Jokhang
The Jokhang is the most important sanctuary within the Lhasa Tsuglagkhang and is situated in the old town of Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. For Tibetans, it forms a kind of central sanctuary, to which one should be a pilgrimage in life as far as possible at least once.
Legends and History
According to legend, the Jokhang in 639 of King Songtsen Gampo's Nepalese wife, the Princess was Bhrikuti ( Tib: khri btsun ) built after the formerly located at this place Milchsee (Tib. 'o thang gi mtsho ) by means of divination by Songtsen Gampo's Chinese wife Wen Cheng had been drained. The completed 642-653 construction was completed by the come accompanied Bhrikutis in the Land of Snow Nepalese artists. Originally it may well have been a relatively small building. By installation of the Jokhang later - probably particularly at the time of Tsongkhapa (1357-1419) - was to numerous outbuildings and other stories expanded, it received the name Lhasa Tsuglagkhang. The entire system had thus an area of about 21,500 m². and formed from that time to the place for the holding of the "great prayer " of the so-called Monlam Chenmo ( Tib: lam chen mo smon ).
During the revolt of 1959, the People's Liberation Army was very strict care not to damage the temple, but during the Cultural Revolution from 1966 to 1976 the Jokhang was ransacked, with the participation of the population of Lhasa and finally used as the headquarters of the Red Guards and as a guest house and movie theater.
In 1981, the Jokhang was placed under national monument. In 2000 he was declared along with the Potala Palace as " Historic Ensemble Potala Palace in Lhasa ", a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2001 there was the Norbulingka it.
Architecture
Located in the center Jokhang is surrounded by a walkway with prayer wheels. The covered with gilded bronze tiles roof is adorned with a flanked by gazelles Dharma Wheel. In the main hall there are, among others, the gilded statue of Jobo Sakyamuni, a special, bearing the bodhisattva jewelry form of the Buddha Shakyamuni, as well as statues of Avalokiteshvara, Maitreya and Padmasambhava as well as Songtsen Gampo and his two wives, the Chinese Wen Cheng and the Nepalese Bhrikuti. The buildings are a prime example of Tibetan architecture and have been repeatedly described in detail.