Jokhang Temple, the most popular winter pilgrimage destination
Jokhang Temple, the most popular winter pilgrimage destination
Usually sacred temples in Lhasa would receive more pilgrims in winter with less farming. As the holiest site and ultimate pilgrimage destination in Tibet, Jokhang temple in Lhasa naturally becomes the most popular pilgrimage destination for Tibetan Buddhists. Rolling prayer wheels, practising prostrations, or simply chanting Buddhist mantras, the pilgrims have various ways to fulfill their lifetime religious pursuits.
Located in central Lhasa in Tibet, the Jokhang Temple was included on UNESCO's World Heritage list in 2000 as part of the Potala Palace.
With an area of 25,100 square meters (about six acres), Jokhang Temple was built in 746 by King Songtsen Gampo and his two foreign wives who introduced Buddhism into Tibet. It was said to be built for enshrining the Jowo Sakyamuni figure aged 8. The figure was brought by Nepal PrincessTritsun from Katmandu, who was to marry Songtsen Gampo. But the structure that we see today is largely the result of reconstruction in the 17th century, commissioned by the Fifth Dalai Lama. The Jokhang is built on what was formerly a lake.
Several legends provide explanations for the selection of this unusual location. The most popular tells of how King Songtsen Gampo tossed a ring from his finger, swearing to build the temple wherever it fell. When the ring landed in the lake, a white stupa appeared magically and the Jokhang was constructed on this site. Another legend explains that Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal, on joining King Songtsen Gampo's court, perceived a great demoness in the Tibetan landscape. Having established that the demoness' heart lay beneath a small lake in Lhasa, she ordered the lake filled and the erection of the Jokhang Temple there.
The original complex included only eight shrines. After multiple renovations, most notably during the Yuan Dynasty (1206 - 1368), the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644) and the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the complex grew to the scale that exists today. With the golden roof and vault featuring typical Han style, the watchtower and carved beams in Tibetan patterns and 103 lined wodden crouching animals and human-faced lions under the second and third eaves of the main hall presenting Nepalease and Indian styles.
With exceptional passion and outstanding leadership, Mrs. Catherine has dedicated herself to Tibet inbound tourism and China tour for 15 years. As one of the handful females who see great potential of Chinese inbound tourism, Catherine has made great contribution to promoting Tibet tourism and enhancing the employment of Tibetans and prosperity of local Tibetan community.
Over the years, she travelled overseas with Tibet Tourism Bureau many times to promote Tibet tourism. Currently, Catherine works as the marketing director of Tibet Vista, an opinion leader behind the whole team of Tibet Vista.
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