Jokhang Temple has a history of more than 1300 years, and occupies a supreme position in Tibetan Buddhism. Jokhang Temple is the most splendid existing building in Tibet during the Tubo period, and it is also the earliest civil structure building in Tibet, which created the Pingchuan-style temple layout in Tibet. The circle around the Sakyamuni Buddha Hall in the center of Jokhang Temple is called "Capsule Profile", the circle around the outer wall of Jokhang Temple is called "Barkhor Street", and the street radiated outside Jokhang Temple is called "Barkhor Street". With Jokhang Temple as the center, a big circle including Potala Palace, Wang Yao and Jokhang Temple is called "Linkuo". These three rings from the inside out are the route for Tibetans to carry out the prayer-turning ceremony. On Barkhor Street, worshippers with equal circumference can be seen everywhere, and some even come all the way from remote Tibetan areas in western Sichuan, and the journey takes several months.
Jokhang Temple combines the architectural styles of Tibet, Tang Dynasty, Nepal and India, and has become an eternal model of Tibetan religious architecture and a holy place for worshippers. Incense fills the air in front of the temple all day, and worshippers from all directions bow down devoutly. It is said that someone can insist on cutting 100 thousand long heads here. Over time, the bluestone floor in front of the temple left a deep impression with the same length.
Compared with the temples in the mainland, the main hall of Jokhang Temple is not magnificent, but it is extremely superior, which is easy for practitioners to feel. Ten thousand butter lamps in the temple are always on, and the lamp oil is carefully prepared by Tibetan herders. When I stand in front of ten thousand Buddha lanterns, my heart is pure.
The Jinding of Jokhang Temple is also famous. The whole jinding is made of pure gold. I don't know how many tons of gold were used. There are stairs leading to the platforms on the second and third floors, from which you can fully observe the whole Jokhang Temple and Potala Palace in the distance. The golden dome is obviously located at two kneeling animals, some say deer and some say sheep, looking up at Xianglin wheel. Later, this configuration was also seen in Xiao Zhao Temple, which is said to commemorate the contribution of Aries in filling the pool with soil.
The security of Jokhang Temple is also extremely strict. There are security checks at all entrances. You need to check your ID card and scan your carry-on package. Barkhor Street is the most crowded place, with many tourists and worshippers. Most antique shops on both sides deal in souvenirs or buddhist supplies. Most of the shops outside the security scope are plateau specialties, especially Cordyceps sinensis and saffron. Tibetan Dao used to be a hot commodity for mainland tourists, but now it seems to be regulated and it is not easy to see it in the market.
I came out of Jokhang Temple and visited Jokhang Temple. Jokhang Temple is about 500 meters north of Jokhang Temple, and it takes about ten minutes to walk.
Jokhang Temple has a deep relationship with Princess Wencheng, and its architectural style is also different from Jokhang Temple, which is a model of the combination of Han and Tibetan. Jokhang Temple is much smaller than Jokhang Temple, but it feels more regular and full of mystery. Ram also told me many historical legends about Jokhang Temple and Jokhang Temple, which deepened my understanding of the holy land Lhasa.