Jokhang Temple(Zuracon)

Jokhang Temple, called "Jokhang" in Tibetan, also known as "Zulakang", is the end point of the pilgrimage for Tibetan Buddhists. In their hearts, the sacredness of Jokhang Temple is no less than that of Potala Palace. Whether from the geographical location or in the minds of Tibetan Buddhists, Jokhang Temple is a veritable holy place and center of Tibetan Buddhism, and has an extremely lofty and holy status in the history of Tibetan Buddhism. Jokhang Temple was first built in the middle of the seventh century AD. It was built by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo to place the 8-year-old life-size statue of Sakyamuni brought from his hometown Kathmandu by his wife, Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal. In 1409 AD, Master Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug Sect, promoted Buddhism in Jokhang Temple and held a grand ceremony to spread the Buddha's teachings, thus establishing its important position in the history of Tibetan Buddhism. In the eighth century AD, the 12-year-old life-size statue of Sakyamuni brought from Chang'an by Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty when she entered Tibet was enshrined in Jokhang Temple, becoming the treasure of the temple and one of the must-see attractions for tourists and pilgrims.

In addition, there are nearly a thousand-meter-long Tibetan murals "Princess Wencheng Entering Tibet" and "Construction of Jokhang Temple" in the temple, as well as two Ming Dynasty embroidered guardian deity thangkas, which are rare art treasures. There are three prayer paths in Lhasa, namely "inner, middle and outer", all of which are centered around Jokhang Temple. Among them, the inner circle around the Jokhang Hall along the Thousand Buddha Hall in the temple is called "Nangkor"; the circle around the Jokhang Temple is called "Bakor"; the circle around the Potala Palace, Yaowang Mountain, Jokhang Temple and Jokhang Temple is called "Lingkor". Scenic spot guide After entering the Jokhang Temple through the main gate, there is a patio-style courtyard. There are several rows of butter lamps on the east side of the courtyard. Because believers add butter every day, they are always burning. Behind the butter lamps is the main entrance of the Jokhang Temple. On the left side of the gate is Guru Padmasambhava, the founder of the Red Sect, and on the right side is Jampa Buddha, that is, Maitreya Buddha, also known as: Future Buddha. On the right wall is a mural about the story of the Jokhang Temple's construction, mainly about the appearance of the Potala Palace in the 7th century and the scene of the Jokhang Temple being built by filling the lake. Going clockwise, you will see the Buddhist Hall dedicated to the Yellow Sect's founder, Master Tsongkhapa, and his eight disciples. Continue to circle right, passing through the Yaksha Hall and the Dragon King Hall on both sides. Behind hundreds of butter lamps is the famous "Jokhang" Hall. It is not only the main body of the Jokhang Temple, but also the essence of the Jokhang Temple. The center of the Jokhang Hall is the Great Sutra Hall, where the lamas chant and practice on weekdays. There are many small sutra halls around it. Among them, the Sakyamuni Buddha Hall in the middle is not to be missed. It enshrines the life-size golden statue of Sakyamuni at the age of 12 brought by Princess Wencheng. This is the center of the Jokhang Temple and a holy place that devout pilgrims yearn for. There are stairs next to the courtyard leading to the second and third floors. On the second floor, there is the Dharma King Hall, which enshrines the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo, Princess Wencheng, and Princess Bhrikuti, and the Bandan Lhamo Guardian Hall, which enshrines the Goddess of Good Fortune. Standing on the wide terrace on the second floor, you can overlook the Potala Palace, which is a great place to take photos. The golden roof on the third floor is also one of the highlights of the Jokhang Temple, but the third floor is not open to the public most of the time. If you are lucky enough to go up to the third floor, the four magnificent golden roofs will be breathtaking.