Temple Architecture: Jokhang & Ramoche Temples

Jokhang Temple and Ramoche Temple were the earliest temple architectures, which are featured in assimilating the layout of Chinese Tang Dynasty and India. They were built originally for enshrining the statues of Buddha and other deities for the followers to worship. The main hall is the center of the building complex.

Jokhang Temple was repaired and extended respectively in 4 different periods. The 1st and 2nd floors of the main hall are the original architecture relics. They were influenced by the Indian temple architecture and were similar in layout with the well-known Indian temple, Nolanda Temple.

• Jokhang Temple Exterior

The plan of the 2 floors is in square shape with wooden inner structure, stone laid load-bearing walls, brick laid outer walls, and a west facing door. Therefore makes a building with an inner court. The center front wall of the 1st floor is an outer-extended hallway. The gates are installed in the center part of the hallway.

Inside the gates, there are 4 small halls in a row along the front wall. Along each of the rear, left and right side walls, there are also 5 small halls respectively built. Among them, those in the center are larger. Especially the one along the rear wall has the same area with the hallway. There is a circular corridor between the small halls along the 4 walls and the square courtyard in the center, which is used as the praying passage.

The hall gates, corridor pillars, door head, etc. are decorated with charming engraved pictures depicting the Buddhist stories, such as stories about flying goddesses, about powerful deities, about causes and results, etc. The size and shape of the doorframe and corridor pillars and the relief style on them are similar to those prevalent in Avidhakar Cave of India in the 6th century.

The design of the Ceremonial daggers on the pillar is very special. The pillar is shaped in different cross section areas in 3 parts. The lower part is with a square-shaped cross section and engraved with relief; the middle part is with an Octagon shaped cross section and with engraved pattern on its 2 ends; the upper is like a group of overlapping blocks of different shape from the top to the bottom, such as square, round, octagon, etc.

The square block is engraved with treasures or flowers and leaf patterns; the round with double layer lotus patterns; and the octagon with general patterns. Above the upper layer lotus, there are a long and flat plate and an arching bolster. The 2 ends of the bolster are engraved with flying goddesses, animals and plants patterns, while the central part with people. Above the bolster, there is a rafter, on which 108 wooden lions are erected out of eave. A bell ring is installed on the chest of each lion. From each bell ring, a round mirror is suspended.

• Wooden Lion Erected out of Eave

Ramoche Temple, built under the patronage of Princess Wencheng, also has undergone 4 repairs and expansion. The original layout of the Temple was like an upper jawbone of a lion and the whole structure was east facing, according to the documents. The outer wall was a brick and stone structure, while the inner was a wooden structure.

• Ramoche Temple

Princess Wencheng mobilized some sculptors and carpenters from Chinese hinterland and had 4 pillars transport from the hinterland to Tibet. After the outer wall was laid and the pillars were erected, the workers began to install beams and rafters on them and laid stone plates on the roof and hang silk curtain on its 4 sides.

Ramoche Temple enshrined a statue of Sakyamuni brought by Princess Wencheng from Chinese Tang Court after its construction was completed. The statue was later on transferred to Jokhang Temple and became world famous since then.

A dozen of temples were built during the reign of Songtsen Gampo. Among them, only Trandruk Temple and Gequ Temple of Lhoka Prefecture have remained till today. Meanwhile, the first cave temple in Tibet, the Daklha Lubuk Cave Temple, was built up.

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