Jamyang Chojey: Founder of Drepung Monastery and a Pillar of the Gelug Tradition
Jamyang Chojey, one of the closest disciples of Master Tsongkhapa, was a highly respected monk of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism during the early Ming Dynasty. Best known as the founder of Drepung Monastery in Lhasa, he played a decisive role in shaping the intellectual and institutional foundations of the Gelug tradition. Today, Drepung stands as one of the three great monasteries of Tibet, alongside Ganden and Sera.
Birth and Family Background
Jamyang Chojey, also known by his ordained name Tashi Paldan, was born in 1379 in Samye, in present-day Dranang County, Shannan Prefecture, Tibet. He came from a wealthy and devout Buddhist family, a background that later enabled him to support large-scale religious projects and attract influential patrons.
From an early age, he showed remarkable intelligence, strong memory, and a natural inclination toward Buddhist study and discipline.
Early Monastic Education and Training
Jamyang Chojey began his monastic life at Tsedang Monastery, which belonged to the Phadru Kagyu tradition. Seeking deeper learning, he later traveled to Juemolong Monastery in Lhatse, where he studied the Vinaya Sutra under the renowned master Khenchen Gayupa.
After mastering monastic discipline and developing strong foundations in Prajna (wisdom) and ethical precepts, he returned to Tsedang Monastery. There, his scholarship and conduct earned him recognition as a leading monk, responsible for teaching and guiding others.
Meeting Master Tsongkhapa and Entering the Gelug School
In 1409, Master Tsongkhapa founded Ganden Monastery on Wangguri Mountain, south of the Lhasa River in present-day Dazi County. This event marked the formal establishment of the Gelug Sect.
Jamyang Chojey became a devoted follower of Tsongkhapa, received full monastic precepts at Ganden Monastery, and undertook systematic study of the five major treatises of the Gelug school. Among these, he showed particular brilliance in Madhyamaka (Middle Way philosophy).
Under Tsongkhapa’s direct guidance, Jamyang Chojey demonstrated exceptional analytical ability and quickly resolved complex doctrinal questions found in the Tengyur. His intellectual strength set him apart from his contemporaries.
Renowned Memory and Scholarly Excellence
According to Mirror History of the Origin and Flow of Schools by Lobsang Chogyi Nyima, Jamyang Chojey possessed an extraordinary memory. He could recite entire scriptures word for word after hearing them only once.
Recognizing this rare ability, Master Tsongkhapa entrusted him with the task of memorizing and reciting one hundred scriptures, establishing Jamyang Chojey as the foremost disciple renowned for both listening and retention among Tsongkhapa’s many students.
Tsongkhapa’s Prophecy and a Vision for a New Monastery
In 1414, Tsongkhapa was invited by Drakba Gyaltsan, leader of the Padru local regime, to teach at Tashiduoka, where he expounded profound doctrines such as:
- Middle Way philosophy
- The causes of enlightenment
- Stages of the Bodhisattva path
- Entering the Path of Enlightenment
Jamyang Chojey attended these teachings. Aware of his disciple’s wealth, influence, and capability, Tsongkhapa gave him a solemn instruction:
“You can build a consummate Buddhist monastery, one that will surpass even the mother monastery, Ganden, in prosperity.”
This statement would later be regarded as a clear prophecy of Drepung Monastery’s future greatness.
Sacred Dreams and the Choice of Location
According to the Biography of Jamyang Chojey, he later traveled to Neiwu Zong, where he experienced a series of powerful dreams.
In one dream, a sage named Nanmu Degpo appeared near Mount Gepei, urging him to build a monastery there and promising support for 5,000 monks. The sage described the surrounding wetlands as a symbol of deep learning, contemplation, and spiritual cultivation.
In another dream, Jamyang Chojey saw countless people struggling to cross a wide and turbulent river. He leapt into the water to save them, and suddenly a bridge appeared, allowing everyone to reach the other shore safely. This vision was later interpreted as a symbol of building an institution to guide beings toward liberation.
The Founding of Drepung Monastery
Encouraged by these visions and Tsongkhapa’s trust, Jamyang Chojey consulted Namka Sangpo, the governor of Neidong Dzong and a close ally. Together, they chose a site on the slope of Mount Gepei Wuzi, about five kilometers west of Lhasa.
In the preceding year, following Tsongkhapa’s prophecy, Jamyang Chojey had unearthed a Dharma conch at Wangpori Mountain, near Ganden Monastery—an auspicious sign. With strong political and financial support from Namka Sangpo, construction began soon after.
Completion and Consecration of Drepung Monastery
In 1416, the monastery was completed and named “Auspicious Rice Gathered in Ten Directions.” In Tibetan, “Rice Heap” translates to “Drepung,” which became the monastery’s commonly used name.
Upon its completion, Master Tsongkhapa personally visited Drepung Monastery and presided over its consecration ceremony, underscoring its spiritual importance and confirming its role as a major center of the Gelug tradition.
From this moment onward, Drepung Monastery began its rise as one of the most influential monastic institutions in Tibetan history, shaping generations of scholars, administrators, and spiritual leaders.