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The monastery of Geghard (Armenian: Ō³Õ„Õ²Õ”ÖÕ¤, meaning spear) is a unique architectural construction in the Kotayk province of Armenia, being partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs.
While the main chapel was built in 1215, the monastery complex was founded in the 4th century by Gregory the Illuminator at the site of a sacred spring inside a cave. The monastery had thus been originally named Ayrivank, meaning "the Monastery of the Cave". The name commonly used for the monastery today, Geghard, or more fully Geghardavank (Ō³Õ„Õ²Õ”ÖÕ¤Õ”Õ¾Õ”Õ¶Ö), meaning "the Monastery of the Spear", originates from the spear which had wounded Jesus at the Crucifixion, allegedly brought to Armenia by Apostle Jude, called here Thaddeus, and stored amongst many other relics. Now it is displayed in the Echmiadzin treasury
a steep climb up from the river gets you to Cheri Monastery, with a nice view over the upper Thimphu valley
Vardzia
The 12th century cave monastery excavated from the slopes of the Erusheti Mountain is one of the highlights of the trip so far (along with the observatory last night). It is very different from the cave town we visited yesterday, and incredibly impressive. What we see today is a mere shadow of what it was like in its heyday ā when everything was covered and invisible to would-be invaders. In its time, there were 13 storeys and over 3000 caves, but an earthquake in the 13th century destroyed nearly all the outer walls, exposing the carefully hidden caves. Over 800 monks lived here back then, now only six remain.
2008-07-21 Geghard i nƦrheten av Jerevan, AM: Huleklosteret Geghard. I dette klosteret ble det som angivelig er Det hellige spyd, det som ble stukket inn i siden pƄ Jesus da han hang pƄ korset oppbevart i lengre tid. I dag er dette viktige relikviet i Echmiadzin, hovedsetet til den armenske kirken.
2008-07-21 Geghard near Yerevan, Armenia: The cave monastery of Geghard. What that is alleged to be the Holy Lance, the one that pierced Jesusā side at the time of Crucifixion. It has since been moved to Echmiadzin.
Labrang Monastery (Tibetan: ą½ą¾³ą¼ą½ą¾²ą½ą¼ą½ą½ą¾²ą¼ą½¤ą½²ą½¦ą¼ą½ ą½ą¾±ą½²ą½£ą¼, Wylie: bla-brang bkra-shis-'khyil) is one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. Its formal name is Genden ShĆ©drup DargyĆ© Trashi GyĆ©su khyilwĆ© Ling (Tibetan: ą½ą½ą½ŗą¼ą½£ą¾”ą½ą¼ą½ą½¤ą½ą¼ą½¦ą¾ą¾²ą½“ą½ą¼ą½ą½¢ą¼ą½¢ą¾ą¾±ą½¦ą¼ą½ą½ą¾²ą¼ą½¤ą½²ą½¦ą¼ą½ą¾±ą½¦ą¼ą½¦ą½“ą¼ą½ ą½ą¾±ą½²ą½£ą¼ą½ą½ ą½²ą¼ą½ą¾³ą½²ą½ą¼ą¼, Wylie: dge ldan bshad sgrub dar rgyas bkra shis gyas su 'khyil ba'i gling).
Labrang is located in Xiahe County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu, in the traditional Tibetan area of Amdo. Labrang Monastery is home to the largest number of monks outside the Tibet Autonomous Region. Xiahe is about four hours by car from the provincial capital Lanzhou.
In the early part of the 20th century, Labrang was by far the largest and most influential monastery in Amdo. It is located on the Daxia River, a tributary of the Yellow River.
The monastery was founded in 1709 by the first Jamyang ZhĆ©pa, Ngawang TsƶndrĆ¼.It is Tibetan Buddhism's most important monastery town outside the Tibetan Autonomous Region.
Labrang Monastery is situated at the strategic intersection of two major Asian culturesāTibetan and Mongolian ā and was one of the largest Buddhist monastic universities. In the early 20th century, it housed several thousand monks. Labrang was also a gathering point for numerous annual religious festivals and was the seat of a Tibetan power base that strove to maintain regional autonomy through the shifting alliances and bloody conflicts that took place between 1700 and 1950.[5]
In April 1985 the Assembly Hall burned down. It was replaced and the new building was consecrated in 1990
The monastery complex dominates the western part of the village. The white walls and gilded roofs feature a blend of Tibetan and Indian Vihara architectural styles. The monastery contains 18 halls, six institutes of learning, a gilded stupa, a sutra debate area, and houses nearly 60,000 sutras.
