sacred and auspicious place.

It was founded in 1709 AD by the first Jamyang Zhaypa, Ngawang Tsondru, and also a “home” to the largest number of monks outside Tibet Autonomous Region. It used to house more than 4,000 monks.

Academy

In 1709 AD, the first abbot of Labrang Monastery, Jamyang Zhepa, returned to his hometown and built a monastery in this picturesque place at the request of Chahan Danjin, the former leader of the Qinghai Mongolian and Khorchin tribe.

The monastery has six major Dratsang (academies): Tiesang Langwa (Exotoric Wensi College), Jumaiba (Lower Tantric College), Juduoba (Upper Tantric College), Dingkeer (Kalacakra College), Manba (Medical College), and Jiduo (Exalted Vajra College – Kyedor Dratsang). It is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastic institution in China, and its strict admission, teaching, examination, and graduation system has trained a large number of religious talents in the Tibetan region.

Tiesang Langwa Dratsang (Exotoric Wensi College)

commonly known as the Great Sutra Hall, is a place for the monks of Labrang Monastery to study all the regulations and rituals of the Exotoric Buddhism. It was constructed following the design of the Gomang Dratsang at the Drepung Temple in Lhasa. The Great Sutra Hall is renowned for its grand scale, with a depth of 11 rooms and a width of 15 rooms. It is constructed of wood and supported by 140 massive columns, capable of accommodating 3000 monks for chanting. The hall is lavishly decorated with various Buddha paintings adorning the walls, and niches and shelves holding sacred scriptures. Exquisite thangkas and banners are hung on the columns, and the ceiling is adorned with decorative “Mang dragon brocade.”

The monks here primarily study the Tripitaka, the Three Trainings (morality, meditation, wisdom), and the Four Great Doctrines (Abhidharma, Sutra, Vinaya, Madhyamaka). Through teachings, memorization, and debates, they aim to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the five major treatises in Buddhist studies: the “Abhidharmakosha,” “Prajnaparamita,” “Madhyamaka,” “Dharmaskandha,” and “Vinaya.” The study is divided into thirteen levels, and it generally takes 15 years to complete the study of these five major treatises.

Exotoric Wensi Dratsang

It offers three levels of degrees: “Ran-jam-pa,” “Ga-ren-ba,” and “Do-ren-ma-pa.” Typically, after completing the “Prajnaparamita” section, a monk can apply for the “Ran-jam-pa” degree examination, which is held twice a year. Those who complete the “Dharmaskandha” section are awarded the title of “Ga-ren-ba.” “Do-ren-ma-pa” is the highest degree in the academy, and the examination is extremely rigorous. Candidates must not only graduate from the “Dharmaskandha” section but also be reviewed and approved by the “Da-fa-tai” (the head abbot) before applying. One month before the formal examination, the candidate must undergo a preliminary examination conducted by the monastery’s head – Jamyang Rinpoche, where they are required to recite the “Fundamental Treatise” from the five major treatises. Successful candidates can then participate in the formal examination. Prior to the examination, the monastery holds a five-day banquet, inviting monks from the 6^th grade and above, providing guidance and encouragement, as well as fostering camaraderie among the candidates and their senior classmates. Those who fail to pass the “Do-ren-ma-pa” examination are permanently disqualified from reapplying, making the biannual examination opportunities even more precious. Upon obtaining the “Do-ren-ma-pa” degree, one can be appointed as a living Buddha teacher or a scripture teacher within the monastery. They can also be reincarnated after death, thus forming a new system of reincarnation of living Buddha.

Juduoba Dratsang (Upper Tantric College)

Located to the west of the Kyedor Dratsang, was constructed under the guidance of the 5^th Jamyang Rinpoche in 1941. The architectural style of the building was modeled after the Upper Tantra College in Lhasa. The main hall consists of five rooms in the east and west, and ten rooms in the north and south, designed in a blend of Chinese and Tibetan architectural styles. The top of the building is adorned with green glazed tiles, various animal-shaped decorations, and gilded dharma wheels, bronze vases, and copper flags, hence it is also known as the “Green Tile Temple.” A plaque reading “Tantric College” is hung in front of the hall, and inside the main hall, there are plaques with inscriptions such as “Propagating the True Dharma,” “Border of the Dharma,” and “Essence of Tantra.” The hall houses statues of Shakyamuni Buddha, a bronze statue of Maitreya Buddha, sixteen Arhats, images of the 1^st to 5^th Jamyang Rinpoche, 35 repentant Buddhas, the bone stupas of the parents of the 5^th Jamyang Rinpoche, and 21 statues of the Tara (Mother of Liberation). The gilded Maitreya statue, standing at around 10 meters, is a masterpiece crafted by Nepalese artisans.

