This was one of the four Geluk monasteries in Lhasa from which regents were chosen who ruled until the Dalai Lama reached his majority. It was founded around 1760 by the 8th incarnation in the Demo line of incarnate lamas from Drepung Monastery’s Loselling College, who served as regent for the 13th Dalai Lama. The 6th Demo lama had previously served as regent for the sixth Dalai Lama, the 7th Demo lama had served as both regent for and tutor of the 8th Dalai Lama. After a conflict with the 13th Dalai Lama the monastery was partially destroyed in 1912, and was taken from the Demo lama and later was administered by sixty monks from Samyé Monastery. In 2001 the eastern-wing Jigjé chapel was demolished and replaced by a housing block.