At its height the monastery housed 4,000 monks. Like so many religious institutions, it suffered during the Cultural Revolution; and the monks were sent to their villages to work. After it was reopened in 1980, many of the monks returned; but the government restricted enrolment to around 1,500.[7]
It has a Buddhist museum with a large collection of Buddha statues, sutras and murals. In addition, a large amount of Tibetan language books, including books on history is available for purchase, together with medicines, calendars, music and art objects.
There used to be a great gold-painted statue of the Buddha, more than 50 feet high, which was surrounded by rows of surrounding Buddhas in niches.[8]
The monastery today is an important place for Buddhist ceremonies and activities. From January 4 to 17 and June 26, to July 15, (these dates may change according to the lunar calendar), the great Buddhist ceremony will be held with Buddha-unfolding, sutra enchanting, praying, sutra debates, etc.
Labrang Monastery (Tibetan: ą½ą¾³ą¼ą½ą¾²ą½ą¼ą½ą½ą¾²ą¼ą½¤ą½²ą½¦ą¼ą½ ą½ą¾±ą½²ą½£ą¼, Wylie: bla-brang bkra-shis-'khyil) is one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. Its formal name is Genden ShĆ©drup DargyĆ© Trashi GyĆ©su khyilwĆ© Ling (Tibetan: ą½ą½ą½ŗą¼ą½£ą¾”ą½ą¼ą½ą½¤ą½ą¼ą½¦ą¾ą¾²ą½“ą½ą¼ą½ą½¢ą¼ą½¢ą¾ą¾±ą½¦ą¼ą½ą½ą¾²ą¼ą½¤ą½²ą½¦ą¼ą½ą¾±ą½¦ą¼ą½¦ą½“ą¼ą½ ą½ą¾±ą½²ą½£ą¼ą½ą½ ą½²ą¼ą½ą¾³ą½²ą½ą¼ą¼, Wylie: dge ldan bshad sgrub dar rgyas bkra shis gyas su 'khyil ba'i gling).
Labrang is located in Xiahe County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu, in the traditional Tibetan area of Amdo. Labrang Monastery is home to the largest number of monks outside the Tibet Autonomous Region. Xiahe is about four hours by car from the provincial capital Lanzhou.
In the early part of the 20th century, Labrang was by far the largest and most influential monastery in Amdo. It is located on the Daxia River, a tributary of the Yellow River.
The monastery was founded in 1709 by the first Jamyang ZhĆ©pa, Ngawang TsƶndrĆ¼.It is Tibetan Buddhism's most important monastery town outside the Tibetan Autonomous Region.
Labrang Monastery is situated at the strategic intersection of two major Asian culturesāTibetan and Mongolian ā and was one of the largest Buddhist monastic universities. In the early 20th century, it housed several thousand monks. Labrang was also a gathering point for numerous annual religious festivals and was the seat of a Tibetan power base that strove to maintain regional autonomy through the shifting alliances and bloody conflicts that took place between 1700 and 1950.[5]
In April 1985 the Assembly Hall burned down. It was replaced and the new building was consecrated in 1990
The monastery complex dominates the western part of the village. The white walls and gilded roofs feature a blend of Tibetan and Indian Vihara architectural styles. The monastery contains 18 halls, six institutes of learning, a gilded stupa, a sutra debate area, and houses nearly 60,000 sutras.
At its height the monastery housed 4,000 monks. Like so many religious institutions, it suffered during the Cultural Revolution; and the monks were sent to their villages to work. After it was reopened in 1980, many of the monks returned; but the government restricted enrolment to around 1,500.[7]
It has a Buddhist museum with a large collection of Buddha statues, sutras and murals. In addition, a large amount of Tibetan language books, including books on history is available for purchase, together with medicines, calendars, music and art objects.
There used to be a great gold-painted statue of the Buddha, more than 50 feet high, which was surrounded by rows of surrounding Buddhas in niches.[8]
The monastery today is an important place for Buddhist ceremonies and activities. From January 4 to 17 and June 26, to July 15, (these dates may change according to the lunar calendar), the great Buddhist ceremony will be held with Buddha-unfolding, sutra enchanting, praying, sutra debates, etc.
