Jokhang Temple is a Tibetan Buddhist temple located in the center of Lhasa, regarded by Tibetan Buddhists as the most sacred place and ultimate pilgrimage destination. Here, not only can you visit precious Buddha statues, exquisite architecture and murals, but you can also see countless pilgrims prostrating themselves and feel their power of faith passed down for thousands of years.
Why Jokhang Temple is the ultimate pilgrimage destination for Tibetan Buddhists?
The Jokhang Temple to Tibetans is what the Great Mosque of Mecca to Muslims, all because of the life-size statue of Shakyamuni at age 12 enshrined in the temple.
Shakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism living about 2,500 years ago, did not advocate personal worship during his lifetime. Only three of his statues were approved to be made, which respectively model on his appearance at the ages of 8, 12, and 25. He himself designed those statues and consecrated them. The one at age 12 is the most exquisite and revered among them. For Tibetan Buddhists, worshipping the statue is worshipping the Buddha himself.
Prostrating full-length is the most devout ritual in Tibetan Buddhism. The ritual involves pressing the palms to the forehead, mouth, and heart, then kneeling down, stretching the body forward fully and prostrating to touch the ground. Some people make the journey from thousands of miles away, prostrating all the way to Lhasa, just to personally pay homage to this statue.
How did the statue of Shakyamuni come to Jokhang Temple?
The statue of Shakyamuni at age 12 was brought to Tibet by Princess Wencheng (625-680) of Tang Dynasty (618-907). She married Songsten Gampo (617-650), king of Tubo Empire (633-842), and brought the statue to Tibet as a dowry. This statue was originally enshrined in the Ramoche Temple. In 710, after Princess Jincheng (698-739) of the Tang Dynasty entered Tibet, the statue was moved to Jokhang Temple, and it has since become the most sacred relic of Tibetan Buddhism, continuing to this day.
Jokhang Temple Came First, Lhasa City Later
Many world-renowned cities center on a royal palace, but the center of Lhasa is Jokhang Temple, instead of the Potala Palace. If Lhasa is a circle expanding outward, the temple sits at the very center, and remarks where the expanding began.
Built on a “Demoness’ Heart”
The Jokhang Temple was first built in 647, originally to enshrine the life-size statue of Shakyamuni at age 8 brought to Tibet by Princess Bhrikuti (?-649) of Nepal. At that time, Lhasa, though the capital, was still a wilderness. The temple was ordered to build near Wotang Lake, which was a marshy wetland.
Legends say that, the temple was built and then collapsed repeatedly. Princess Wencheng, well-learned of Chinese feng shui calculations, found Lhasa was shaped like a demoness, with Wotang Lake as her heart. Only the demoness was subdued could the temple be built, which meant Wotang Lake must be filled. The princess then mobilized a lake filling work. After the lake was filled in, Jokhang Temple was finally built up.
Notably, numerous white goats engaged in the lake filling work. They helped to carry earth from far. So Jokhang Temple was originally called “Rasa”. “Ra” means goat, and “sa” means earth. “Rasa” gradually evolved into “Lhasa,” meaning “holy place” or “land of gods and Buddhas,” which later became the name of the Lhasa city.
Becoming the Center of Lhasa
After the temple’s completion, people circumambulated clockwise around the Jokhang Main Hall. They trod out a path Nangkor, meaning the inner circle. Later, devotees began circumambulating around the outer perimeter of the temple. This path is called Barkhor, meaning the middle circle. On the middle circle, locals set up tents, built houses, and opened shops, so that the Barkhor Street formed, which is now Lhasa’s busiest street. In addition to the inner and middle circles, there is also an outer circle, called Lingkhor, which defines the central downtown of Lhasa.
Downs & Ups
Beyond the glory of pilgrims' worship, Jokhang Temple has also endured darkness. In the late 7th century and the mid-9th century, there were two anti-Buddhism movements: Buddhist scriptures were burned, Buddhist statues were buried underground, and Jokhang Temple was converted into a slaughterhouse for cattle and sheep, with the temple often echoing with the agonizing cries of livestock.
During the 10th century, Jokhang Temple recovered from the darkness. In 1409, Master Tsongkhapa (1357-1419) established the Great Prayer Festival at the temple, which reaffirmed the temple's sacred status. In 2000, Jokhang Temple was listed as a World Cultural Heritage site together with the Potala Palace. Today, it remains one of the most sacred monasteries in Tibetan Buddhism and stands as the very soul of Lhasa city.
Jokhang Temple Layout
The Jokhang Temple covers about 25,100 square meters, equivalent to the area of 3.5 football fields. It has 108 halls, which are arranged along an east-west axis. Divided by the axis, the complex boasts a northern and a southern courtyard. The northern courtyard centers on the square Jokhang Main Hall. Around the main hall are chapels and offices. The southern courtyard mainly serves the Great Prayer Festival and consists of festival administration buildings like kitchens and storehouses.
