Top 7 Monastery Buildings - Drepung Monastery

According to the archaeological survey, the human footprints have been explored on the Tibetan Plateau during Old Stone Age to the New Stone Age. With the introduction of Buddhism into Tibet region, Tibetan Buddhism temples has been created and succeeded successfully.

Top 7 Monastery Buildings - Drepung Monastery

Status: The largest Buddhism monastery in the world, one of the 6 monasteries of Gelug Sect. It has been regarded as the top 3 Tibetan Buddhism Monasteries of Tibet with Ganden Monastery and Sera Monastery together.

Build: AD 1416

Feature: The Buddha Exhibition covering the mountain during Shoton Festival.

Description: Originally comprised by a small hall of 10 square meters with 7 monks together, Drepung has been established. It was amazing, right? After the extended by the 5th DalaI Lama in 17 century, this "small" Drepung Monastery has covered the whole hillside. The followers has been up to 10,000 during the splendid time. The main hall inside is Cuoqin hall with a coverage of 2000 square meters, supporting by 183 huge wooden pillars.

Drepung Monastery becomes the largest one of all the temples in Tibet as of now and has been used to be the residence of the 1st - 4th Dalai Lama's. Before moved to Potala Palace, the 5th Dalai Lama has also lived there.

The most famous and important event of Drepung Monastery is Buddha exhibition on June 30th every year of Tibetan calendar. On that day, the huge Shakyamuni Statue picture of 30 meters high and 20 meters in width is supposed to be exhibited on the Wuzi Mountain. It would be covered by a thin gauze. When the first sunlight appear from the east, people finally see the face of the statue through the gauze.