Jowo Shakyamuni: The Sacred Statue Crafted in the Time of the Buddha
This sacred image was created during the lifetime of the Buddha Shakyamuni. At that time, his disciples earnestly requested that a statue be made to preserve the Buddha’s true appearance for future generations. Upon hearing their plea, the Buddha responded with a silent, compassionate smile and emitted three rays of light from his body.
The first ray of light shone upon Elder Rahula, one of the Eighteen Arhats. The venerable one offered countless treasures from both the heavens and the human realm, including lapis lazuli, jade, crystal, gold, silver, and precious jewels. The divine artisan Vishvakarman (in Tibetan: Lha’i Bzo Bo) used these to craft a reliquary stupa in the shape of a bottle, symbolizing the Dharma body (Dharmakaya) of the Buddha, facing all directions and vast as the sky. This stupa, deep blue and radiant, possesses inconceivable merit. Simply circumambulating it for seven days and nights is said to bring about extraordinary siddhi (spiritual attainments). Known as the “Untouchable Stupa of the Holy Body”, it was later invited to the realm of the Ḍākinīs (sky-going wisdom beings) and became the source of spiritual accumulation for non-human beings there. It remains hidden from the human realm.
The second ray of light reached the Great Brahmā, the deity king of the First Dhyāna Heaven in the Form Realm. Great Brahmā made offerings of immeasurable celestial treasures. Vishvakarman used these materials to forge a magnificent Buddha statue of the Sambhogakāya (enjoyment body), standing approximately 80 yojanas tall (1 yojana being roughly 40 km, though some sources suggest 26 km), and colored a subtle blue. The merit of this statue is said to be such that sincere supplication before it could result in rebirth in the Akanishta Heaven of Extensive Fruit within twelve days. This statue, revered as the “Subduer of Non-Buddhist Doctrines”, was enshrined in the southern ocean and served as a source of merit accumulation for celestial deities. It, too, remains unseen by ordinary beings.
The third ray of light reached Maitreya Bodhisattva and Indra (known in Chinese tradition as the Jade Emperor). Indra served as the sponsor, while Maitreya contributed divine materials such as emeralds, ruby lotuses, three types of alchemical gems, and five heavenly jewels. Additionally, 55 varieties of semi-divine and human gemstones, including coral, pearls, and lapis lazuli, were offered. From these, a Nirmāṇakāya (emanation body) statue of the Buddha was created. With guidance from the Buddha’s own foster mother and other close attendants, the image—an exact likeness of the Buddha at age twelve—was sculpted.
A Timeless Treasure: Origins of Jowo Shakyamuni
The statue’s color resembles polished gold. One hand is in the meditative dhyāna mudra, while the other touches the earth in the bhūmisparśa gesture. Its appearance is majestic, serene, and full of compassionate beauty. It is said that anyone who beholds this statue will be liberated from the torment of the three poisons (ignorance, attachment, and aversion), will generate deep faith, and will receive the blessings of seeing, hearing, remembering, and touching—all equivalent to encountering the living Buddha himself.
Inside both the age-eight and age-twelve life-sized statues are enshrined relics (śarīra) of Buddhas such as Vipassī, Viśvabhū, Krakucchanda, and Dīpaṅkara. Within the right chest of the statue is also placed the “Wish-Fulfilling Jewel of Accomplishment,” said to originate from the nāga kings or the brains of makaras, or perhaps to have manifested from relics of the Buddha himself. It is a gem that grants all wishes spontaneously.
Spiritual Energy and Belief: What Pilgrims Feel Before the Statue
At the time of their consecration, the Buddha personally empowered these statues, scattering flowers over them and proclaiming:
“These representational images of mine shall remain in the world for as long as I do. They will subdue heretical teachings and uphold the genuine Dharma. Wherever they are enshrined shall be the very center of the world. They will act in my place as the Teacher of Humans and Gods, spreading the path of Perfect Enlightenment across the land. These two sacred images embody the three bodies of the Buddha—Dharmakāya, Sambhogakāya, and Nirmāṇakāya. Wherever they are venerated, my Śrāvaka disciples and Bodhisattvas who have attained the ten bhūmis will gather around them like specks of dust in a beam of light. Thus, the Mahāyāna teachings will naturally flourish wherever they reside.”
