Lying at the center of an ancient network of Buddhist temples in the Great Temple of Lhasa, the Jokhang Temple is the heart of spiritual and economic life in Tibet. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the atmospheric focal point of Lhasa, from which bustling narrow lanes of commerce radiate outward in all directions.

This landmark publication is illustrated with photographs taken over eight decades, and is introduced by the personal reminiscences of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Gyurme Dorje presents a detailed inventory of the Great Temple, and Tashi Tsering compiles historical sources that illustrate its importance in Tibetan life. Heather Stoddard draws on early historical material to highlight the temple's geomantic origins and the inauguration of the Great Prayer Festival, while Andre Alexander explores the temple's intricate Indo-Nepalese architecture and Ulrich van Schroeder documents its extant bronze images.