Meet the Tibetan Buddhists of the Yellow Hat Order

2 minute read
Tibetan Buddhist Monks of the Gelug, or Yellow Hat order, leave morning prayers during Monlam or the Great Prayer rituals on March 3, 2015 at the Labrang Monastery, Xiahe County, Amdo, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, China.
Tibetan Buddhist Monks of the Gelug, or Yellow Hat order, leave morning prayers during Monlam or the Great Prayer rituals on March 3, 2015 at the Labrang Monastery, Xiahe County, Amdo, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, China.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
By Olivier Laurent

Each year, ever since the early 1400s, Tibetan Buddhists gather to unveil a large thangka — a painting made on fabric — of Buddha. The great prayer ritual, which was banned during the cultural revolution in China and has made a comeback in recent years, offers a rare opportunity to meet the Buddhists who live at the edge of the Tibetan plateau in China’s Gansu Province.

“China has so many unique and varied parts,” says Getty Images’ Kevin Frayer, who photographed this year’s ceremonial proceedings. “It is important to explore as much of it as we can. In this case, this area in Gansu is mostly open to foreigners and Chinese tourists but during times of political tension access can be difficult. So when there was the opportunity to get there to see these people and the beautiful landscape in which they live, I felt it was a trip I had to make.”

The Canadian photojournalist, who lives in South Asia, has spent time with Tibetan Buddhist communities in India, Nepal and Bhutan, but never, until this month, in China. “In my work I am most drawn to people living at the periphery,” he says. “So often, the narrative on China is the story of economic growth and modernization. While the Great Prayer ritual dates back centuries it is still an integral part of Tibetan tradition today. I think it is important to see the attempt of culture and faith to persevere in the shadow of wide-scale development. In this case it was an opportunity to take people to a place and reveal a way of life.”

Mikko Takkunen, who edited this photo essay, is an Associate Photo Editor at TIME. Follow him on Twitter @photojournalism.

Olivier Laurent is the editor of TIME LightBox. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @olivierclaurent

Tibetan Buddhist Monks of the Gelug, or Yellow Hat order, leave morning prayers during Monlam or the Great Prayer rituals on March 3, 2015 at the Labrang Monastery, Xiahe County, Amdo, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, China.
Tibetan Buddhist Monks of the Gelug, or Yellow Hat order, leave morning prayers during Monlam or the Great Prayer rituals on March 3, 2015 at the Labrang Monastery, Xiahe County, Amdo, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, China. Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Tibetan Buddhist Monks of the Gelug, or Yellow Hat order, carry a large thangka of Buddha after showing it to worshippers during Monlam or the Great Prayer rituals on March 3, 2015 at the Labrang Monastery.
Tibetan Buddhist Monks of the Gelug, or Yellow Hat order, carry a large thangka of Buddha after showing it to worshippers during Monlam or the Great Prayer rituals on March 3, 2015 at the Labrang Monastery.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Tibetan Buddhist Monks of the Gelug, or Yellow Hat order, unveil a large thangka showing Buddha during Monlam or the Great Prayer rituals on March 3, 2015 at the Labrang Monastery.
Tibetan Buddhist Monks of the Gelug, or Yellow Hat order, unveil a large thangka showing Buddha during Monlam or the Great Prayer rituals on March 3, 2015 at the Labrang Monastery.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Tibetan Buddhists gather to see the unveiling of a large thangka during Monlam or the Great Prayer rituals on March 3, 2015 at the Labrang Monastery.
Tibetan Buddhists gather to see the unveiling of a large thangka during Monlam or the Great Prayer rituals on March 3, 2015 at the Labrang Monastery.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
A Tibetan Buddhist man wears a traditional jacket as he walks on a hillside during Monlam or the Great Prayer rituals on March 4, 2015 overlooking the Labrang Monastery.
A Tibetan Buddhist man wears a traditional jacket as he walks on a hillside during Monlam or the Great Prayer rituals on March 4, 2015 overlooking the Labrang Monastery.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
A Tibetan Buddhist prostrates on the ground during a pilgrimage for Monlam or Great Prayer ritual on March 3, 2015 at the Labrang Monastery.
A Tibetan Buddhist prostrates on the ground during a pilgrimage for Monlam or Great Prayer ritual on March 3, 2015 at the Labrang Monastery.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Two young Tibetan Buddhist monks of the Gelug, or Yellow Hat order, walk passed men in traditional clothing before a procession during Monlam or the Great Prayer rituals on March 4, 2015 at the Labrang Monastery.
Two young Tibetan Buddhist monks of the Gelug, or Yellow Hat order, walk past men in traditional clothing before a procession during Monlam or the Great Prayer rituals on March 4, 2015 at the Labrang Monastery.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Tibetan Buddhist monks perform a mask dance during Monlam or the Great Prayer rituals on March 4, 2015 at the Labrang Monastery.
Tibetan Buddhist monks perform a mask dance during Monlam or the Great Prayer rituals on March 4, 2015 at the Labrang Monastery.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Tibetan Buddhist monks of the Gelug, or Yellow Hat order, are covered in snow as they take part in a procession during Monlam or the Great Prayer rituals on March 4, 2015 at the Labrang Monastery.
Tibetan Buddhist monks of the Gelug, or Yellow Hat order, are covered in snow as they take part in a procession during Monlam or the Great Prayer rituals on March 4, 2015 at the Labrang Monastery.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Tibetan Buddhist monks perform a black hat dance during Monlam or the Great Prayer rituals on March 4, 2015 at the Labrang Monastery.
Tibetan Buddhist monks perform a black hat dance during Monlam or the Great Prayer rituals on March 4, 2015 at the Labrang Monastery.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Devotees bow to a passingTibetan Buddhist monk on his way to take part in a special prayer during Monlam or the Great Prayer rituals on March 5, 2015 at the Labrang Monastery.
Devotees bow to a passing Tibetan Buddhist monk on his way to take part in a special prayer during Monlam or the Great Prayer rituals on March 5, 2015 at the Labrang Monastery.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Tibetan Buddhist monks take part in a special prayer during Monlam or the Great Prayer rituals on March 5, 2015 at the Labrang Monastery.
Tibetan Buddhist monks take part in a special prayer during Monlam or the Great Prayer rituals on March 5, 2015 at the Labrang Monastery.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
A worshipper prays in front of Tibetan Buddhist monks during Monlam or the Great Prayer rituals on March 5, 2015 at the Labrang Monastery.
A worshipper prays in front of Tibetan Buddhist monks during Monlam or the Great Prayer rituals on March 5, 2015 at the Labrang Monastery.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images

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