A Timeless Treasure: Origins of Jowo Shakyamuni
Initially, both sacred images were housed by King Prasenajit of Śrāvastī (also known as King Śuddhodana, who was born on the same day, month, and year as the Buddha). Later, the 8-year-old life-sized statue was invited by the nāga king Muchilinda to his realm beneath the waters, where it benefited sentient beings for 2,000 years. Eventually, a senior monk from Nepal named Shyamendra Chödrub and Khenpo Gyalsenmu, using their clairvoyance, learned that the nāga king had fallen ill. After curing him, they received the Immovable Vajra Statue (the 8-year-old image) as a gift, though the original seat was left behind. They made an agreement that if the Dharma were to decline, the statue could be recalled and all sacred supports from the human realm would be gathered back to the nāga domain. Thus, the seated statue, along with its parasol and decorations, was brought to Nepal and served sentient beings for another 2,000 years.
In the year 634 CE, when King Songtsen Gampo—an emanation of the Great Compassionate Avalokiteśvara—married the Nepalese Princess Bhrikuti Devi, the princess (a manifestation of the sacred White Tārā) brought this statue to Tibet. Along with it came other precious images, such as the Dharmachakra Maitreya image consecrated by Dīpaṅkara Buddha, and a naturally arisen sandalwood image of Tārā.
The Sacred Face of the Buddha: Why Jowo Shakyamuni Matters
The 12-year-old life-sized statue was initially taken by Indra, along with its seat, backrest, crown, and canopy, to the Tushita Heaven, where it remained for 500 years. Then, it was invited by the Ḍākinīs to Uḍḍiyāna, where it benefited beings for another 500 years—leaving only the canopy behind in Tushita. Later, the realized masters of ancient India brought the statue (except for the crown, which remained) to the famed Nālandā Monastery, where it remained for 500 more years. Fearing destruction during warfare, the statue was eventually moved during the final 100 years to Ādaṇḍapura Monastery—meaning “Flying Monastery”—for protection and continued veneration.
Across Oceans to the Middle Kingdom: The Journey of the Shakyamuni Buddha Statue
According to the Royal Genealogy of Tibet (rGyal-rabs gsal-ba’i me-long), during the reign of the Indian Dharma King Dharmapala, the ruler of the Former Qin dynasty in China, Fu Jian, presented the Indian monarch with three priceless treasures. Among these offerings was a seamless robe of brocade. In return, Fu Jian respectfully requested a sublime statue of Shakyamuni Buddha to propagate the Dharma across the land of China. In a gesture of profound goodwill and to honor the time-honored ties between India and China, King Dharmapala resolved to present to China a national treasure: an extraordinary life-sized statue of Shakyamuni at the age of twelve.
However, a different version of events is preserved in the Historical Records of Han and Tibet (Deb ther sngon po), a Tibetan chronicle composed in 1434. Citing the Teachings of Songtsen Gampo, it recounts that during King Dharmapala’s reign, invading non-Buddhist forces razed the revered Nalanda Monastery, leaving the Dharma in grave jeopardy. In desperation, the Indian king appealed to the Chinese sovereign, referred to in Indian records as “Deva Rāja” (a title referring to Fu Jian), for military aid. As an expression of gratitude for the promised support, he gifted China a sacred, life-sized image of Shakyamuni Buddha at the age of twelve.
Though the accounts differ in detail, ancient Tibetan historians unanimously affirm the sanctity and historical significance of the image—crafted during the Buddha’s own lifetime and offered to China as an incomparable treasure during the era of the Southern and Northern Dynasties.
The Sacred Bond between the Jowo Statue and Tibet
Centuries later, during the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Tang dynasty (r. 626–649), the sovereigns of neighboring realms dispatched envoys to the Tang court to seek matrimonial alliances. With far-reaching vision, Emperor Taizong set aside political concerns and chose to betroth Princess Wencheng—renowned for her wisdom and grace, regarded as an emanation of the venerable Green Tara—to the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo, who at the time was less prominent than other regional powers.
Before her departure to the Land of Snows, Emperor Taizong entrusted Princess Wencheng with one of China’s most cherished religious treasures: the life-sized statue of Shakyamuni Buddha at age twelve, formerly enshrined at the White Horse Temple in Luoyang, along with sacred scriptures. This statue was to serve as the principal object of worship for the princess’s spiritual cultivation and as a source of boundless benefit to the sentient beings of Tibet.
