Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery (Wyl. ‘bras spungs dgon pa) — one of the three great Gelugpa seats and the largest of Tibet's monasteries. Founded in 1416 by Jamyang Chöjé Tashi Pelden (1379-1449)—a direct disciple of Jé Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug tradition, the monastery was later sub-divided into seven great colleges:

1. Gomang,
2. Loseling,
3. Deyang,
4. Shagkor,
5. Gyelwa or Tosamling,
6. Dulwa, and
7. Ngagpa.

Before the Chinese invasion, it counted over 7,000 monks.

External Links

• A Brief History of Drepung Monastery from the Berzin Archives