Jumaiba Dratsang (Lower Tantric College)

This is a sub-college of the tantric college, dedicated to the practice of Vajrayana Buddhism, focusing on the deities of Vajrasattva, Mahakala, Mahakali, the Three Vajras, the Six-Armed Protector, and the Dharma King Protector. The monks study the doctrines of Vajrayana Buddhism and receive empowerments from the high-level lamas. Originally, the college had strict rules, such as prohibiting the wearing of silk, not allowing full meals, requiring the use of alms bowls for eating, carrying a tin rods when going out, and forbidding the monks to look up while walking, and so on.

Dingkeer Dratsang

Also known as Kalacakra College, established by the 2nd Jamyang Yeshe Rinpoche, following the teachings of the 6^th Panchen Lama Losang·Huden Yeshe, is modeled after the Kalachakra Academy of Tashilhunpo Monastery of Tibet. It has a history of over 200 years. Monastic students primarily study the “Kalachakra Tantra” and focus on astronomy and calendrical calculations. The Tibetan calendar they have compiled plays a significant role in guiding agricultural and pastoral production in the Amdo Tibetan regions, and has also spread to some areas in Nepal, Bhutan, and India.

Manba Dratsang

Also known as the Medical College, was established by the 2^nd  Jamyang Yeshe Rinpoche, emulating the medical college of the Medicine King Mountain Temple in Lhasa, Tibet. It is an educational institution dedicated to training medical monks. Currently, it also operates outpatient clinics and a pharmaceutical factory. The college has developed “Jiebai Pills,” “Nine-Ingredient Agarwood Powder,” and “Nine-Ingredient Bezoar Powder,” which have been included in the national pharmacopoeia. In addition, 18 other proprietary medicines have been included in the proprietary medicine of the five provinces in the northwest region and are sold nationwide.

Kyedor Dratsang

Also known as the Exalted Vajra College, is primarily dedicated to the practice and study of Vajrayana Buddhism, focusing on deities such as Vajrasattva, Vajrahand, Vajrayogini, and other tantric deities. The main emphasis is on the study of the generation and completion stages of Vajrasattva. Novice monks at the academy not only study the tantric scriptures but also learn to create mandalas using colored sand. They are also examined on phonetics, music, and other related subjects. Intermediate-level monks primarily study Chinese and Tibetan calendrical astronomy, Tibetan grammar, calligraphy, and the “Puja dance” form that originated from Tibet. Advanced-level monks are required to abide by the three monastic disciplines, refrain from negative behavior and speech, and are expected to have a good command of Chinese and Tibetan calendrical astronomy.

Architecture

Labrang Monastery’s architecture follows a Tibetan-style layout, with various forms including Tibetan, Han-style palace, and a mix of Tibetan and Han styles.

After more than 280 years of construction and expansion, it has developed into a vast complex covering a total area of 866,000 square meters, with a built-up area of over 480,000 square meters. It encompasses six major Dratsang (academies), each with its own independent scripture hall, forty-eight Buddha halls, living quarters for the Living Buddha, eighteen Lhakhangs (temples), as well as scripture halls, printing houses, and over five hundred monk residences.

The entire complex is marked by the white pagodas in the northeast and northwest. The tall scripture halls and Buddha halls are concentrated in the northwest, with the scripture hall of the Exotoric Wensi College as the central point, and other buildings arranged in a semi-circular layout resembling stars surrounding the moon.

The complex features both stone and earthen walls. All scripture halls and Buddha halls are built with thick walls made of bluestone, giving them a simple and elegant appearance. It is said that “outside Labrang Monastery, no wood is seen, and inside, no stone is seen.” The roofs of the halls are surrounded by low walls made of reddish-brown “border reeds,” which not only reduce the weight of the buildings but also enhance their grandeur, creating a solemn and dignified religious atmosphere.

Buddha Statues and Buddhist scriptures

Labrang Monastery houses over ten thousand Buddha statues, made of various materials including gold, silver, copper, aluminum, ivory, sandalwood, jade, crystal, and clay sculptures. Many of the Buddha statues are adorned with pearls, jade, agate, and diamonds, creating exquisite and dignified forms with gentle and compassionate expressions, evoking a sense of beauty. The monastery’s collection of over ten thousand thangkas, a traditional Tibetan painting, is largely produced by artists from the hometown of Tibetan painting, the village of Wutun in Tongren County, Qinghai Province.

Furthermore, Labrang Monastery is one of the richest repositories of Tibetan Buddhist scriptures, housing over 65,000 scripture volumes and more than 18,200 different titles (excluding duplicate copies and the “Kangyur” and “Tengyur”). The collection covers over 8 categories, including philosophy complete works, tantric texts, medicine, history, biographies, crafts, and grammar. It also includes two palm-leaf manuscripts and over 70,000 woodblock-printed scripture plates in the printing house.

In addition, the monastery preserves numerous historical artifacts, including imperial edicts, decrees, and seals bestowed by successive central governments of the Qing Dynasty, as well as seals and inscriptions given by the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama to the successive incarnations of the Living Buddha Jamyang and other high lamas.

In 1961, Labrang Monastery was designated as one of the provincial-level cultural heritage sites in Gansu Province.

