Jokhang Temple

Located in the old city center of Lhasa, Jokhang Temple is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery which is the national key cultural relic’s protection units. With a history of 1350 years, Jokhang Temple has a supreme position among the Tibetan Buddhism.

In November 2000, Jokhang Temple, as a Scrum of the Potala Palace, is approved to be listed "World Heritage List" as a world cultural heritage.

History:
The Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) was characterized by economic prosperity and great progress in politics. During this time, China was considered the cultural and political center of the world. King Songtsem Gampo (617 – 650, the 33rd king of Tibet) was the leader of the Tubo (or Tibetan) Kingdom. He actively promoted Buddhism in Tibet. Under his reign, Tibetans achieved great progress in social innovation and realized the integration of Tibet for the first time.

In order to promote friendly relationships with the neighboring countries, he successively married Nepal Princess Bhrikuti and Princess of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) Wen Cheng. When the two wives arrived in Tibet, each brought a statue of Jowo Sakyamuni. During this time, most people lived in tents and there were few palaces. To house the Buddha brought by Princess Wen Cheng, King Songtsem Gampo constructed the Little Jokhang. Jealous of Princess Wen Cheng, Princess Burikuti asked Gampo to build a Jokhang for her as well. Therefore, the giant and complicated temp was built in 647.

The original building included only eight shrines. After multiple renovations, especially in the Yuan Dynasty (1206 - 1368), the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644) and the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the building develops into the existing scale today.

Legend Jokhang Temple site was originally a lake where Songtsan made promises to Nepal Princess Bhrikuti that Buddhist temple be built in the place where the ring dropped. What was unexpected is that the ring fell into the lake. Suddenly, optical networks the lake spread all over the lake, among which a 9-storey White Pagoda appeared.

Jokhang Temple is the most brilliant existing building of during Tubo period of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) in Tibet. Jokhang Temple, the earliest building with civil structure, is the oldest existing building in Tibet which represents the most glorious Tubo period，creating a Tibetan-style temple Hirakawa-style layout model. Through much renovation and extension, it gradually gains a grand scale with an area of 25100 square meters.
 
Tips:
As the Temple is in the downtown centre you can just walk there.