Tashilhunpo Monastery

Tashilhunpo Monastery, which means "Jambhala's monastery of happiness", locates in the city of Shigatse, Tibet, China. It is one of the "great monasteries" of the Tibetan Buddhism Gelug Sect, along with the Ganden Monastery and the Drepung Monastery in Lhasa, and is the largest among them.

History of Tashilhunpo Monastery

The monastery was built during the reign of Ming Zhengtong (1438-1442) and its main buildings include the Maitreya Hall, the Sacred Pagoda of Los Panchen Lamas, the four Zhacang, the Tsokchen room, the Great Hall of the Sutras and the White Tower.

Tashilhunpo is not only a place of pilgrimage but also a place of great historical importance. In 1959, the Dalai Lama convened here the Assembly of Representatives of the People of Tibet, which decided the peaceful liberation of Tibet. In 1961, Tashilhunpo was appointed as one of the first national relic protection sites by the State Council.

Attractions of Tashilhunpo Monastery

Buildings such as the Maitreya Hall, the Sutras Hall and the Hall of Thousand Buddhas have a high artistic value. The bronze statue of Maitreya in the Maitreya Hall, which measures 26.2 meters high, is considered the second largest interior bronze statue in China. In addition, the Tashilhunpo monastery houses a large number of cultural and historical treasures, such as murals of the Ming dynasty, images of Buddha of the Qing dynasty, tangkas and embroidery.

A great attraction of the Tashilhunpo monastery is the presence of numerous dogs without owner who congregate in the place. They are said to be released dogs, a common practice in many Tibetan monasteries where sheep and chickens are released. Dogs relax under the sun and coexist peacefully with humans.

Festival Events of Tashilhunpo Monastery

Tashilhunpo is one of the famous pilgrimage places in Tibet. Every year, in the fifth month of the Tibetan calendar, the Buddha exhibition festival is celebrated, where three large embroidery of Buddha (Buddha of unlimited light, Gautama Buddha and Buddha Maitreya are exhibited) on the wall of the southern side of the altar. Thousands of devotees come from everywhere to pay tribute.

Visitors can experience the rich Tibetan culture and religious atmosphere, as well as enjoy the beautiful structures and works of art. In addition, Tashilhunpo is an important place for patriotic education, which allows people to better understand the history and cultural heritage of Tibet.