It was opened for tourism in 1980 and was later listed as a key national cultural heritage site in 1982.

Religious Activities (Puja)

Every year, Labrang Monastery holds 7 large-scale religious events, among which the Prayer Festival in the 1^st month and the Dunbai Ridra Puja in the 7^th month (also known as the “Darma Puja”) are the most grand.

The Prayer Festival in the 1^st month begins on the evening of the 3^rd day of the 1^st month and continues until the 17^th day. During this time, all the monks recite scriptures six times a day in the main scripture hall. The festival also includes activities such as “releasing life,” “Thangkae unfolding,” “the Cham dance”, “butter lamp display”, and the “turning of the Maitreya Buddha.”

The official date of the July Puja is the 8^th day of the 7th month of Tibetan calendar. The monks gather daily to listen to or debate scriptures 7 times, and outside the main scripture hall square, they perform a drama with the main content centered around the holy monk “Milarepa” converting the hunter “Gongba Dorje.”

The performers are all monks from the monastery, accompanied by a monk band playing drums and cymbals. The first abbot of Labrang monastery, the 1^st Jamyang Yeshe, began organizing the band, introducing Tibetan music and gradually incorporating Qing Dynasty court and mainland temple music, and introducing Han Chinese musical instruments. The band’s repertoire includes “Riwozhi’a” (referring to Mount Wutai) and the Qing court music “Wan-nian-huan, meaning long time happiness.” Their famous plays include “Songtsen Gampo and Princess Wencheng,” “Chime Gendun,” “Norsang Prince,” “Zhuowasangmu,” and “Chisong Dechen,” and others.

Destruction and reconstruction

As other monasteries and historic site, Labrang was severely damaged during the Cultural Revolution in the 60’s of 20^th century. And now, its assembly Hall was rebuilt in 1990. The monastery’s white walls and gilded roofs feature a blend of Tibetan and Indian Vihara architectural styles. It contains 18 halls, six institutes of training , a huge gilded stupa, a courtyard for debating, and holds about 60,000 sutras. Together with Kumbum monastery, it is Gelug Pa’s most important monastery outside the Tibetan Autonomous Region.

Modern development

Nowadays, Labrang monastery has become an vital travl attractions, it apperanace and religious have been attracted to visitors across china as well as the Europe and America. There are religious activities organized by this monastery throughout a year, among of which festival in January and June are the most common ones, usually with programs of Thangkar Buddha Image -unfolding, sutra enchanting, praying, …etc;

How to get to there

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The closest airport to Labrang monastery is Gannan Xiahe Airport, which 72 km north from Labrang monastery. Due to the matching of Xiahe Airport’s flights and your itinerary, Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport can be used as your backup plan

This 320-kilometer-long, high-quality highway between Lanzhou and Xiahe County has shortened the travel time by car from previously 8-9 hours to about 4 hours now.

By Bus

• From Lanzhou Bus South Terminal : departure at : 07:30 am, 08:30 am, 09:30 am, 14:00 pm, 15:00 pm, 5 buses leaving for Xiahe, about 4 hours’ drive, with rate RMB 75.00 per person
• From Hezuo Bus North Terminal : one bus departure for Xiahe at every 30 minutes from 07:00 am to 16:00 pm , about 1 hour’ drive, with rate RMB 15.00 per person
• From Langmu Si town : one bus departure for Xiahe at 14:00 pm , about 4 hours’ drive, with rate RMB 70.00 per person

Overland journey extension

The well-paved National Road connects this religious site to Chengdu to its South. The well-paved road curves in the mountains about 950 km to Chengdu. En route, there are numerous sites to visit. Langmu Si, Jiuzhai Valley, Huanglong, and the first bend of Yellow river…etc;

Accommodation

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The best hotel in the town is a 4 star hotel. In general, there are more than 40 hotels, guesthouse in Xiahe, where Labrang is seated; room rate from RMB 30.00 per bed per night up to over RMB 1,000.00 per room per night; however, an early booking is recommended in high travel season or Labrang festival time

Rrecommended hotels in Xiahe Town….

The Four Major Sects of Tibetan Buddhism

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Drepung Monastery is a monastery of the Gelug Pa of Tibetan Buddhism.

The name “Drepung” in Tibetan means “piles of rice,” symbolizing “Prosperity”, as the entire monastery complex with its grand white buildings covering the hillside resembles a vast heap of rice.

Situated in a valley on the southern slope of Mount Gephel about 5 kilometers west of Lhasa at an altitude of 3800 meters, it spans an area of approximately 250,000 square meters. Built layer by layer along the mountainside,

Together with Ganden Monastery and Sera Monastery, it is known as the three major monasteries in Lhasa.

Together with Ganden Monastery, Sera Monastery, Tashilhunpo Monastery, Kumbum Monastery and Labrang Monastery, it is collectively known as the six great monasteries of the Gelug Pa

Drepung Monastery has produced a significant number of religious scholars in Tibet, Kham and Amdo, earning it the title of the “Second Nalanda.”