Unlike most Chinese temples that face south, the Jokhang Temple faces west. There are two interpretations. One saying is that it was intended to face the Buddhist holy land of the Western Paradise, while another holds that it was done out of respect for Princess Bhrikuti’s homeland Nepal in the west.
Top Things to Do in Jokhang Temple
Experience the Kora Ritual
On the inner circle path around the Jokhang Main Hall, join the pilgrims and slowly walk clockwise to feel the sacred Buddhism atmosphere. Around the first floor is Thousand Buddhas Corridor, where there are murals of a thousand Buddhas and 380 prayer wheels. When circling, you can spin the wheels to accumulate merit and purify impurities.
View the Statue of Shakyamuni at Age Twelve
The statue, housed on the first floor of the main hall, is the temple's most precious treasure. Though aging over two thousand years, it radiates a brilliant glow thanks to continuous devotees pooling gold powder to re-gild.
Standing before the statue, you can see the twelve-year-old Shakyamuni seated in meditation, holding an alms bowl in his left hand, his right hand resting on his knee, eyes lowered, with a gentle smile, as if comforting all beings.
Observe the Multicultural Architecture of the Jokhang Main Hall
The Jokhang Main Hall preserves the multicultural building style of the Tubo era. Its golden roofs and bracket sets show obvious influence of China’s central land. The watchtowers and carved beams adopt local Tibetan design, while the 103 rows of wooden carved crouching beasts and sphinx-like figures under the eaves of the second and third floors are Nepalese and Indian style.
In addition, the hall's iconic golden roofs are made with hundreds of kilograms of gold, and adorned with fine patterns such as treasure vases and reclining deer. The door frames and columns, made of rosewood brought from Nepal 1,400 years ago, have hardened like iron, and give off a metallic ring if you strike them.
Appreciate the Ancient Murals
The murals at Jokhang Temple cover about 4,400 square meters, painted across the walls of the corridors and chapels. For use of animal glue and ox bile, they are still vivid. Among the murals, the "Construction of the Jokhang Temple" mural on the right side of the main hall's entrance passage depicts the scene of white goats carrying earth to fill the lake for temple construction. Next to it is a mural depicting the completion ceremony of Jokhang Temple, showing activities including wrestling, yak dances, mask dances, and archery. Admiring this work is just like watching a 7th-century Tibetan sports meeting.
Festivals in Jokhang Temple
Great Prayer Festival
The Great Prayer Festival is the grandest religious festival in Tibet, held at the Jokhang Temple in February or March. During the festival, monks from across Lhasa gather at the Jokhang Temple to chant scriptures, pray for blessings, and hold debates of Buddhism theories. The festival often takes place at the temple’s front square. There will also be a grand butter lamp festival, during which colorful butter lamps display on the racks, perfect to see at night.
Fairy Festival
This festival, held in November or December, is for Tibetan women to pray for happiness and fulfillment. Monks will invite the statue of Palden Lhamo, the fortune goddess, to sit facing the Jokhang Mian Hall, and then carry the statue for a parade around Barkhor Street. Tibetan women will dress in splendid attire, and offer hada scarves and barley wine to the goddess. They also burn incense to make wishes, and sing folk songs and perform traditional dances.
Visit Tips
1. On the third floor of the main hall is a platform, where you can get a close look at the golden roofs and take in a full overview of the temple complex, even the Potala Palace in the distance.
2. Remove hats and sunglasses before entering any hall, and avoid wearing short skirts, shorts, tank tops, or flip-flops.
3. When entering a room, step over the threshold. Never step on it, and do not sit on the threshold.
4. Walk in a clockwise direction inside the temple. Recommended route: entrance → Thousand Buddha Corridor and inner kora → Jokhang Main Hall 1F → chapels between 2F and 3F → 2F chapels → 3F terrace → exit.
5. Photography is not allowed inside the main hall.
6. Do not take close-up photos of pilgrims without permission.
7. From 8:30 to 12:00 in the morning, pilgrim crowds are at their densest and the vibe is strongest. The afternoon with fewer tourists and softer light is better for taking photos.
Opening Hours
May to October: 8:30 to 18:30.
November to April: 9:00 to 18:00.
Tickets
CNY85 per person.
Reservation must be made at least one day in advance through the official WeChat mini-program. Same-day tickets are not sold on-site.
Getting There
By bus: Take bus 20, 23, or 24 and get off at Barkhor Street Station, then walk about 3 minutes to the temple.
By taxi or on foot: A taxi ride from Potala Palace Square is convenient and takes about 10 minutes. If you are energetic, walking from the Potala Palace to the Jokhang Temple takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
