Temple of Heaven

Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven [wiki] is a Taoist temple in Beijing, the capital of China. The temple was constructed in 14th century by Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty (who also built the Forbidden City) as his personal temple, where he would pray for good harvest and to atone for the sins of his people.

The Temple's architecture is quite interesting: everything in the temple, which represents Heaven, is circular whereas the ground levels, which represent the Earth, are square.


The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest at the Temple of Heaven, Beijing.
Image: Saad Akhtar [wikipedia]


Close up of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, Temple of Heaven.
Image: star5112 [Flickr]


Details of the roof of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest. Image: werklife [Flickr]


Ceiling of the Imperial Vault, Temple of Heaven. Image: Carol^-^ [Flickr]

Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple

Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple
Potala Palace [wiki], built on top of the Red Mountain in Lhasa, Tibet, China was built by the first emperor of Tibet in 637 CE. The current palace was re-constructed in the mid-1600s by the fifth Dalai Lama.

potala palace and jokhang temple

The Palace consists of two main buildings, the Potrang Karpo (White Palace) and Portrang Marpo (Red Palace). It was the chief home of the fourteenth and current Dalai Lama until he was forced to flee to India when China invaded Tibet in 1959. It is now a state museum.


Potala Palace. Image: Press Club of Tibet


The White Palace. Image: vwsluk [Flickr]

Jokhan Temple [wiki] is the spiritual center of Lhasa and is considered the most important and sacred temple in Tibet. The temple was built in 642 CE and has since housed the single most venerated object in Tibetan Buddhism: a statue of Gautama Buddha [wiki], the founder of Buddhism.

The city of Lhasa has three concentric paths that pilgrims use to walk to Jokhang Temple. Many actually prostrate themselves along these routes in order to gain spiritual merit!


Jokhang Temple. Image: The boy with the thorn in his side [Flickr]


The courtyard of the Jokhang Temple. Image: polymerchicken [Flickr]


Two golden deers flanking a Dharma Wheel and a golden bell at the roof of Jokhang Temple. Image: satellite360 [Flickr]


Pilgrims prostrate themselves in front of Jokhang. Image: thriol [Flickr]

Varanasi
Varanasi in India is not a temple, but ais ctually a famous Hindu holy city, located at the banks of the Ganges River. It is, however, often called the "City of Temples," where almost every road crossing has a nearby temple. A center of pilgrimage (as many as a million pilgrims visit Varanasi each year), the city has links to Buddhism and Jainism as well.


Sunrise at the Ganges River in Varanasi. Image: ironmanix [Flickr]


Temples are everywhere in Varanasi. Image: juicyrai [Flickr]


Pilgrims believe that bathing in the Ganges River will cleanse them of sins.
Image: Jackson Lee [Flickr]

Let me be the first to acknowledge that this list is woefully incomplete. There are countless amazing temples, monasteries, and sacred places of Eastern religions scattered throughout Asia.

If your favorite temple is not included, it is not a slight - I welcome your suggestion in the comment section below.