Thursday, August 16, 2018

The Jokhang Temple in Lhasa

The Jokhang - overview from the Barkhor


Contrary to general belief not the Potala is the most important place for Tibetan Buddhists but the Jokhang temple. The Potala is a dzong, a castle, and had been the more administrative center of the Tibetan universe. But the Jokhang is a place of worship, that where the pilgrims go prostrate and offer yak butter, money etc. This temple truly is the spiritual heart of Lhasa. The temple has been built since 652, which means since the Tang period according to Chinese reckoning. In front of the Jokhang is the Barkhor with two huge stone structures (sankang), in which incense like aromatic plant are burnt. Barkhor means market place and is part of the kora, the route pilgrims take clockwise to circle the Jokhang, which takes about 20 minutes.


Top of the temple - note the flag


One of the huge sankang
 



Burning aromatic herbs





Pilgrims and tourists
 

Prostrating in front of the Jokhang - 
in unison, but each one at his/her own pace 



Some pilgrims dress beautifully, e.g. before marriage,
but she might be a Han-Chinese tourist
 


These two ladies might rather be pilgrims - 
note the elaborate braids, 108!




Interior of the Jokhang


Interior of the Jokhang




Pilgrims queuing for access


Inner court of the Jokhang




Han-Chinese pilgrims! Yes, there  are Han-Chinese believers
of the Vajrayana.



Constant waves of pilgrims ...







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