Worship Tibet I: Lhasa: Ocean of Culture

Tibet, which is known as the most close to paradise place, is the places of Tibetan Buddhist. Lhasa, the administrative capital of the Tibet, contains many culturally significant Tibetan Buddhist sites such as the Potala Palace, Jokhang temple and Norbulingka palaces. In this article, we will talk about the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau-Lhasa.

                                                            Chapter One

                             Lhasa: Ocean of Culture

Lhasa

Surrounded by jagged mountains and steeped in mysticism, Buddhism continues to define Lhasa’s culture. Busy markets, sweet incense and flowing yellow robes all greet you as you take your first step into the city.

After spending hours gazing out of your airplane window at snow peaked mountains, the clouds finally open up to reveal a vast plain surrounded by mountains. It’s as if you have arrived in another world of clouds, mountains and color. Lhasa is the heart of this Buddhist land hidden away amongst the mightiest mountain range in this world, the Himalayas.

In Lhasa you’ll find religion blended into every aspect life—the city is the spiritual anchor of Tibet. Lhasa literally means“holy land”and it’s a well-deserved name. With many holy sites, Lhasa is an important place of pilgrimage for people from all over Tibet who stream into the city from far-flung villages. They’re easily identifiable with their prayer flags and prayer wheels. The signs of devotion abound throughout the land.

It’s easy to forget that you’re already at an altitude of 3,650m as you look at the towering mountains that surround Lhasa, but that’s why Tibet is also known as“rooftop of the world.” The 93m trip from the airport to the city follows the winding path of the scenic Lhasa River, families work in fields of barley and yellow canolo flowers as young monks walk along the roadside. Vivid colors are set against the mountains, surrounded by ever-changing clouds and the deep blue sky.

Lhasa itself is a noisy vibrant city, a mixture of old and modern. The city has an eclectic mix of people, Tibetans with their colorful clothes, Sichuan migrants with their spicy cuisine, as well as explorers, mountaineers and tourists from all over the world. There’s a saying describing Tibetans, “that if a Tibetan can talk, he can sing; if he can walk, he can dance.” This aptly describes their lively and vibrant culture.

                                           Potala Palace

Potala Palace

Over 1,300 years old, Lhasa dates back to the 7th century AD when the colorful Tibetan figure, Songtsen Gampo, built his palace in Lhasa. In 1642, the 5th Dalai Lama also made Lhasa his capital and rebuilt the architectural wonder, the Potala Palace, on top of the ruins of Songtsen’s old abode. Today the Potala Palace continues to dominate the Lhasa skyline and is the most visible of all of the city’s sights. It offers one of the best views of Lhasa and the surrounding area especially in the early morning. 

The Potala Palace is comprised of the White Palace, which was the living quarter of the Dalai Lama and the central religious Red Palace. It’s in the Red Palace that you can move through narrow corridors, dimly lit by many small butter lamps, to see the jewel-encrusted tomb stupas of the 5th and the 7th to 13th Dalai Lamas. The many chapels and former apartments give an insight to what life must have been like centuries ago in this theocratic sanctuary.

                                           Barkhor

One of the best places to view modern day Lhasa and its diversity of culture is in the bustling Barkhor, a section of the old city. Here, the Barkhor Market has all manner of goods from turquoise jewelry to meditation beads, colorful traditional Tibetan clothes and yak wool sweaters. Here you can watch groups of monks draped in their maroon and saffron robes mingling with Tibetans from remote areas wearing long boots, sporting daggers and large turquoise necklaces.

                     Jokhang Temple

Long streams of pious Tibetan pilgrims walk clockwise in Barkhor chanting prayers with their meditation beads, spinning their prayer wheels or performing full prostrations as they circle the Jokhang Temple, one of Tibet’s holiest temples. These devout pilgrims wear yak leather gloves and aprons to protect their hands as they slide over the rocky ground, their reverent prostrations atoning for bad deeds performed in the past. Prostrating pilgrims journey from all over Tibet to worship here.

Jokhang Temple

The Jokhang Temple, situated in Barkhor Square, is the noisy and colorful heart of Lhasa. It was built in the 7th century when Kong Songtsen Gampo wanted to build a temple to house two famous statues brought by his brides from Tang dynasty and Nepal. Being unable to decide where to build the structure, he left it up to fate and threw his ring in the air and promised to build a temple wherever it landed. 

The ring landed in a lake, striking a rock where a white stupa miraculously emerged, the lake was filled with rocks and here the Jokhang Temple was constructed. The main entrance to the Jokhang is marked by a large golden, eight-spokes of the wheel represent the Buddhist eightfold path to enlightenment and the deer serve as a reminder that Buddha gave his first sermon in a deer park.

Dim corridors lined with statues of fierce and benign guardians lead to the innermost shrine. This is the home of the oldest and most precious object in Tibet-the gold statue of Sakyammuni Buddha brought by Princess Wencheng of the Tang dynasty to Tibet 1,300 years ago as part of her dowry. Inside the inner chamber, mellow butter lamps create shadows that dance across his features. Also in the innermost shrine is a 6m tall statue of Padmasambhava, the Buddha of compassion and the half-seated figure of Maitreya, Buddha of the future. Monks often lead prayers here and it’s a great spot to watch modern Lhasa life in Barkhor Square or just sit in the afternoon sun.

--Whenever you are in Lhasa, you’re always surrounded by colorful people, striking natural scenery, humbling mountains, flowing rivers and fields of green, gold and yellow. Although some of the main temples can be busy, just turn the corner or wander off for a few minutes and you’ll quickly find yourself in a picturesque rural Tibetan scene out of a postcard.