Labrang Monastery (Tibetan: ą½ą¾³ą¼ą½ą¾²ą½ą¼ą½ą½ą¾²ą¼ą½¤ą½²ą½¦ą¼ą½ ą½ą¾±ą½²ą½£ą¼, Wylie: bla-brang bkra-shis-'khyil) is one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. Its formal name is Genden ShĆ©drup DargyĆ© Trashi GyĆ©su khyilwĆ© Ling (Tibetan: ą½ą½ą½ŗą¼ą½£ą¾”ą½ą¼ą½ą½¤ą½ą¼ą½¦ą¾ą¾²ą½“ą½ą¼ą½ą½¢ą¼ą½¢ą¾ą¾±ą½¦ą¼ą½ą½ą¾²ą¼ą½¤ą½²ą½¦ą¼ą½ą¾±ą½¦ą¼ą½¦ą½“ą¼ą½ ą½ą¾±ą½²ą½£ą¼ą½ą½ ą½²ą¼ą½ą¾³ą½²ą½ą¼ą¼, Wylie: dge ldan bshad sgrub dar rgyas bkra shis gyas su 'khyil ba'i gling).
Labrang is located in Xiahe County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu, in the traditional Tibetan area of Amdo. Labrang Monastery is home to the largest number of monks outside the Tibet Autonomous Region. Xiahe is about four hours by car from the provincial capital Lanzhou.
In the early part of the 20th century, Labrang was by far the largest and most influential monastery in Amdo. It is located on the Daxia River, a tributary of the Yellow River.
The monastery was founded in 1709 by the first Jamyang ZhĆ©pa, Ngawang TsƶndrĆ¼.It is Tibetan Buddhism's most important monastery town outside the Tibetan Autonomous Region.
Labrang Monastery is situated at the strategic intersection of two major Asian culturesāTibetan and Mongolian ā and was one of the largest Buddhist monastic universities. In the early 20th century, it housed several thousand monks. Labrang was also a gathering point for numerous annual religious festivals and was the seat of a Tibetan power base that strove to maintain regional autonomy through the shifting alliances and bloody conflicts that took place between 1700 and 1950.[5]
In April 1985 the Assembly Hall burned down. It was replaced and the new building was consecrated in 1990
The monastery complex dominates the western part of the village. The white walls and gilded roofs feature a blend of Tibetan and Indian Vihara architectural styles. The monastery contains 18 halls, six institutes of learning, a gilded stupa, a sutra debate area, and houses nearly 60,000 sutras.
At its height the monastery housed 4,000 monks. Like so many religious institutions, it suffered during the Cultural Revolution; and the monks were sent to their villages to work. After it was reopened in 1980, many of the monks returned; but the government restricted enrolment to around 1,500.[7]
It has a Buddhist museum with a large collection of Buddha statues, sutras and murals. In addition, a large amount of Tibetan language books, including books on history is available for purchase, together with medicines, calendars, music and art objects.
There used to be a great gold-painted statue of the Buddha, more than 50 feet high, which was surrounded by rows of surrounding Buddhas in niches.[8]
The monastery today is an important place for Buddhist ceremonies and activities. From January 4 to 17 and June 26, to July 15, (these dates may change according to the lunar calendar), the great Buddhist ceremony will be held with Buddha-unfolding, sutra enchanting, praying, sutra debates, etc.
The Monastery of the Annunciation, commonly known as the Evangelistria Monastery, is a monastery dedicated to the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary which sits on a hillside 4 km north of Skiathos Town.
Although some buildings are ruined, the church and accommodation buildings have been restored.
The monastery was founded in 1794 by a group of Kollyvades monks, who had left the monastery of Mount Athos after disagreements about matters of Christian ritual. They were led by an ordained monk, Niphon of Chios, and included Gregorios Hatzistamatis, a local monk who had inherited land on Skiathos from his father.
In 1807, a group of Greek freedom fighters met at the monastery and swore the Oath of Freedom on a newly designed Greek flag, a white cross on a sky blue background, which was woven on a loom at the site.
The Catholicon of the monastery is a Byzantine-style cross-in-square three-aisled church, with three domes, and stands at the centre of the complex. The iconastasis is carved wood and bears icons dating from the 17th and 18th centuries.
A museum displays ecclesiastical artefacts and the loom on which the first Greek flag was made.
Today the monastery is served by only four resident monks, three others reside elsewhere.
A regular public minibus service operates from Skiathos Town bus terminus.
The Monastery of Batalha, literally the Monastery of the Battle, is a Dominican convent in the civil parish of Batalha, in the district of Leiria, in the Centro Region region of Portugal.
If you like to use the images please make sure you give credit to my blog post about the Best Monasteries To Visit In Portugal
One of the cooler statues scattered throughout the monastery courtyard. Try not to focus too much on the construction crane in the background.
