The Drepung Monastery, which in Tibetan is called Duimi or Gyimi monastery and means "an auspicious land", sits at the southern slope of the Gebeiwoze Mountain about 10 km west of downtown Lhasa. It is one of the three major monasteries of Lhasa and one of the six major Gelug sect monasteries in China. Occupying an area of more than 200,000 square meters, the monastery is the biggest monastery in Tibet. [Photo/Sohu]

Photo shows Tibetan monks debate sutra in Drepung Monastery. The Drepung Monastery, which in Tibetan is called Duimi or Gyimi monastery and means "an auspicious land", sits at the southern slope of the Gebeiwoze Mountain about 10 km west of downtown Lhasa. It is one of the three major monasteries of Lhasa and one of the six major Gelug sect monasteries in China. Occupying an area of more than 200,000 square meters, the monastery is the biggest monastery in Tibet. [Photo/Sohu]

Debating sutra is an interactive way of promoting the understanding of the theory of sutra. Generally, only excellent monks can become the sutra debater. There are mainly two kinds of sutra debating, one-on-one debate and proposition debate. [Photo/Sohu]

One-on-one debate, namely one monk raises a question and the other monk answers it without asking back. Then roles change after the debate proceeds for a while. The debate comes to an end when either side is stuck by a question. [Photo/Sohu]

Proposition debate, in which one monk sets forward a view, sits on the ground and answers questions put forward by more monks without asking back. Generally, there is no restriction of debater number. And as the debate goes more fiercely, more monks stand up and join in. Everyone asks a question accompanied by a unique gesture-clapping their hands. [Photo/Sohu]

Sutra debating is an interactive way of promoting the understanding of the theory of sutra. Generally, only excellent monks can become the sutra debater. There are mainly two kinds of sutra debating, one-on-one debate and proposition debate. [Photo/Sohu] 

Sutra debating is an interactive way of promoting the understanding of the theory of sutra. Generally, only excellent monks can become the sutra debater. There are mainly two kinds of sutra debating, one-on-one debate and proposition debate. [Photo/Sohu]