Zezhol Monastery

Zezhol Monastery

This monastery is different from other monasteries since it is an important religious center of the Tibetan indigenous religion - Bon, which lost its dominance in Tibet after Buddhism overwhelmed it. The monastery lies at the foot of Zezhol Hill, 37 kilometers (23 miles) from Tingchen county. History of the monastery can be traced back to as far as 3,000 years ago. It was rebuilt in the middle of the 14th century.

In Tibetan, the name of the monastery means Six Peaks due to its surrounding topography. The old Bon faith, which had ruled Tibet, had to retreat to untraversed regions after its failure in religious contest with Buddhism. Zezhol is one of the few largest Bon monasteries existing in Tibet; there are still followers.

The most complete Bon religious Rituals are still performed here. Its religious college can interpret, Bon sutras and teach old and mysterious cultivation methods as Bon Yoga. In particular, the monastery still maintains a weird Bon religious tradition - naked group dancing.