It was founded in 1416 AD by Jamyang Choggyi, a disciple of the founder of the Gelug sect, Tsongkhapa.

Layout

Drepung Monastery is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with a sloping land to the south covered with trees and shrubs. Facing the Lhasa River and open valley plains in front.

The entire monastery is built gradually along the mountain, consisting of Buddha halls, sutra halls, and monk residences, and towering buildings with a grand scale and well-organized layout.

Notable structures like the majestic Main Hall, the unique Deyang Dratsang, the tightly arranged Aba Monks’ Quarters, and the splendid Ganden Phodrang represent large Tibetan architecture.

Each part includes subsidiary areas such as Kangcun and monks’ quarters, forming a tightly structured architectural unit interconnected yet independent.

The main halls and scripture halls are topped with golden roofs adorned with dharmachakras and victory banners. The colorful decorations complement the towering halls, creating a unique and magnificent scene of Tibetan Buddhist temples.

Each architectural unit typically consists of three horizontal levels: courtyard level, scripture hall level, and Buddha hall level, emphasizing the prestigious status of the Buddha hall as they ascend from the entrance.

Main Buildings

Drepung Monastery consists mainly of Gandan Phodrang, the Main Hall, and the Four Great Dratscang (i.e., Roselin Dratsang, De-yang Dratsang, Aba Dratsang, Gomang Dratsang).

Most of the main buildings in the monastery were constructed successively during the Ming (1368 AD – 1644 AD) and Qing (AD 1636 or 1644 – AD 1912) dynasties.

Ganden Phodrang

Gandan Pochang is the Dalai Lama’s residence in Drepung Monastery. Before the reconstruction of the Potala Palace, the Fifth Dalai Lama lived here, established a strong local political power and holding both political and religious power of Tibet.

As both political and religious affairs were handled in this Phodrang (“Phodrang” meaning “palace”), it was named the “Gandan Phodrang Regime,” making Gandan Phodrang briefly the center of political power in Tibet

Located on the left front part of the Drepung Monastery, it is a completely independent architectural unit.

Surrounded by high walls, with luxuriously decorated roofs, it follows the architectural style of a flat-topped ancient castle, grand and magnificent.

Ganden Phodrang can be divided into three parts on a plan:

Entering through the front gate leads to a small courtyard, with a twisted ancient tree on the right side.

To the left and right sides and the front part of the main courtyard are two-story Open-style corridor buildings and living quarters, while the back part is the main building of the Phodrang

Ascending the stairs from the courtyard leads to the Phodrang main courtyard.

The main building of the Phodrang is more than 2 meters higher than the courtyard, standing three stories tall.

There are many sutra halls and Buddhist halls on the first floor of the building;

The second floor is where the Dalai Lama handled with political and religious affairs, with the central rear of the left side of the sutra room placing the Fifth Dalai Lama’s throne;

The third floor is where the Dalai Lama lived, with his study, bedroom, preaching hall, living room, and also the Dolma Hall and the Guardian Deity Hall.

In the rear courtyard of the harem “Gongga Re,” there is a scripture hall where the monastery’s cultural relics are displayed, originally it was used as an office by the local Kashag Regime

The Main Hall

The Main Hall is the main building of Drepung Monastery, located at the center of the monastery with a total area of nearly 4500 square meters.

In front of the hall, there is a stone-paved square measuring 200 square meters, Climb the 17 broad stone steps leading to the open corridor in front of the hall with 8 columns.

The sutra hall of the main hall is large in scale, covering an area of about 1800 square meters with 221 rooms and 183 columns. The carvings on the columns are exquisite, complemented by delicate embroidered scripture banners, thangkas, and Buddha statues, as well as murals. It can accommodate up to eight thousand people for chanting in the same time, preserving a large number of ancient Tibetan texts and scriptures.

Rising in the center of the scripture hall is a spacious skylight covering an area of over 100 square meters.

The hall is adorned with intricately carved beams and pillars, hanging banners, and colorful curtains, along with eye-catching gilded bronze statues, bright oil lamps, creating a magnificent and splendid atmosphere.

The Buddha statues enshrined in the main hall are exquisitely crafted and vivid, especially the central statues of Majursri Bodhisattva and the Maha Sitatapatra, both tall and delicate. The back-lighting of the statues, surrounding decorations, and vivid animal carvings make them rare and exquisite artistic masterpieces.

Behind the main hall is the “Duisong Lakhang” (Tryadhva-Buddha Hall), one of the earliest lakhangs of Drepung Monastery, built during the Jamyang Choggyi period

There are about 18 meter in deepth and 18 meters in width, up to two floors. The top of the front door features a large skylight, improving the interior lighting.

Each of the three Buddha stautes in the hall is accompanied by two disciples, placed in stupa-shaped niches. In the center, there are Sakyamuni Buddha and two disciples, housed in three gilded copper stupas, and this kind of Buddhist niche decoration is relatively rare.

