Drepung Monastery

    One of the three great Gelugpa monasteries near Lhasa, Drepung was a major teaching center to which monks would come from all of Tibet to spend 15-20 years studying Buddhist scriptures. Founded in 1416 by Jamyang Choje Tashi Pelden, a disciple ofTsongkhapa, Drepung became the largest Gelugpa monastery in Tibet, and perhaps in all the world,with 7000 monks. Although buildings were destroyed at the rear of the monastery, the main colleges and assembly hall were relatively untouched by the Cultural Revolution. Since 1982 some 400 monks have joined the monastery.  Drepung-in exile has also been re-established in Mundgod in south India, where there are 3500 monks.

 1981, (Source: *Tibet)   1936-50, Hugh Richardson

1979, Dalai Lama's first delegation

Photos by Chela Kunasz, 1983:

Photos by Anne L. Blasing, 1992:

  Main assembly hall       Stone paintings at Drepung

 Monk at Drepung (held in prison for 20 years by the Chinese)