Overview
Drepung Monastery is one of the six temples of the Yellow Sect in the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, which means "Duimi Monastery" or "Jimi Monastery" in Tibetan language. It is located in the depression on the south slope of genpeiwuzi mountain, about 10 kilometers away from the western suburb of Lhasa city. It was founded in 1416 by Zhaxi bandan, the founder of yellow religion. Before liberation, the temple had more than 10000 monks and was the largest temple in Tibetan Buddhism. With 141 manors and more than 540 pastures, it is the largest monastery of Tibetan Buddhism. The whole monastery is of great scale and is the highest monastery in the Gelug Sect.
Background
Drepung Monastery was built in the Ming Dynasty (1416) by zhaxibandan, the disciple of the Gelug sect "zongkaba", and it was named "Baideng Drepung Monastery", later referred to as "Drepung Monastery". In Tibetan, "Baideng" means auspicious and solemn, "Drepung" means accumulated rice. After the completion of the Drepung Monastery, it quickly developed into the most powerful monastery in the Gelug Sect.
In 1409, master zongkaba successfully established the Dharma Association of zhuanzhao in Jokhang Monastery of Lhasa. In the same year, he personally advocated the construction of Gandan Temple. So far, it marked the formation of the Gelug sect, a new sect he had painstakingly founded, and was believed by all Tibetan monks and laymen. With the growing power of the Gelug school and the growing number of believers, the construction of Drepung Monastery was founded in this context.
In 1642, the fifth Dalai Lama established a local government in the monastery of Gadan pozhang, which was the beginning of religious participation in politics. After the Dalai Lama moved to Potala Palace, Drepung Monastery is still the largest and most powerful monastery in Lhasa.
Collection of cultural relics
Drepung Monastery is the largest monastery in Lhasa and even in Tibet, and its precious collections are also quite amazing. Famous are porcelain of past dynasties, Tang Dynasty literature, calligraphy and painting, bronze mirrors, statues, ancient weapons and armor, Tibetan cultural history books, military history books and a series of precious cultural relics.
Information
Admission Fee: CNY 50
Opening Hours: 09:00-14:00
Visit time: 2-3 hours
Best time to visit: Mar-Oct