On both sides of the door of the Buddhist hall, there are statues of Vajra Warriors and King Hayagriva. On both sides of the statue of the three Buddhas are statues of the eight disciples of the Buddha who are more than ten feet tall. They have a solemn look.

There is a corridor behind and on the side of “Duisong Lakhang” with precious early murals in the north section. The exit of the corridor still holds a royal plaque (3 meters long, 1.2 meters wide and 4 centimeters thick) from the Tongzhi era of Qing dynasty inscribed with the words “输诚向化.”

To the left of the “Duisong Lakhang” is the “Miwang Lakhang,” housing a large seated statue of the 12-year-old Jowo Buddha, sponsored by Polha Miwang, so it is known as the “Miwang Jowo.” The statue is proportionate, finely detailed, and radiates a warm and approachable presence.

To the right of the “Duisong Lakang” is the “Lunben Lakhang,” featuring two smaller white stupas known as the “Lunbu Stupas” at the front.

Behind them, there are three silver stupas: the central one is the stupa of the Third Dalai Lama (Sonam Gyatso) at 6.16 meters tall; the northern one is the stupa of the Fourth Dalai Lama (Yonten Gyatso) at 5.57 meters tall, with a 1-meter wooden base, reaching a total height of 6.57 meters; the southern one is the Regent’s stupa at 4.6 meters tall.

The exquisite and luxurious silver-coated stupas are adorned with precious jewels. It is said that the construction of just the stupas of the Third and Fourth Dalai Lamas used up 14,800 taels of silver.

The second floor of the main hall only houses the “Kangyur Lakhang,” while the rest rooms serves as storage. The lakhang houses many of the “Kangyur” scriptures, including three precious editions: one is Dali version of the “Kangyur” sent by the Yunnan Tusi Mu-Zeng in the late Ming Dynasty, one woodblock edition from the Kangxi period of

Qing dynasty, and a complete “Kangyur” scripture transcribed in gold juice for the Dalai Lama’s birthday in 1675 AD.

On the northwest side of the third floor of the main hall is a small hall called the “Jampa Tongzhen (Maitreya Enlightenment) Lakhang,” It is small in scale and houses a bronze statue of “Jampa Tongzhen (Maitreya Buddha).” It is said to be a life-size statue of Maitreya Buddha at the age of 8 years old. The statue is exuding a somewhat innocent and childlike charm, considered outstanding among Buddha statues. In front of the statue, there is a white conch shell, which is said to be a gift from Tsongkhapa to Jamyang Choggyi when he built Drepung Monastery, This conch has been kept in the “Jampa Tongzhen Hall (Maitreya Hall)”.

The top of the Buddha hall is unique with a square pointed roof; above the hall entrance hangs a plaque inscribed with the Chinese characters “穆隆元善”. The plaque bears an oval seal with the inscription “大清道光丙午年孟秋之印”, and two additional seals: one with the characters “勿穆氏” and the other with “琦善之印”. This plaque was dedicated by Qi Shan, the Minister stationed in Tibet at the time, upon his departure from Tibet in July of the twenty-sixth year of the Daoguang era (1846 AD).

The fourth floor of the main Hall houses the Sakyamuni Buddha Hall, featuring a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha giving teachings, it is said that it was to be made of 500 taels of silver. Thirteen silver stupas are placed on both sides.

The side hall is dedicated to the Arhat, housing statues of ancestral masters and arhats in Buddhism, as well as the emanation body statue of the main living Buddha of Drepung Monastery.

At the top of the Buddha hall is a golden roof in a “Xieshan style”, adorned with elaborate brackets influenced by architectural styles from the mainland of China.

Four major Dratsang

Dratsang is not only the scripture study unit of the “Gelug Pa” monastery, but also a first-level management organization below the “main hall”, also known as the “school of scripture”. The scale of its building is second only to the main hall.

The architecture of Dratsang can be basically divided into two parts. One part is the large sutra hall where the monks gather in Dratsang, and the other part is the smaller Buddhist halls.

Below Dratsang is the “Kangcun”. Each “Kangcun” has its own independent sutra hall and monk’s residence, and each “Kangcun” has several “Mi-cun”.

If a Tibetan Buddhist monastery is a university, then “Dratsang” is equivalent to “department”, “Kangcun” is equivalent to “class”, and “Micun” is equivalent to “group”.

In the early days of the establishment of Drepung Monastery, there were seven Dratsangs, i.e, Duomen, Ming-hui, Guang-le, Wen-si, Xia-guo, Tiao-fu and Mantra.

These seven Dratsang are presided over by seven disciples of Jamyang Choggyi.

Over time, as more monks arrived from different regions to study scriptures in Drepung monastery, according to the content of their study and their place of origin, the 7 dratsangs were merged into the four major Dratsang of Roselin Dratsang, De-yang Dratsang, Aba Dratsang, Gomang Dratsang.

Among the four major Dratsang, except “Aba Dratsang”, which is a Tantric Dratsang, the other three are Exotoric Dratsang.

