Jokhang Temple

Jokhang Temple is considered the most sacred in Tibet, located at the center of Lhasa neighboring the old districts. It is 1,000 meters east of the Potala Palace. It was built by King Songtsen Gampo in 647 AD, and was found by Queen Bhrikuti on a site deemed by Queen Wen-Chen to be the principal Feng-Shui power-place in Tibet.

Brief

Jokhang Temple is currently a Gelug pa monastery, but it accepts worshipers from all sects of Buddhism. Its architectural style is a mixture of Indian Vihara, Tibetan and Nepalese designs.

Jokhang & Cora pilgrimage

The name of “Jokhang” is translated as the ‘House of the Buddha’ in Tibetan. The temple is surrounded by Barkhor street, which is also the market square of Lhasa, and the street itself is a pilgrimage Cora of Jokhang .

It usually takes about 15 minutes for one Cora walk. This Barkhor pilgrimage walkway is marked by four incense burners, two of which are in front of the temple and two in the rear.

Around the 14^th century, the temple was associated with the Vajrasana in India. After the Gorkha-Tibetan war in 1792 AD, the Qian-long Emperor of the Qing dynasty ordered to forbid the visit from Nepalese that make it becoming an exclusive place for Tibetan to worship. It was attacked by the “Red Guards” during 10 Years Cultural Revolution in the 20’s century, which resulted no worship for a decade.

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Renovation of Jokhang temple took place from 1972 to 1980. In 2000, the Jokhang became a UNESCO World Heritage Site as an extension of the Potala Palace (a World Heritage Site since 1994). Many Nepalese artists have worked on the temple’s design and construction.

How to get to there

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Jokhang temple is located in the “old Part” of Lhasa, it is recommended to use public transportation to reach this site

By bus

• by line 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 17, 18, 19, get off at bus stop “Shi-Fu-You-Bao-Jian-Yuan-Stop”
• by line 23, 25, 28, 29, get off at bus stop “Cuo-Mei-Lin Stop”

The Four Major Sects of Tibetan Buddhism

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