Temples in China are generally in the shape of red walls and golden roofs, but why are temples in Tibet different?

Buddhist temple buildings in Tibet are very distinctive, blending the styles of Tibetan, Chinese and Indian Buddhist buildings. They are magnificent, with stacked halls, carved beams and painted buildings, resplendent and magnificent, showing a very high level of technology.

The architectural art of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, among the ancient architectural arts in Tibet, has the most national and contemporary characteristics. It is built on the mountain with magnificent momentum, exquisite craftsmanship and resplendence. From the beginning of the formation of Buddhist temples to the formation of the theme style of Tibetan Buddhist temples, it has generally experienced three stages of development: temples, temples, palaces and temple buildings.

At the beginning of Tibetan Buddhism entering Tibetan society, Tibetan society did not accept it ideologically, but regarded it as a mysterious, magical and auspicious treasure, similar to one of the objects of worship of Bonism. This is not only a historical story of the four treasures of Buddhism falling from the sky in the Latzhnyazan period recorded in Tibetan literature and being devoutly enshrined in Yongbulakang Palace.

Tibetan Buddhist architecture evolved from niches and shrines to temple architecture, and gradually separated from palace architecture. It was after the widespread penetration of Buddhism in Tibetan society and the strong support of rulers such as Songzan Gambu. The first batch of Buddhist temple buildings in Tibetan history appeared one after another with the support of the Tibetan royal family.

Jokhang Temple and Jokhang Temple, which have been baptized by wind, rain and war for more than 300 years, are the earliest temple buildings in Tibetan history. The original purpose was to worship statues of buddhas and bodhisattvas, and to invite the gods of Buddhism to accept the worship of believers. The main hall of the temple is the center of the whole building. It is one of the main features of early temple architecture to imitate and absorb the architectural layout and mode of the Tang Dynasty in Indian and China Central Plains.

Jokhang Temple was built by Princess Chizun, and the location was selected by Princess Wencheng according to the calculated five elements of Yin and Yang. Legend has it that Jokhang Temple was originally a lake called Wotang Lake. After calculation, Princess Wencheng thinks that Wotang Lake is the heart of the rock witch, and a temple should be built here to suppress the rock witch.

The existing Jokhang Temple has been renovated and expanded four times. The first and second floors of the central Buddhist temple are the earliest architectural relics, which are obviously influenced by the Indian monk room architecture, and are very similar to the layout of the monk room of the famous Indian Buddhist temple Nalantuo Temple.