Monks perform religious dance 'Tiaoqian' in Qinghai(1/4)

Monks perform "Tiaoqian", a masked religious dance with a history of over 300 years, at the Kumbum Monastery in Huangzhong County, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Feb. 14, 2022. (Photo/Ma MIngyan)

During the religious ritual, monks will wear colorful traditional clothes and masks, performing dance to scare away evil spirits. Kumbum Monastery, also known as Ta'er Monastery, is located at the Lusar Town of Huangzhong County, Qinghai Province. The Monastery, built as early as in 1379, is one of the six famous monasteries of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. It's a well-known holy land for Buddhist pilgrims as Tsongkhapa, founder of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, was born there.

Monks perform "Tiaoqian", a masked religious dance with a history of over 300 years, at the Kumbum Monastery in Huangzhong County, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Feb. 14, 2022. (Photo/Ma MIngyan)

A monk performs "Tiaoqian", a masked religious dance with a history of over 300 years, at the Kumbum Monastery in Huangzhong County, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Feb. 14, 2022. (Photo/Ma MIngyan)

Monks perform "Tiaoqian", a masked religious dance with a history of over 300 years, at the Kumbum Monastery in Huangzhong County, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Feb. 14, 2022. (Photo/Ma MIngyan)