Jowo

A Jowo is a statue representing the young person Bouddha. There are two in Tibet, Jowo Mikyoe Dorjé and Jowo Sakyamuni, brought to the Tibet at the 7th century by the wives Nepalese and Chinese of the king Songsten Gampo. They since are venerated there like crowned religious treasures. Jowo Mikyoe Dorje is a representation of the 8 years old Buddha, contained in the dowry of the Nepalese princess Bhrikuti Devi. Jowo Sakyamuni, statue of the 12 years old Buddha which would have been carried out of alive sound, was brought by the Chinese princess Wencheng. These two statues were sheltered by the Temples of the Jokhang and of the Ramoché, the first builds with Lhassa at the 7th century by King Songtsen Gampo, centers of Buddhist Pèlerinage until today. Initially with the Ramoché, Jowo Sakyamuni is currently with the Jokhang. It remained in excellent state, but Jowo Mikyoe Dorje was cut into two during the Cultural revolution, and the upper part transported in cart to China. In 1983, Ribur Rinpoché (1923 - 2006) could bring it back of Beijing with the assistance of the 10th Panchen LAMA, Lobsang Trinley Lhündrub Chökyi Gyaltsen (1938 - 1989). this last explained to the Chinese the crowned value of Jowos for the Tibetans and makes the point that their answer at the request of Ribur Rimpoché would be a test to judge sincerity of the new Chinese religious policy. Restored in 1985, the statue is today with the Temple of Ramoché.

Imprisoned in 1959 with Lhassa by the Chinese, Ribur Rimpoché underwent during 20 years of the interrogations relentless and tortures. Released by the policy of liberalization of Deng Xiaoping (1979), it entered to the religious office of Tibet and was given for mission of recovering a great number of spiritual treasures Tibetans carried in China.

References

The Odyssey off Jowo Mikyo Dorjee
Ribur Rinpocheis No more, His Story Remains with Custom

Random links: