☸️ Jokhang Temple
China
About This Sacred Site
The Jokhang Temple in Lhasa is considered the most sacred temple in Tibetan Buddhism. Built in 647 CE by King Songtsen Gampo to house a precious Buddha statue brought by his Nepalese wife, it later enshrined the Jowo Rinpoche, a statue of the twelve-year-old Shakyamuni Buddha brought by his Chinese wife Princess Wencheng. Thousands of Tibetan pilgrims prostrate themselves along the Barkhor pilgrim circuit that encircles the temple. The temple blends Tibetan, Tang dynasty Chinese, Nepalese, and Indian architectural styles.
Key Facts
- •Houses the Jowo Rinpoche, the most revered statue in Tibetan Buddhism
- •Built in 647 CE by King Songtsen Gampo
- •The Barkhor pilgrim circuit around the temple is one of three sacred circuits in Lhasa
- •Blends Tibetan, Chinese, Nepalese, and Indian architectural elements
- •UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace
Location
Coordinates: 29.6525, 91.1318
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