Lhasa Jokhang Monastery, China

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Jokhang Monastery

The Jokhang Monastery is the most attractive construction in Lhasa old city, mainly enshrined the statue of the Gautama.

This monastery was built in the middle of the 7th century. It covers an area of 25,100 square meters and it is the most magnificent construction of ancient Tibet among which are exited nowadays. The gold wheel in front of the gold top and two lying deer are the sighs of it.

There are eight thick pillars in the concave porch in the front of the door. After touched by the pious disciples, they become jet-black. Whenever you go to the Jokhang Monastery, you always can see many disciples throw themselves on the ground and make a pilgrimage near the monastery. The most pious kowtow way is the hands, the knees and the head all touching the ground.

The constructions in the Jokhang Monastery are part of the God palace, winding corridor, courtyard, the monks' house, and storehouse. The God palace is the main body of the whole monastery and it is the essence.

Its plane is the model of a square altar city, together with the central small yard, it covers an area of approximately 8,000 square meters. In the most conspicuous place of the center of the God palace, there is the Gautama's palace, enshrined the Gautama's seat statue brought by Wencheng princess from Chang An. This palace is much higher than the palace around.

The posture of the Gautama statue is mellow and full and its expression is unworldly. The Hufa God behind the Gautama and many Buddha statues are the works of the 11th century. They are also very vivid. The Wuliangguang Palace and the Qiangba Palace are on both sides.

The Gautama's body embraced by the eight disciples is enshrined in the center of the left and Chizun princess brought it to Tibet from Nepal. In the center of the right, there is a God Mother Palace with thousands of eyes and hands. In another four palaces there also enshrined the Gautama and his incarnation.

In western 2-layer the Dharma King Palace is often concerned, the Dharma King is Songzanganbu. The statues inside the palace are all imitated the original people. Each model of Songzanganbu, Wencheng, Chizaun, the minister Ludongzan, and Tunmisangbuzha has its characteristic. Inside the palace there is a big bird-shaped copper kettle, often attracting visitors to view carefully. It is a remnant in Songzanganbu times.

In the porch, there is winding corridor around a rectangle courtyard and called "thousands of Buddha porch" because thousands of Buddhist murals are paint around. These thousands of Buddhist murals are attracted visitors to see for a very long time. Inside the winding corridor, there is a ring of exquisite Manilun. It is a famous "Nangkou", "Nang" means "home", so "Nangkou" is the meaning of "the turning at home".

The gold top of the Jokhang Monastery is the construction of the13th century. On layout the Gautama's palace is protruded designedly. The gold top is not only high and honorable, but also the sculpture decorations on it are different designedly.

The four gold tops are the style of Xieshan single eaves in the inland of Han Dynasty. The tops are cover with gilding copper tiles and their four corners are caved Moxie fish, flame, and pearls. The three fine gold ends on the gold top take the place of the kissing animal in construction of Han style to decorate and ward off evil. This is also a characteristic of the construction of the Jokhang Monastery.

From gold top of the Jokhang Monastery, you can see the Potala Palace. Many visitors including photographers as if to take photos in that angle. Next time you go to Tibet, we advise you to visit the Jokhang Monastery and go that place to take photos, you will understand why.