Jokhang Temple
Jokhang
Temple The Jokhang Temple, situated is in the center of Lhasa, claims
one of the oldest buildings in Tibet. It was built in 647 AD.
It is the joint effort of the Han and Tibetan people. It was built to
commemorate the marriage of the Tang princess Wen Cheng to King Songtsen
Gampo. It said that when Princess Wen Cheng came to inspect the landform
of Lhasa, she drew the conclusion hat the Wuotang Lake was the heart of
the devil. It was them filled with the earth carried by white goats. To
commemorate the white goats, the temple was named "Ruosha" meaning "goat
carrying earth" in Tibetan, Then the name developed into "Lhasa" meaning
the holy land.
After being renovated and expanded in the following years, it has become
a grand building complex. The temple occupies an area of 25,000 square
meters, with more than 20 palace halls. The four-storied golden roofed
building is in the Tang Dynasty style blended with Nepalese and Indian
architectural features. On both sides in the hall stand statues of Princess
Wen Cheng and King Songtsen Gampo. In the central hall on the first floor,
there is a gold sitting statue of a 12-year old Sakyamuni, brought in
by Princess Wen Cheng. It is one of the most precious antiques in Tibet.
In the temple, they also keep the portrays of Buddha in silk from the
tang Dynasty, the pearl gown and gold lamp from the Ming Dynasty as well
as the painting by the famous painters several hundreds of year ago. The
stone Tablet of Unity between the tang Dynasty and Tubo kingdom with the
inscriptions both in Chinese and Tibetan was erected in 823. It marks
the friendship between the Chinese and Tibetans.
For more than 1,000 years, the Jokhang Temple remains to be the favourite
spot for the worshippers from far and near.