001 Architecture Tradruk Temple Changzhu Temple (Tradrug) is located in Naidong District, Shannan, Tibet, and is traditionally attributed to the Tubo king Songtsen Gampo. The Weizang Tongzhi records it under “Chamuzhu Temple,” relating the legend of subduing a five-headed serpent demon in the Yarlung Valley and building the temple with sacred images. Photographs taken by Hugh E. Richardson in 1949 preserve the full view of the monastery before the fields, the compound walls with golden roofs, the ancient bell in the portico, and the stupa banners in front of the courtyard. Tubo Nedong District, Shannan, Tibet Autonomous Region Tradruk Temple · Chamuzhu Temple · Tradrug →
002 Architecture Ganden Monastery Ganden Monastery—also recorded under several Chinese names—stands in Lhasa, Tibet, and was founded by Tsongkhapa in 1409 as an early monastery of the Gelug school. This entry presents Chinese and Tibetan sources on its first monastic quarters, assembly hall, ritual chambers, images and reliquary stupa, together with photographs taken by Hugh E. Richardson between 1936 and 1950. Ming dynasty Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region Ganden Monastery · Gandan Monastery · Galden Monastery →
003 Architecture Sera Monastery Sera Monastery stands in the northern suburbs of Lhasa. It was founded in 1419 by Shakya Yeshe, who had previously entered the Ming court, at Tsongkhapa’s command. The monastery later grew into a Gelug institution with a great assembly hall and three colleges that once housed several thousand monks. Drawing on old texts, monastic scholarship, a monk’s recollections, and historical photographs, this entry traces the Ming court’s gifts, the eighteenth-century succession of its halls, the procession of the flying vajra, the life of debate, and images of the monastery from the early twentieth century onward. Ming dynasty Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region Sera Monastery · Saila Monastery · Sela Monastery →