These three Exotoric Dratsangs all adhere to their own practices based on the classics written by Tsongkhapa and his disciples.

Among them, “Roselin Dratsang” is accustomed to the classics of “Panchen Sonam Dragpa”, “Gomang Dratsang” majors in the classics of “Gongchen Jangyang sherab”, and “Deyang Dratsang” practicing according to the teachings of the “Fifth Dalai Lama.”

Roselin Dratsang

Roselin Dratsang is the largest dratsang in Drepung Monastery. Its construction area is about 1860 square meters, mainly including two parts: the Sutra Hall and the Buddhist Hall.

The scripture hall has 102 pillars, covering an area of 1053 square meters (70 meters in width and 60 meters in depth). The scripture hall is flanked by scripture shelves on both sides, with a total length of over 60 meters, housing various scriptures. The interior decoration of the scripture hall is as luxurious as the main hall.

Behind the scripture hall is the Jampa Buddha hall, which houses the Jampa Buddha (Maitreya) statue.

The Jampa Buddha hall is divided into three rooms side by side. The front rooms are interconnected. The middle room is 11 meters wide and 6.8 meters deep. The left room is 4.7 meters wide and 6.8 meters deep. The right room is 5.2 meters wide and 6.8 meters deep.

The back of the Buddha hall is filled with various Buddha statues, leaving only a narrow passage in the front for incense offerings by pilgrims.

This dratsang has the largest number of monks, mainly from regions such as Sichuan, Yunnan, and Chamdo, overseeing 23 Kang-cun.

Gomang Dratsang

The scale of Gomang Dratsang is second only to Roselin Dratsang, and it is also divided into two parts: the Sutra Hall and the Buddhist Hall.

The Sutra Hall covers an area of 985 square meters (36.5 meters long from east to west and 27 meters deep) and has 102 columns.

Its architectural pattern and column arrangement are the same as those of Roselin Dratsang

The back part of the sutra hall is divided into three Lakhangs, i.e, “Qieba Lakhang”, “Mindru Lakhang” and “Dolma Lakhang”.

The monks mainly come from Inner Mongolia, Qinghai and Naqu areas, and it has 16 Kangcun under its jurisdiction.

Deyang Dratsang

Deyang Dratsang has the smallest building area among the four major Dratsang, with a total construction area of about 952 square meters.

Among them, the Sutra Hall has 62 pillars and covers an area of approximately 375 square meters.

At the back of the sutra hall is the Buddhist hall, which is about 55 square meters;

There is a lattice-style screen door (12.1 meters wide) in the middle of the front part of the sutra hall; there are storage rooms or warehouses 1.7 meters square on both sides.

On the left side of the sutra hall, there are monk’s dormitory and kitchen, which are irregular in shape.

The main enshrinement in the hall is “Vise Jampa Buddha”, which signifies the ability to dispel all poverty.

Aba Dratsang

Aba Dratsang is the tantric academy of Drepung Monastery, located on the back right side of the main Hall.

Its construction method is rather special: the front is a closed courtyard, surrounded by monks’ rooms, and the rear is a sutra hall. The sutra hall is 54 meters wide and 42 meters deep, with a total of 48 pillars and an area of 467 square meters. The walls are covered with murals of Tantric themes.

Behind the sutra hall is the Jieji Lakhang, with an area of 56 square meters.

The main statue is a statue of Jieji Buddha. The Buddha statue is tall and ferocious, and the appearance of the Buddha is terrifying. It is said that the statue contains the whole body of Rero Drawa with only one finger missing.

The Jieji Buddha, also known as “Yamantaka”, has 9 heads and 34 arms. It is one of the three major deities of Tantric Buddhism and the incarnation of Manjushri Bodhisattva. It is said that it was built the great master Tsongkhapa himself.

The statue of Tsongkhapa on the right side of the Jieji Buddha is said to have been made by Master Tsongkhapa himself. Its nose bridge is straight and upright, which is obviously different from the statues of Tsongkhapa in other monasteries.

The Dratsang also enshrines the remains of the tantric master Re translator (Dorje Drakpa).

This Dratsang is one of the earliest buildings of Drepung Monastery. Construction started in 1416 AD and it took about three years to be “completed”. Although the entire building has been repaired many times, the overall building has basically retained its original features.

Debating Field

There is no vegetation around the monastery, it is all gravel and barren hills, yet inside, there are several courtyards with lush trees. This is the debating place of Drepung Monastery.

There are two such debating filed in each Dratsang (that is, school of scripture).

Each debating filed has a level-by-level debate platform. During the debate, the lamas sit in sequence.

While theoretically, all lamas in the monastery can participate in debates, in reality, only a few who with sufficient knowledge of Buddhist studies can ascend the debate platform and progress through the debating eventually achieving the highest honor of the “Geshe” degree through victories in monastery-wide debates.

Drepung Monastery also has irregular scripture debates, starting at 14:30 p.m.

Shoton Festival at Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery hosts various Buddhist ceremonies, including events on significant Buddhist commemoration days and auspicious days in the Tibetan calendar such as the 15th and 30th days of each month.

