Tashilhungpo Monastery

Tashilhungpo Monastery is located on the southern slope of the Nyima Mountain, west of the Xigaze city. It is one of the six major monasteries of the Gelug Sect, and the largest one in western Tibet.

Tashilhungpo Monastery was built under the supervision of the first Dalai Lama Genden Zhuba, a disciple of Zongkapa, the founder of the Yellow Sect. Covering a construction area of 300,000 square meters, the monastery housed some 4,000 monks during its peak period. Facing south, the complex is built symmetrically against the Nyima Mountain. Its wall, over 3,000 meters long and built according to the topography of the mountain, surrounds 57 buildings, or more than 3,600 rooms.

Tashilhungpo Monastery is composed of four Zhacang Buddhist colleges, 62 Myicuns, Buddha halls and close to 60 memorial halls and holy stupas. The earliest building in the monastery is the Coqen Hall (Large Scripture Hall), which is complete with a sutra lecturing ground with an area of 500 square meters. Inside are 48 red pillars, which support the ceiling. In the center of the hall is the throne of the Panchen.

West of the Tashilhungpo Monastery is the Qamba Buddha Hall, which was built in 1914 under the supervision of the ninth Panchen Qoigyi Nyima. standing 30 meters high, covering a construction area of 862 square meters, the hall houses the 11-meter-high statue of Qamba Buddha, which is the highest of its kind in the world.

Tashilhungpo Monastery boasts priceless Buddha statues, Buddha pagodas and tangka paintings, handwritten Pattra Leaf Sutra, and Gangyur and Dangyur written in gold power ink. In addition, the Monastery has a rich collection of porcelain, enamel, and glassware passed down from various dynasties. All these are valuable for Tibetan studies. In 1961, the monastery listed as a key relic under state protection by the State Council.