Lying at the centre of an ancient network of Buddhist temples in the Great Temple of Lhasa, the Johkang Temple is the pulsating heart of spiritual and economic life in Tibet. It has been said that the turbulent history of the Great Temple mirrors the turbulent history of the Tibetan nation as a whole. This UNESCO world heritage site, an enduring symbol of extraordinary devotion and pilgrimage, is the atmospheric focal point of Lhasa, from which bustling narrow lanes of commerce radiate outwards in all directions. Copiously illustrated with photographs taken over eight decades, this landmark publication is introduced by the personal reminiscences of HH the Dalai Lama. Part One by Gyurme Dorje presents Zhakabpa's detailed Inventory to the Great Temple, and Part Two by Tashi Tsering compiles historical sources illustrating its importance in Tibetan life. Part Three by Heather Stoddard draws upon early historical material to highlight the temples geomantic origins and the inauguration of the Great Prayer Festival. In Part Four Andre Alexander explores the temples intricate Indo-Nepalese architecture, while in Part Five Ulrich von Schroeder documents its extant bronze images.

Gyurme Dorje: For over forty years he has been continuously engaged in both classical and modern Tibetan studies; and since 1985 he has traveled throughout the Tibetan plateau, visiting the Jokhang annually. Tashi Tsering: One of the founding Directors, in 1992, and presently the Director of the Amnye Machen Institute, Tibetan Centre for Advanced Studies in Dharamsala. Author of a number of works on interdisciplinary Tibetan studies. Heather Stoddard: Head of Tibetan studies in the National Institute for Oriental Languages & Civilisations in Paris. Between 1994 and 2000, with the Shalu Association, she carried out eight small-scale restoration projects in the T.A.R., in co-operation with the Bureau of Cultural Relics, to help save early artistic and architectural remains. Andre Alexander: Since 1987, his work has focused on the preservation and documentation of historic Tibetan buildings, as well as developing sustainable new designs for Himalayan communities. He currently divides his time between projects in China and India, research on Buddhist architecture and historic Asian cities, and occasional lecturing at the University of Technology in his native Berlin

	Contents: Jokhang: Tibet's most sacred Buddhist Temple
	Introduction by Gyurme Dorje	7
	Personal Reminiscences of the Great Temple	31
Part 1	Gyurme Dorje - Zhakabpa's Inventory to the Great Temple of Lhasa	47
	The Original Construction of the Great Temple	49
	Later Phases of Restoration and Extension	54
	The Chapels of the Ground Floor	66
	The Chapels of the Middle Floor	79
	The Sridevi Turret and Chapels of the Top Floor	83
	The Gilded Roofs of the Great Temple	87
	The Ground Floor Annex	90
	Murals of the Great Courtyard and the Inner Walkway	97
	The Middle Floor Annex: Private Apartments and Government Offices	100
	The Top Floor Annex: Palace of the Dalai Lama	105
	Plans of the Great Temple	108
	Notes	112
Part 2	Tashi Tsering - Jowo Sakyamuni	123
Part 3	Heather Stoddard - From Rasa to Lhasa	159
	The Geomantic Stones of the Jokhang	160
	The First Monlam Chenmo	178
	The Early Wall Paintings	193
Part 4	Andre Alexander - The Lhasa Jokhang: An Indian Vihara in Tibet	201
Part 5	108 Bronzes from the Jokhang Repository	251
	Bibliography	277
	Index	282
	Photo credits	287