One of the most grand celebrations at Drepung is the “Shoton festival“.

“Shoton” in Tibetan means “yogurt banquet” and was originally a purely religious event.

According to Buddhist rules, there are several days in summer when monks are prohibited from going out, known as “summer retreat,” which lasts nearly 30 days

On the day the ban is lifted, laypeople offer yogurt to the monks as alms.

During the time of the 5^th Dalai Lama, various performances by groups such as the Tashi shopa Tibetan Opera Troupe and the Sherong Yak Dance Troupe were presented at Drepung Monastery’s Ganden Podrang Square to honor the Dalai Lama, marking the beginning of activities such as Buddha exhibitions and the rotation of Magistrate Monks at Drepung Monastery.

Over time, the content of “Shoton” became more diverse, combining religious and entertainment activities, with the scale continuously expanding.

In 1849 AD, when the 11th Dalai Lama was 11 years old, Construction of Wu Yao’s palace behind Kelsang Phodrang Palace in Norbulingka was completed. Since then, the Dalai Lama has spent summers in Norbulingka.

During the Shoton Festival, renowned theater troupes from all over Tibet come to Norbulingka to perform for the Dalai Lama, contributing to the significant development of Tibetan opera.

During the time of the 13^th Dalai Lama, the Shoton Festival featured performances by famous Tibetan opera and dance troupes from various regions of Tibet at Norbulingka, officially establishing the Shoton Festival as a prominent cultural performance event in Tibet.

Today, the Shoton Festival has become the largest religious festival at Drepung Monastery and is one of the biggest festivals in the Lhasa

On the 30^th day of the sixth month in the Tibetan calendar, known as the “Shoton Festival,” events start at Drepung Monastery with a morning exhibition of large thangka paintings, followed by Tibetan opera performances, making it a joyous celebration for both monks and laypeople.

Brief History

In 1409 AD, Master Tsongkhapa successfully founded the Monlam Puja (the Great Prayer Festival) in the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa. In the same year, he personally initiated the construction of Ganden Monastery, the ancestral monastery of the Gelug Pa. This marked the formation of the new Gelug pa he had painstakingly founded. It is believed by monks and lay people all over Tibet; As the Gelug pa grew in influence, the number of believers was increasing day by day. The construction of Drepung Monastery was founded under this background.

In 1416 AD, with the support of the prominent noble Lhagpa Sang, Tsongkhapa’s disciple Jamyang Choggyi founded Drepung Monastery, which quickly developed into one of the most powerful monasteries of the Gelug pa.

In 1464 AD, Drepung Monastery established a monastic college (Dratsang) for the study of Buddhist scriptures. 7 disciples of Jamyang Choggyi oversaw seven Dratsang (colleges) within the monastery, which later merged into the four major Dratsang. Many renowned Tibetan monks received their education here.

In 1518 AD, there was initially a residence for Phagmo Drupa local government officials in Drepung Monastery, called “Dokham Omu”; Phagmo Drupa’s 11th “desri” dedicated it to the second Dalai Lama Gendun Gyatso, who was the 10th Khenpo of Drepung Monastery at that time, and renamed it “Gaden Phodrang”.

In 1530 AD, the 2nd Dalai Lama Gedun Gyatso oversaw the reconstruction of Ganden Podrang during his tenure as the 10th abbot of Drepung Monastery. Subsequent expansions were carried out during the era of the 3rd Dalai Lama Sonam Gyatso, shaping the monastery into its current form. The 4th and 5th Dalai Lamas resided here.

In 1578 AD, Altan Khan bestowed the title “Dalai Lama, Venerable Teacher, Ocean of Wisdom, All Wazir of Holy Consciousness” upon Sonam Gyatso, marking the beginning of the title “Dalai Lama.” Sonam Gyatso posthumously recognized his predecessors as the first and second Dalai Lamas.

In 1642 AD, with the support of Gushi Khan of the Khoshut Mongols, the 5th Dalai Lama defeated the Tsangpa rulers and established the Gelug sect’s political power at the Ganden Podrang, marking the beginning of the unique “Religion-State unity” in Tibet.

In 1648 AD, the White Palace of Potala Palace was completed, and the 5th Dalai Lama moved to the Potala Palace, relocating the political center. The regional political power under the Gelug sect’s rule was collectively referred to as the Ganden Podrang Regime.

In 1959, prior to the democratic reforms, Drepung Monastery owned 51,000 acres of land, 300 pastures, 40,000 cattle, and 2,000 serfs. It collected 2.8 million kilograms of grain as land rent annually, along with 133,000 kilograms of butter. There were a total of 3,305 affiliated temples domestically and internationally.

In 1962, Drepung Monastery was designated as a key cultural heritage site in the Tibet Autonomous Region,

In 1982, it was recognized as a national key cultural heritage site.

From 1980 to 1989, the local government allocated funds for extensive repairs of the monastery, turning it into a Buddhist sacred site for worship and tourism for Buddhists and tourists from around the world.

