Dream of Tibet Part 21—Jokhang Temple

Dream of Tibet Part 21—Jokhang Temple On August 9, 2024, after having lunch in Barkhor Street, we visited the Jokhang Temple. The Jokhang Temple is a Tibetan Buddhist temple, a national key cultural relic protection site, and was built by King Songtsen Gampo to commemorate Princess Wencheng's entry into Tibet. The Jokhang Temple holds a supreme position in Tibetan Buddhism. It is a sacred temple respected by all sects, and the "Golden Urn" lottery ceremony for the reincarnation of Living Buddhas has always been held here. After entering the Jokhang Temple, we joined other tourists with a tour guide who provided very detailed explanations. He explained that unlike Han Chinese temples, the main hall of the Jokhang Temple faces west. The main hall has four floors, with side halls on both sides. Its structure embodies the ideal cosmic model in Buddhism. The main halls include the Sakyamuni Hall, the Tsongkhapa Hall, and the Songtsen Gampo Hall. He focused on explaining the colorful stories depicted in the murals. The temple's long corridors are covered with murals of various themes. The murals are painted with natural mineral pigments and remain vibrant even after many years. The figures in the murals are lifelike and the brushstrokes are delicate. These murals reflect the unique spiritual world and rich cultural heritage of the Tibetan people. The most eye-catching feature of the main hall is the life-size statue of the 12-year-old Sakyamuni brought from the Tang Dynasty. Countless believers travel from afar just to worship devoutly before this sacred Buddha statue. Tibetan Buddhist disciples regard it as their greatest spiritual pillar, and have the utmost faith in and adoration for this statue. In the heart of every devout Tibetan Buddhist, measuring the pilgrimage route with their own body and worshipping this sacred Buddha statue at the Jokhang Temple is their common aspiration. The architecture of the Jokhang Temple integrates Tibetan, Tang, and Indian architectural features with unique ingenuity, forming a distinctive Tibetan architectural style. The exterior of the Jokhang Temple is magnificent, giving a sense of solemnity and mystery. Inside, it houses numerous Buddhist scriptures, ritual objects, Thangkas, and other precious cultural relics. These Buddhist scriptures and cultural relics are an important window for us to understand Tibetan culture and Buddhist culture. For the Tibetan people, the Jokhang Temple is not just a temple, but also a spiritual sustenance and spiritual home. In the next issue, please enjoy "The Last Episode of Dream of Tibet—Tibet Museum". Stay tuned, follow us, and don't get lost.