Chinese authorities continue expanding Larung Gar Buddhist Academy demolitions, raising concerns about restrictions on Tibetan Buddhist religious and cultural life.
Key Points
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Chinese authorities have intensified their demolition efforts at Larung Gar Buddhist Academy in Tibet over the past month. This is part of ongoing efforts by Beijing to downsize the center, historically significant for Tibetan Buddhist learning, which once housed 40,000 monastics in the early 2000s.
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As of July 13, at least 1,060 residences for monks and nuns were marked for demolition, according to Radio Free Asia (RFA). These demolitions have sparked concerns about increasing restrictions on Tibetan religious and cultural practices. The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) has expressed worries over the attack on Tibetan Buddhist life.
- Established in 1980, Larung Gar was a major center for Tibetan Buddhist education and influenced Tibetan culture and religion. However, rights groups contend Beijing’s actions aim to control religious institutions, echoing previous demolition phases that sparked significant cultural disruptions. Satellite imagery confirms a significant area has been cleared, with further demolitions anticipated next year.
In a renewed initiative marking China’s ongoing efforts to control Tibetan religious practices, Chinese authorities have intensified their demolition activities at the Larung Gar Buddhist Academy in Tibet. Known as one of the largest centers for Tibetan Buddhist scholarship globally, Larung Gar once hosted thousands of monks and nuns and served as a pivotal cultural nexus since its establishment in 1980. Beijing’s latest demolition phase at Larung Gar is seen as part of a broader strategy to curtail religious freedom and exert greater control over Tibetan cultural institutions.
Radio Free Asia (RFA) has revealed, through detailed satellite imagery, the expansion of the demolition activities over the last month, targeting approximately 1,060 residences. These actions follow a history of phased demolitions initiated as early as 2001, which resulted in the displacement of over 5,000 monks and nuns by the mid-2010s under pretexts of overcrowding and fire safety concerns. Such narrative, however, is challenged by organizations like the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), which argue these measures are systematic efforts to sever the tenets of Tibetan Buddhism.
The dismantling not only poses a threat to the religious and cultural fabric but also diminishes the educational capacity of this sacred site, which has historically attracted both Tibetan and Chinese devotees. As the demolitions proceed, reports have surfaced indicating the stealthy eradication of vacant residences and potential plans for continued destruction next year, underlining an urgent need for international voices to advocate for the protection of Tibetan heritage. This latest development once again highlights the delicate intersection between cultural preservation and political sovereignty in the region and raises critical concerns about the continuity of Tibetan cultural and religious practices.