As of 2019, the monastery accommodates over 900 monks.

The Four Major Sects of Tibetan Buddhism

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Sera Monastery was founded in 1419, by Jamchen Chojey, who was a disciple of TsongKhapa. It is located at the foot of a mountain about 5 kilometers north of Lhasa.

Brief

The origin of the name ‘Sera’ derived from the fact that the original site was surrounded by “Wild Roses”, which in Tibetan language read as “Se” & “Ra”. It had three main colleges that are as follows:
-1), “Sera Mey Dratsang” provided basic instructions to the young monks and was built in 1419.
-2), “Sera Jey Dratsang,” the largest, was built in 1435, reserved for wandering monks.
-3), “Ngagpa Dratsang” was built in 1559 with the purpose of teaching the Gelug pa tantra.

It also has the most famous debating training class across Tibetan Cultural Area. The debate was held in the debate hall in the far north of the monastery. There are so many people who come to witness the debating training, suggesting to arrive earlier for a good spot for visiting.

It is recommended to carry flashlight or headlights for visiting the well-preserved old murals. The Sky-funeral ground is on the mountain behind main assembly Hall, however, in order to respect the customs of local Tibetan people, the local authority does not allow travelers to watch it. Although you can not see the funeral, but there is a nearby rock field worth to pay a visit, from which a panorama view of Lhasa is visible.

How to get to there

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The monastery is located in the northeast of Lhasa city, it can be reached easily with bus or taxi;

By bus 

By line 6, 16,and 24, get off at bus stop “Se-La-Si-Stop”

The Four Major Sects of Tibetan Buddhism

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Ganden Monastery’s full name is Ganden Namgyeling Monastery which is translated as, “Continent of Completely Victorious Happiness.” It was traditionally considered the seat of Gelug pa administrative and political power. It used to house about more than 2,000 monks, and now there are about 200-300 monks

Brief

Ganden Monastery was founded in 1409 AD by Tsongkhapa – the founder of the Gelug pa. After Tsongkhapa died there in 1419 AD. His preserved body was entombed at Ganden by his disciples in a silver and gold encrusted tomb.

Location

Ganden monastery is about 57 km East of Lhasa along the road that follows the south bank of the Kyi Chu river. The road turn-off is at road marker “4591” where a small village is at the road junction. From here a curved road leads onto the mountain for approximately 15-17 km. The monastery is near the top of Wangbu Ri on the mountain ridge of Gokpo Ri . Its altitude is 4,750 meters. It is one of the ‘Great Three’ Gelug pa monasteries in the central Tibet. The other two are Drepung monastery and Sera monastery. It denotes the Paradise of Tushita and the abode of Jampa, which is the future buddha.

Buildings

Ganden contained more than 18 major chapels, each is with large Buddha statues. Among of which, the four main chapels are

• Serdung Lhakhang, the chapel contains The Gold Tomb of Tsongkhapa
• Ser Tri Khang, the chapel of Tsongkhapa’s Gold Throne. It also contains one Kagyu Library
• Ngam Cho Khang, the chapel where Tsongkhapa taught
• Amdo Khangtsen, the chapel used by monks coming from Amdo. This chapel contains wall paintings of 35 Buddhas of confession and the 16 Arhats, and the protector of Amdo which is called “Anima Ja”

How to get to there

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There are 4 buses to Ganden monastery daily departured from Lhasa East Bus Station,
The 1^st departure: 06:30 am
The last return bus: 15:00-16:00 pm
Ticket Rates: RMB 10 per person – one way | Round trip – RMB 20 per person

Or, you surely can choose to rent a taxi to this monastery, the price for renting a vehicle is about RMB 200-300 round trip, private transportation

The Four Major Sects of Tibetan Buddhism

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Kirti Monastery is one Gelug pa monastery, was founded in 1870 and being built on the northwestern corner of Aba (Ngawa) City, Sichuan Province.

Brief

It occupies an area of 18,000 square meters, houses about 1,800 monks, and one attached monk school; It is the largest Tibetan Monastery in Ngawa. There are many (approximately 30-40) smaller monasteries affiliated with the Kirti Monasteries spread throughout Aba county.

Different names

The name of “Kirti” in Tibetan also pronounce “Ger-deng”, in Chinese Pin Yin, it is called “Ge-Er-Deng”. Local people use “Kirti” or “Ge-Er-Deng” to refer this monastery. Its altitude is about 3,300 meters above sea level.

Why become popular

It becomes well-known for its 30 meters high white chorten known as the Dudul Chorten which has chapels on various floors respectively dedicated to Shakyamuni Buddha, Mahakarunika, and the Three Deities of Longevity, Tsongkhapa and Sitatapatra. This enormous pagoda has 120 pillars, and some of the statues are 8 meters height

How to get to there

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Kirti Monastery is actually located in the center area of Aba county, which the No. 503 road passing through; you will first need to get to Aba county by either flight or bus