A Benedictine Sisters Monastery in Richardton, North Dakota. The Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery support themselves and serve the Church through their ministries. The main ministry of the community is prayer, including daily Eucharist, Liturgy of the Hours, and private prayer. They reach out to the troubled areas of the world with prayers for peace and justice. They also provide spiritual retreats and have rooms for rent for seclusion.
Photograph taken by VL Croasdell, in rural North Dakota.
Unaltered except for a tag.
I am a self-taught, awarded, exhibited, and published artist, poet, writer and photographer. Also a member of MRISAR's R and D Team.
San Simon Monastery is a Greek-Orthodox complex built in the 19th century in Jeruslaem. By mediavel tradition it is the burial site of āSaing Simonā, A jewish elder who met and blessed Jesus when he was an infant (Luke 2).
Today the monastery is maintained by a single monk (Theodoritus) and is opened only for Christian pilgrims.
The Sinaia Monastery, located in Sinaia, in Prahova County, Romania, was founded by Prince Mihail Cantacuzino in 1695 and named after the great Saint Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai in Egypt.
As of 2005, it is inhabited by 13 Christian Orthodox monks led by hegumen Macarie BoguČ.
It is part of the Bucharest archdiocese.
Its architectural style is Byzantine
The monastery gave its name to the town of Sinaia.
The monastery consists of two courtyards surrounded by low buildings.
In the centre of each courtyard there is a small church built in the Byzantine style.
One of them ā"Biserica Veche" (The Old Church)ā dates from 1695, while the more recent "Biserica Mare" (The Great Church) was built in 1846.
The monks possess a library that is a repository for valuable jewels belonging to the Cantacuzino family, as well as the earliest Romanian translation of the Bible, dated 1668.
Prince (SpÄtarul) Mihail Cantacuzino founded the monastery upon his return from a pilgrimage to Mount Sinai.
The first buildings were completed between 1690 and 1695.
It was designed to serve as a monastery as well as a fortified stronghold on the route from Brasov to Bucharest.
The initial plan was for the monastery to hold 12 monks, to imitate the Twelve Apostles, but in time the number of monks grew.
In the midst of the Russo-Turkish War, 1735ā1739, before deserting the monastery, monks hid the valuables by burying them inside a bell.
During a battle, the Turks defeated troops stationed within the walls of the monastery.
The Ottomans burned the area and broke through the wall in two places.
Until 1850, Sinaia consisted of little more than the monastery and a group of huts.
In 1864, however, the monastic estate was assigned to the Board of Civil Hospitals (Eforia Spitalelor Civile), which opened a hospital and several baths, and helped develop mineral springs in Sinaia.
In 1948, the monastery was put under the patronage of the Archdiocese of Bucharest from the Board of Civil Hospitals.
The Romanian Patriarch, Justinian Marina, restored the buildings between the years 1951 and 1957 with money from the Archdiocese.
During this period, the whole monastery was fitted with running water, electricity, and natural gas.
Thanks to the efforts of King Carol I, the Great Church of the monastery became the first church to use electric lights inside.
Under the leadership of Hegumens Ioasaf and Paisie, construction of The Great Church began in 1842 using funds allocated by the monastery and was completed in 1846.
This smaller structure was enlarged by the Board of Civil Hospitals during a period from 1897 to 1903.
All these efforts gave the building the appearance it has today.
Created by architect George Mandrea, the structure utilizes the Moldavian style and the BrĆ¢ncovenesc style from Walachia.
It is said that the belt of three green enamel lines that encircle the building represent the unity of the Holy Trinity in one God and the unity of the Three Romanian Kingdoms in one country.
The gold mosaic paintings inside were created by Danish artist Aage Exner in a typical neo-Byzantine style.
The main illustrations show five persons:
Iosif Gheorghian mitropolit primat ā he re-opened the building in 1903
Carol I of Romania ā shown dressed as an officer, with his right hand upon a rock pillar with a missing piece.
This symbolizes the missing Romanian territories at that time
Elisabeth of Wied ā Queen consort of Romania, known in the literary world as Carmen Sylva
Princess Maria of Romania ā Queen Elisabeta's only child, who died at an early age
Mihail Cantacuzino ā builder of the Old Church
The furniture was made of wood (sycamore, maple, and oak) by Constantin Babic and his students at the Bucharest Art School (į¹¢coala de Arte si Meserii).
The King's throne displays the royal emblem and the motto Nihil sine Deo (Nothing without God).
The Queen's throne is embossed with the letters E.D. Both thrones are gold-plated.
