Tashilhunpo Monastery, which can be on a par with the Potala Palace, is one of the “four major monasteries” of Gelug, a sect of Tibetan Buddhism, the rest three including Ganden Monastery, Sera Monastery and Drepung Monastery in Lhasa. The “four major monasteries”, as well as Kumbum Monastery in Qinghai and Labrang Monastery in Gansu, are known as the “six major monasteries”. The architectural structure has deeply affected the architecture of other schools of Tibetan Buddhism, such as Wudangzhao Monastery.
Tashilhunpo Monastery is one of the six famous Gelugpa temples in China, and one of the major national historical and cultural sites.