Jokhang Temple
The Jokhang Temple or Jokhang Monastery, in Lhasa,
Tibet, is the most important sacred site in Tibetan
Buddhism and one of the most famous Buddhist temples
in the world. Many pilgrims come to pray at Jokhang
and it is also a popular tourist destination.
Jokhang Temple is the spiritual center and holiest
site in Tibetan Buddhism, attracting thousands of prostrate
pilgrims each year. It is also the site of the annual
Great Prayer Festival, as well as all ceremonies of
initiation for the Dalai Lama and Panchen Llamas.
Jokhang Temple was built in 746 AD by King Songtsen
Gampo and his two foreign wives who introduced Buddhism
into Tibet. The temple has been regularly expanded over
the years, most notably under the Fifth Dalai Lama.
The temple was constructed to house a sacred image
of the Buddha, which the king's Nepalese wife brought
with her as a dowry. This statue is still enshrined
within the temple and is perhaps the most venerated
image in Tibet.
What to see
Pilgrims at Jokhang Temple
Don't miss the image of Palden Lhamo on the third floor.
The fierce protector of both Lhasa and the Dalai Lama,
she is said to have murdered her own child to bring
her husband and king to his senses and put an end to
his endless military campaigns.
Pilgrims prostrate before Jokhang Temple.
The exquisite deer and wheel motifs on the roof are
early symbols of Buddhism. Both allude to Sakyamuni's
first sermon, in which he "turned the wheel of
the Dharma," delivered in a deer park in Benares.
The deer and wheel symbols were especially prominent
in early Buddhism, when followers were reluctant to
depict the Buddha.
Inside, the temple features ancient Newari door frames,
columns, and finials dating from the 7th and 8th centuries.
The most revered object in Tibet is Jowo Rinpoche,
a 1.5m (4.9-ft.) image of the young Buddha, which originated
in India and was brought with Princess Wénchéng
as dowry. Many credit her with selecting the temple's
location according to the principles of geomancy (feng-shui).
The image is flanked on both sides by the altars of
Songtsen Gampo and his two wives who introduced Buddhism
into Tibet.