The two Russian icons, of Saint Serghei and Saint Nicholas, were a gift from Tsar Nicholas II of Russia in 1903.
They were presented to the Hegumen Nifon Arhimandritul for the baptism of Prince Nicholae, son of King Ferdinand.
A remarkable piece adorning the monastery is the epitaphios by Anna Roth, made of silk and gold on a cotton base.
It took three years (from 1897 to 1900) to finish.
During the leadership of Hegumen Nifon Popescu (1888ā1909), a large bell tower was added to the monastery walls.
It was completed in 1892.
The 1,700-kilogram bell was brought from the Colţea Tower in Bucharest.
To the left of the bell tower atthe entrance lies the Museum.
In 1895 the museum of the monastery was opened, the first exhibition of religious objects in Romania.
It holds collections of icons and crosses from the 17th century, the very first Bible in Romanian (Bucharest, 1688), and many other precious objects.
The New Church dates back to 1846, but was renovated and enlarged in the following decades at the initiative of King Carol the 1st who used the monastery as a summer residence until the inauguration of the nearby Peles Castle.
Given the constant presence of its royal guests, the Great Church was adorned with the large-scale painted portraits of Queen Elisabeta and King Carol the 1st and two royal seats close to the altar.
The large proportions of the New Church and combination of typical elements of the āBrancovenescā style ā the small porch with carved stone columns and ornated portal ā and the Moldavian church style ā high and solid walls similar to a fortress ā create a one of a kind church in Southern Romania, a symbol of the cultural unity of the Romanian provinces.
Labrang Monastery (Tibetan: ą½ą¾³ą¼ą½ą¾²ą½ą¼ą½ą½ą¾²ą¼ą½¤ą½²ą½¦ą¼ą½ ą½ą¾±ą½²ą½£ą¼, Wylie: bla-brang bkra-shis-'khyil) is one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. Its formal name is Genden ShĆ©drup DargyĆ© Trashi GyĆ©su khyilwĆ© Ling (Tibetan: ą½ą½ą½ŗą¼ą½£ą¾”ą½ą¼ą½ą½¤ą½ą¼ą½¦ą¾ą¾²ą½“ą½ą¼ą½ą½¢ą¼ą½¢ą¾ą¾±ą½¦ą¼ą½ą½ą¾²ą¼ą½¤ą½²ą½¦ą¼ą½ą¾±ą½¦ą¼ą½¦ą½“ą¼ą½ ą½ą¾±ą½²ą½£ą¼ą½ą½ ą½²ą¼ą½ą¾³ą½²ą½ą¼ą¼, Wylie: dge ldan bshad sgrub dar rgyas bkra shis gyas su 'khyil ba'i gling).
Labrang is located in Xiahe County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu, in the traditional Tibetan area of Amdo. Labrang Monastery is home to the largest number of monks outside the Tibet Autonomous Region. Xiahe is about four hours by car from the provincial capital Lanzhou.
In the early part of the 20th century, Labrang was by far the largest and most influential monastery in Amdo. It is located on the Daxia River, a tributary of the Yellow River.
The monastery was founded in 1709 by the first Jamyang ZhĆ©pa, Ngawang TsƶndrĆ¼.It is Tibetan Buddhism's most important monastery town outside the Tibetan Autonomous Region.
Labrang Monastery is situated at the strategic intersection of two major Asian culturesāTibetan and Mongolian ā and was one of the largest Buddhist monastic universities. In the early 20th century, it housed several thousand monks. Labrang was also a gathering point for numerous annual religious festivals and was the seat of a Tibetan power base that strove to maintain regional autonomy through the shifting alliances and bloody conflicts that took place between 1700 and 1950.[5]
In April 1985 the Assembly Hall burned down. It was replaced and the new building was consecrated in 1990
The monastery complex dominates the western part of the village. The white walls and gilded roofs feature a blend of Tibetan and Indian Vihara architectural styles. The monastery contains 18 halls, six institutes of learning, a gilded stupa, a sutra debate area, and houses nearly 60,000 sutras.
At its height the monastery housed 4,000 monks. Like so many religious institutions, it suffered during the Cultural Revolution; and the monks were sent to their villages to work. After it was reopened in 1980, many of the monks returned; but the government restricted enrolment to around 1,500.[7]
It has a Buddhist museum with a large collection of Buddha statues, sutras and murals. In addition, a large amount of Tibetan language books, including books on history is available for purchase, together with medicines, calendars, music and art objects.
