Jiran Monastery

　　   Introduction      Jiran Monastery, officially known as Jiran Bodhi Continent, is located at the foot of Zhuoma Baza Cliff in Batang Township, about 25 kilometers from Jiegu Town, the seat of Yushu Prefecture. It is also called Zhuoma Baza Monastery and sits at an altitude of over 3,700 meters. The monastery gets its name from the Jiran family, who have served as hereditary abbots here. “Jiran” is the family surname, which claims to be one of the four original clans of the ancient Tubo Kingdom. The family originally practiced the Bon religion but converted to the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism in the 8th century. The monastery houses several halls and numerous historical relics. It was once the main temple of the Zhigong Kagyu sect and has had considerable influence in the Tibetan region.    

　　 Yushu Prefecture, Qinghai