Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, July 28: Chinese authorities have ordered monks and nuns whose residential quarters have been demolished at the renowned Larung Gar Buddhist Academy in Sertar County to leave the institute and return to their native monasteries, as Beijing presses ahead with its latest demolition campaign at one of the world’s largest centres of Tibetan Buddhist learning.
According to a report by the Dharamshala-based Tibetan outlet, Tibet Times, the order applies to all monastics whose residences have already been razed. Those from outside Serthar have been instructed to return either to their family homes or to monasteries in their native regions. At the same time, even monks and nuns originally from Serthar have reportedly been barred from remaining at Larung Gar and ordered to relocate to their local monasteries.
The latest measures follow a renewed demolition drive that began around July 13, 2026. Chinese authorities have justified the operation by claiming that the institute contains an excessive number of residential structures, creating safety concerns, and that the monastic population has grown beyond acceptable limits. Demolition crews have already torn down numerous residences, with the campaign continuing.
The current plan calls for the demolition of 1,060 monastic residences. Those whose quarters have been destroyed are no longer permitted to remain at Larung Gar and are being forcibly removed in successive groups.
Security restrictions across the academy have also been significantly tightened. Monks, nuns, and local residents are reportedly under heightened surveillance, while pilgrims and visitors from other areas are being prevented from entering the institute as authorities enforce stricter controls.
A source familiar with the developments told TT that Chinese authorities had initially planned to demolish the area surrounding Gyutrul Temple within the academy. However, monastery representatives reportedly appealed against the proposal, warning that such demolition would jeopardise the temple, the main assembly hall, and the circumambulation route. Following those representations, the authorities altered the plan and instead targeted the Joser residential quarters situated between the living areas of monks, nuns, and lay practitioners.
Larung Gar has been the target of repeated demolition campaigns over the past two decades. Chinese authorities carried out large-scale demolitions in 2001, 2016, and 2019, citing overcrowding and the absence of legally required construction permits. Those campaigns were also accompanied by stringent quotas on the resident monastic population and the forced removal of thousands of monks and nuns, particularly those who had travelled from other Tibetan regions to pursue Buddhist studies.
The 2019 demolition campaign also drew international attention after reports emerged that a nun, Tsering Dolma, died by suicide after leaving a final message describing how sustained state repression had driven her to despair.
Larung Gar, founded in 1980 by the late Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok, has long served as one of the most influential centres for the study of Tibetan Buddhism, attracting monks, nuns, and lay practitioners from across Tibet, China, and abroad. Human rights organisations and Tibetan groups have repeatedly criticised successive demolition campaigns and expulsions at the institute, arguing that they form part of broader efforts by the Chinese government to tighten control over Tibetan religious institutions and curtail independent monastic education.
Facts Only
* Chinese authorities ordered monks and nuns whose residential quarters at the Larung Gar Buddhist Academy in Sertar County to leave the institute and return to their native monasteries.
* The order applies to all monastics whose residences have been demolished.
* Monastics from outside Sertar were instructed to return to family homes or monasteries in their native regions.
* Monks and nuns originally from Sertar were barred from remaining at Larung Gar and ordered to relocate to local monasteries.
* A demolition drive began around July 13, 2026.
* The authorities justified the operation by claiming excessive residential structures, safety concerns, and overpopulation of the monastic population.
* The plan calls for the demolition of 1,060 monastic residences.
* Security restrictions were tightened across the academy, leading to heightened surveillance of monks, nuns, and local residents.
* Authorities altered a demolition plan to target Joser residential quarters instead of the area around Gyutrul Temple.
* Past demolitions occurred in 2001, 2016, and 2019.
Executive Summary
Chinese authorities have ordered monks and nuns whose residential quarters at the Larung Gar Buddhist Academy in Sertar County have been demolished to leave the institute and return to their native monasteries. This order applies to all monastics whose residences have been razed, including those from outside Sertar, who must return to family homes or monasteries in their native regions. Monks and nuns originally from Sertar are also barred from remaining at Larung Gar and ordered to relocate to local monasteries.
The demolition campaign, which began around July 13, 2026, targeted 1,060 monastic residences. The actions were justified by the authorities on the grounds that the institute had an excessive number of residential structures, created safety concerns, and the monastic population exceeded acceptable limits. Security restrictions were simultaneously tightened across the academy, subjecting monks, nuns, and local residents to heightened surveillance while restricting access for pilgrims and visitors.
Historically, Larung Gar has faced repeated demolition campaigns over two decades, notably in 2001, 2016, and 2019, often involving stringent quotas on monastic populations and forced removals of individuals from other Tibetan regions. These actions have drawn criticism from human rights organizations and Tibetan groups who argue they are part of efforts to control religious institutions and independent monastic education.
Full Take
The narrative demonstrates a consistent pattern of state action aimed at restructuring religious and social space through physical removal and control, framed under the guise of safety and population management. The historical context of repeated demolitions over two decades suggests that present actions are not isolated events but part of an ongoing, systematic process targeting Tibetan Buddhist institutions and populations. The shift in targeting—from a temple area to residential quarters—reveals an adaptation of tactics designed to achieve specific outcomes while maintaining a veneer of administrative action.
The use of demographic statistics (excessive numbers) and safety concerns as justification for forceful eviction is a common mechanism used to legitimize state control over cultural and religious assets. The implication is that the right to reside and practice within these established centers is subordinate to perceived administrative necessity. Furthermore, the reporting of historical events, such as the tragic suicide of a nun following state repression, juxtaposed with current actions serves to anchor the present situation within a legacy of systemic oppression against Tibetan religious autonomy. This repetition forces an acknowledgment that the underlying dynamic is one of centralized control over monastic education and physical space, irrespective of the immediate justifications offered by the authorities.
Bridge Questions: What alternative frameworks exist for defining 'acceptable limits' for religious or residential populations within historically unique cultural centers? How can international monitoring systems be adapted to assess the impact of demographic pressures when those pressures are intrinsically linked to state-sanctioned policies? What does the persistence of these patterns suggest about the resilience mechanisms operating within communities facing sustained institutional control?
Sentinel — Human
The text functions as a detailed news report synthesizing official orders, operational details, and decades of historical context regarding demolitions at Larung Gar, exhibiting characteristics of informed journalistic writing.