There used to be a great gold-painted statue of the Buddha, more than 50 feet high, which was surrounded by rows of surrounding Buddhas in niches.[8]
The monastery today is an important place for Buddhist ceremonies and activities. From January 4 to 17 and June 26, to July 15, (these dates may change according to the lunar calendar), the great Buddhist ceremony will be held with Buddha-unfolding, sutra enchanting, praying, sutra debates, etc.
Jvari (Cross) Monastery is a Georgian Orthodox monastery of the 6th century near Mtskheta (World Heritage site), eastern Georgia. The name is translated as the Monastery of the Cross. Jvari Monastery stands on the rocky mountaintop at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers, overlooking the town of Mtskheta, which was formerly the capital of the Kingdom of Iberia.
Commissioner of Public Lands, Peter Goldmark meets with evacuees at Red Cross shelter. Photo: Bryan Flint/DNR
Monastery is an Orthodox Christian monastery for women of the Church of Romania. It is the largest & also the last built of the painted monasteries of Bucovina. It was built in 1581 by the Bishop of RÄdÄuÅ£i, Gheorghe Movila. Frescoes are the work of 2 master painters, Ioan and his brother Sofronie from Suceava.
Labrang Monastery (Tibetan: ą½ą¾³ą¼ą½ą¾²ą½ą¼ą½ą½ą¾²ą¼ą½¤ą½²ą½¦ą¼ą½ ą½ą¾±ą½²ą½£ą¼, Wylie: bla-brang bkra-shis-'khyil) is one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. Its formal name is Genden ShĆ©drup DargyĆ© Trashi GyĆ©su khyilwĆ© Ling (Tibetan: ą½ą½ą½ŗą¼ą½£ą¾”ą½ą¼ą½ą½¤ą½ą¼ą½¦ą¾ą¾²ą½“ą½ą¼ą½ą½¢ą¼ą½¢ą¾ą¾±ą½¦ą¼ą½ą½ą¾²ą¼ą½¤ą½²ą½¦ą¼ą½ą¾±ą½¦ą¼ą½¦ą½“ą¼ą½ ą½ą¾±ą½²ą½£ą¼ą½ą½ ą½²ą¼ą½ą¾³ą½²ą½ą¼ą¼, Wylie: dge ldan bshad sgrub dar rgyas bkra shis gyas su 'khyil ba'i gling).
Labrang is located in Xiahe County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu, in the traditional Tibetan area of Amdo. Labrang Monastery is home to the largest number of monks outside the Tibet Autonomous Region. Xiahe is about four hours by car from the provincial capital Lanzhou.
In the early part of the 20th century, Labrang was by far the largest and most influential monastery in Amdo. It is located on the Daxia River, a tributary of the Yellow River.
The monastery was founded in 1709 by the first Jamyang ZhĆ©pa, Ngawang TsƶndrĆ¼.It is Tibetan Buddhism's most important monastery town outside the Tibetan Autonomous Region.
Labrang Monastery is situated at the strategic intersection of two major Asian culturesāTibetan and Mongolian ā and was one of the largest Buddhist monastic universities. In the early 20th century, it housed several thousand monks. Labrang was also a gathering point for numerous annual religious festivals and was the seat of a Tibetan power base that strove to maintain regional autonomy through the shifting alliances and bloody conflicts that took place between 1700 and 1950.[5]
In April 1985 the Assembly Hall burned down. It was replaced and the new building was consecrated in 1990
The monastery complex dominates the western part of the village. The white walls and gilded roofs feature a blend of Tibetan and Indian Vihara architectural styles. The monastery contains 18 halls, six institutes of learning, a gilded stupa, a sutra debate area, and houses nearly 60,000 sutras.
At its height the monastery housed 4,000 monks. Like so many religious institutions, it suffered during the Cultural Revolution; and the monks were sent to their villages to work. After it was reopened in 1980, many of the monks returned; but the government restricted enrolment to around 1,500.[7]
It has a Buddhist museum with a large collection of Buddha statues, sutras and murals. In addition, a large amount of Tibetan language books, including books on history is available for purchase, together with medicines, calendars, music and art objects.
There used to be a great gold-painted statue of the Buddha, more than 50 feet high, which was surrounded by rows of surrounding Buddhas in niches.[8]
The monastery today is an important place for Buddhist ceremonies and activities. From January 4 to 17 and June 26, to July 15, (these dates may change according to the lunar calendar), the great Buddhist ceremony will be held with Buddha-unfolding, sutra enchanting, praying, sutra debates, etc.