Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s3.t21: gtsug lag khang
Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s3.t21
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gtsug lag khang
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Jokhang Temple (gtsug lag khang) is located in the centre of Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region. It is the oldest Buddhist Temple in Tibet and the holiest site of Tibetan Buddhism in China. It was first constructed in the middle period of 7th century CE by Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal, who was bride of King Songtsän Gampo, the 33rd ruler (King) of Tibetan Empire. According to a legend, Buddha Hall was built on the former site of a lake which was filled and levelled up with soil carried by goats to house the Shakyamuni Statue (Akshobya Vajra), a life-size statue of the Buddha brought from Nepal by Princess Bhrikuti. Therefore, Jokhang Temple is named “ra sa vphrul snang” in Tibetan (“ra” means goat and “sa” means earth) and also known as “jo khang” meaning “House of Shakyamuni”.
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The exterior architectural form of Jokhang Temple features architectural styles and techniques from India, Nepal and Tibet. According to the Biography of *Kings in Tibet*, mandalas are carved and painted on four gates to satisfy the wish of the Buddhist Guru, vajry (rock) pestles are carved and painted on pillars to meet the desire of sngags-mang, swastika (Srivatsa) are carved and painted on four corners to meet aspirations of Bonismo believers and grillworks are painted to satisfy the hopes of people in Tibet. At that time Jokhang Temple was a three-layer temple facing the west which represented that the Princess missed her hometown, Nepal, west of Lhasa city. On both sides of main shrine, there are side halls and such layout reflects the model of the universe in Buddhism. Many statues of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are enshrined and worshiped inside the temple including Ekādaśa mukhānām Avalokiteśvara (likeness of King Songtsem Gampo), statues of Akshobya Vajra, Maitreya dharma and Arya Tara brought by Princess Bhrikuti from Nepal.
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Buddha hall at Jokhang Temple Monastery, Lhasa, Tibet, China
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Besides, there are statues made in Tibet by Nepal craftsmen such as King of Great Freedom, Wrath Tara, Arya Tara, Sarasvati, Auspicious Horse Head King, Dragon King, Demon, Yaksha, Krishna and Pelden Lhamo. On beams, pillars and walls in all halls, Buddhist scriptures and figures of Buddha are carved and painted as well as biography of kings of Tibet, other biographies, cryptology or prophesy and ritual of Bonismo. The carvings and paintings fully reflect the concept of cultural coexistence of foreign Buddhist culture and local Bonismo which has epoch-making significance in the history of Tibetan Buddhism.
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Jokhang Temple gradually formed a grand architectural complex after expansion and renovation several times since 7th century CE. The most sacred Buddha statue enshrined inside the temple has changed into a statue of Shakyamuni, a life-size statue of Buddha at age of 12 which was brought by Princess Wencheng in Tang Dynasty. In the 11th century CE, Pa Ba Xi Rao (vphaks-pa-shes-rab), a master from Ngari Sanai and Dui Qiong Kuo Ben expanded Jokhang Temple, building a Buddha Hall and moulding Buddha statues on the east. At the same time monk groups were established and Jokhang Temple formed the rudiment of monastery. In Yuan Dynasty, several Khri Dpon (local officials responsible for the administration in Tibet) undertook maintenance and reconstruction work and built many Buddha statues. In the Ming Dynasty, Master Tsongkhapa requested Zha Ba Jiang Qu, the third Dharmaraja of Phagmodrupa Dynasty, to renovate Jokhang Temple on a large scale. In 1409, Master Tsongkhapa decorated the Statue of Shakyamuni with five-dhyani Buddha Crown. Since 1642, the fifth Dalai Lama and Sangye Gyatso expanded and decorated the temple on a larger scale which made the complex splendid and magnificent with a completely new outlook.
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In 1961, Jokhang Temple was listed as one of the first batch of important cultural relic sites under state-level protection by the State Council of China. In November 2000, Jokhang Temple was included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List as an extension of the Potala Palace thus also becoming a part of the world’s cultural heritage.
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(*Kalsang gyal*)