Sera Monastery, Buddhist monastery in Lhasa District, China

Sera Monastery stands on the southern slope of Sera Utsé hill north of Lhasa, covering about 115,000 square metres. Its stone-and-timber buildings have whitewashed walls topped with dark purple-black penma grass, and the Great Assembly Hall, built in 1710, carries a gilded copper roof. The photograph shows a long whitewashed lower wall of rough stone blocks, four windows with yellow panes and white lintels, a gold cylindrical ornament with spikes at the top left corner, a gold conical finial at the roofline centre, and an entrance porch with vertical dark wooden panels and a blue-and-white valance of repeated white knot motifs above stone steps from a paved courtyard.

A student of the religious teacher Tsongkhapa founded this monastery in the 15th century as a place for philosophical study and monastic training. It grew over centuries into one of the largest teaching institutions of Tibetan Buddhism until political unrest in the 20th century damaged many structures and reduced the number of monks sharply.

The Tibetan name Sera refers to wild roses that covered the hill during construction; an alternate etymology traces it to 'sewa', raspberry shrubs forming a 'rawa' or fence. The monastery keeps a set of the Kangyur written in red cinnabar ink in Tibetan and Chinese, given by the Ming Yongle Emperor to Jamchen Chojey. Monks still debate here on a fixed schedule.

The complex lies a few kilometers outside the city center and can be reached by local buses or taxis. Visitors should come early in the morning to experience the prayer ceremonies and wear comfortable shoes as the paths inside the complex can be steep and uneven.

The afternoon debate sessions take place in an open courtyard where monks emphasize their arguments with rhythmic hand movements and loud calls. This tradition goes back to centuries-old teaching methods that reinforce logical conclusions through physical gestures.