001 Architecture Ta'er Monastery (Kumbum Monastery) Ta'er Monastery (Kumbum Monastery), in Huangzhong District of Xining, Qinghai, was founded in the Ming dynasty. A Gelug-school monastery of Tibetan Buddhism and the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, it was formerly known as Ta'er Si and the Silver Stupa Monastery. Drawing on Ming and Qing sources such as the Manuscripts of the Forest Lodge, the Sacred Military Records, the Draft History of Qing, and the Memorials on Qinghai, this article traces the monastery's founding and development, its relations with the Ming and Qing central governments, the Lobsang Danjin incident, and its restoration and rebuilding after the Shaanxi–Gansu Hui revolt, and also presents historical photographs of Ta'er Monastery taken between 1900 and 1937. Ming dynasty Huangzhong District, Xining, Qinghai Ta'er Monastery · Ta'er Si · Silver Stupa Monastery →
002 Architecture Tashilhunpo Monastery Tashilhunpo Monastery, also written Zhaxilunbu Monastery, is located in Samzhubzê District, Shigatse, Tibet Autonomous Region. Founded in the Ming dynasty, it is a Gelug monastery of Tibetan Buddhism and has served as the seat of successive Panchen Lamas. Drawing on sources including the General Gazetteer of Ü-Tsang, Illustrated Study of Tibet, Travel Notes from Kham, and Imperially Commissioned Brief Account of the Gurkha Campaign, this article traces the monastery’s founding history, layout, Panchen Lama stupas, damage and repairs during the Gurkha war, and includes twentieth-century historical photographs. Ming dynasty Samzhubzê District, Shigatse, Tibet Autonomous Region Tashilhunpo Monastery · Zhaxilunbu Monastery · Tibetan Buddhism →
003 Architecture Labrang Monastery Labrang Monastery, in Xiahe County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu, was founded in the forty-eighth year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing (1709). One of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism and the seat of the Jamyang Zhepa line, it is also known simply as Tashikhyil Monastery, transcribed in Qing Chinese texts variously as 拉布楞, 拉布浪, and 拉卜愣. Drawing on Qing sources such as the Gazetteer of Xunhua Subprefecture, the Diary of a Journey in Attendance in the Xinmao Year, the Memorials on the Pacification of the Tibetans, and the Veritable Records of Qing, this article traces the monastery's history from Chaghan Danjin's invitation to the First Jamyang Zhepa to found it, through the nineteen-year lawsuit with Heicuo Monastery, the dispute with Rongwo Monastery, and the Bangzhou case, and presents historical photographs of Labrang Monastery taken by Harrison Forman between 1932 and 1937. Qing dynasty Xiahe County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Labrang Monastery · Labrang Si · Tashikhyil Monastery →