Exploring the Expansion of Philosophical Colleges within and beyond Central Tibet

Inner Asian and Altaic Studies Lecture Series

Prof. Gray Tuttle (RSEA ’96, IAAS ‘2002), Columbia University

Friday, October 30, 2026, 1:15 pm ET 

Hybrid Event:
In-person location: S050 CGIS-South, 1730 Cambridge Street, Cambridge
Online: Zoom Registration

This paper will examine the historical development of philosophical monastic colleges (mtshan nyid grwa tshang) as they spread the study of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy within and beyond Central Tibet. I will consider the nested networks of local mother and son/branch monasteries and the relations between monasteries (most often expressed through founding lamas and shared textbooks/teaching approaches, and residential houses). 

While a few monastic colleges in Central Tibet or Amdo (at Penpo Nalendra, Sangpu, Drepung, Sera, and Gonglung) have been explored in previous research, these philosophical colleges are vastly understudied institutions. There were over 430 philosophical colleges in Tibetan regions, many in Mongol regions and a few in Manchu-ruled Chinese regions (in Beijing and Chengde). From my rough research, the regional breakdown can be estimated as follows: 87 philosophic colleges in U and Dakpo, 184 in Tsang and Ngari, 103 Amdo, and at least 60 in Kham (in this case, including 17 shedra). Understanding the nature, development and impact of these institutions is critical to thinking through the way that Tibetan Buddhist philosophical learning shaped a shared sense of Tibetan culture, while also extending the reach of this culture far beyond the Tibetan Plateau.