Ramoche Temple

Ramoche Temple (bo|t=ར་མོ་ཆེ་དགོན་པ་|w=Ra-mo-che Dgon-pa|l=ràmotɕe kø̃̀pa; zh-cp|c=小昭寺|p=Xiǎozhāosì) is a Buddhist monastery is considered the most important temple in Lhasa after the Jokhang Temple. Situated in the northwest of the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, it is east of the Potala and north of the Jokhang, [Dowman, Keith. 1988. "The Power-Places of Central Tibet: The Pilgrim's Guide," p. 59. Routledge & Kegan Paul. London. ISBN 0-7102-1370-0 (ppk).] covering a total area of 4,000 square meters (almost one acre).

This temple is one of the key cultural relic protection sites of the Tibet Autonomous Region as well as a popular attraction in Lhasa.

The original building complex has a strong Tang architecture influence, for it was first built by "Han" Chinese architects in the middle of the 7th century (during the "Tang Dynasty"). Han Princess Wencheng took charge of this project and ordered the temple be erected facing east to show her homesickness.

Erroneously referred to as "Little Jokhang" it stands in the northern older part of the holy city and originally housed Wen Cheng's statue of Sakyamuni, now the Holy of Holies of Jokhang Monastery, where it was probably moved shortly after Songtsän Gampo's death, in 649 CE.

In the 8th century an exchange was made and a Nepalese "Chizun " princess's small bronze statue of Sakyamuni aged eight was enshrined at Ramoche instead, brought by the "Wencheng" Princess from the capital "Chang'an" during the "Tang Dynasty". As one of the precious cultural relics of Tibet, the statue is now placed in Jokhang Temple (Da Zhao Si), 500 meters south of Ramoche Monastery. The Ramoche Jowo is said to have been part of the dowry of Bhrikirti, Emperor Songtsän Gampo's Nepali wife.The temple was badly damaged during the Mongol invasions and there is no certainty that the statue that remained in 1959 was the original one. The temple was gutted and partially destroyed in the 1960s and the bronze statue disappeared. In 1983 the lower part of it was said to have been found in a Lhasa rubbish tip, and the upper half in Beijing. They have now been joined and the statue is housed in the Ramoche Temple, which was partially restored in 1986, [Dowman, Keith. 1988. "The Power-Places of Central Tibet: The Pilgrim's Guide," p. 59. Routledge & Kegan Paul. London. ISBN 0-7102-1370-0 (ppk).] and still showed severe damage in 1993.

Following the major restoration of 1986, the main building in the temple now has three stories. The first story includes an atrium, a scripture hall, and a Buddha palace with winding corridors. The third story was the bedroom once reserved for Dalai Lama.

Upon entering the main building, one can see the ten pillars holding some of the remaining Tibetan relics such as the encased lotus flowers, coiling cloud, jewelry, and particular Tibetan Characters. The golden peak of the temple with the Han-style upturned eave can be seen from any direction in Lhasa city. The temple is an interesting example of the combination of Han and Tibetan architectural styles.

References

External links

* [http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/tibet/lhasa/ramoche-temple.htm Short history and some photos of Ramoche]
* [http://www.chinanusa.com/biztravel/travel/china/place/city_map.asp?City_Id=20&Pic_Id=3&Place_Type=6 Lhasa City map showing position of Ramoche]