As recorded in the Royal Genealogy of Tibet, Emperor Taizong declared to his beloved daughter:
“This sacred image—your refuge and support in accumulating merit—depicts our original teacher, the Buddha, and was offered by the deity Śakra. It is fashioned from ten precious substances and crafted by the divine artisan Vishvakarman. The Buddha himself bestowed the consecration. Such an unparalleled image of the Tathāgata—seeing it, hearing it, touching it, and reverently supplicating it—enables beings to swiftly attain perfect enlightenment. This image of Jowo, the wellspring of benefit and bliss, I now bestow upon you, my treasured daughter. Parting with it is like parting with my own heart.”
This passage illustrates not only Emperor Taizong’s profound devotion but also his keen desire to foster enduring ties between Tang China and the Tibetan kingdom by bestowing the empire’s most sacred object upon Tibet.
Princesses, Prophecies, and the Sanctification of the Land
Prior to his marriage to Princess Wencheng, King Songtsen Gampo had wed Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal. She brought with her a sacred image of Shakyamuni Buddha at age eight. In the 7th century, Princess Bhrikuti oversaw the construction of the Jokhang Temple, while Princess Wencheng performed divinations to ensure the temple would bring lasting merit and peace.
According to geomantic calculations, Princess Wencheng discerned that the land of Tibet resembled a supine demoness. To subdue her and ensure harmony, she proposed the construction of twelve temples at specific anatomical locations of the demoness—her limbs, joints, hands, and feet—to pin down her harmful influence.
Following these instructions, Princess Bhrikuti ordered the infill of Lake Wotang using soil carried by goats, thereby preparing the ground upon which Jokhang Temple would rise. The sacred statue was then enshrined there, sealing the demoness’s heart. To reinforce this spiritual act, twelve “Demon-Subjugating Temples” were constructed throughout Tibet, including Changzhug, Zhangzhang, Gacai, Zhongba Jiang, Gongbu Buqu, Luozha Kongting, Jiangzheng Gejie, Bazha Dongzi, Kanglong Zhaomu, Bazhuo Jiequ, Wisdom Tara Temple, and Nonglun Temple. With this sacred network of temples, Tibet began to radiate with signs of spiritual accomplishment and auspiciousness.
The Mysterious Transposition of the Sacred Statues
Initially, the statue of the eight-year-old Buddha was enshrined in the Jokhang Temple, while Princess Wencheng established the Ramoche Temple to house the twelve-year-old statue. However, shortly after the completion of both temples, a mysterious exchange occurred: the two sacred images reportedly switched locations.
Popular belief held that Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang dynasty intended to send an army to retrieve the twelve-year-old statue from Lhasa. Alarmed by these rumors, the Tibetan king and his ministers took swift action: the statue was secretly relocated to the south mirror gate of Jokhang Temple, sealed with clay, and adorned with a painting of Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī to obscure its presence. Meanwhile, the eight-year-old image was moved to the main hall of Ramoche Temple.
According to An Abridged Account of the History of the Jokhang Temple, penned by Chabpel Tseten Phuntsok and referencing the History of Buddhism by Bu-ston, this exchange followed the final wishes of Princess Wencheng:
“On her deathbed, the princess instructed that the Buddha image be transferred from Ramoche to be concealed beneath the eaves of Jokhang Temple, its entrance to be coated with whitewash and painted with an image of Sarasvatī. After giving these instructions, she passed away. The ministers, honoring her final will, exchanged the two statues.”
Sacred Fulfillment of a Prophecy
Thus, through a confluence of sacred aspirations, royal devotion, and divine insight, both images of the Blessed One came to reside in the Land of Snow. As foretold by the Buddha himself, wherever these sacred images resided, the Dharma would flourish: as the image departed India, the Dharma there began to decline; when it arrived in China, Chinese Buddhism flourished; when it was brought to Tibet, the Dharma waned in the Chinese heartland, but flourished gloriously in Tibet.
For over a millennium since, this sublime statue has borne witness to and participated in the rise and resilience of Tibetan Buddhism, becoming an inseparable embodiment of its faith and fortune.
May all who see, hear, or contemplate this history be inspired to awaken bodhicitta and uphold the Dharma for the benefit of all sentient beings.
The 25-Year-Old Likeness of Śākyamuni Buddha
Enshrined within the Mahābodhi Temple beneath the Bodhi Tree at Bodh Gaya—the sacred site of Buddha’s enlightenment—stands the supremely revered 25-year-old life-sized statue of Śākyamuni Buddha. This statue, praised for its perfect proportions, is widely regarded as the most faithful representation of the Buddha’s physical form. Alongside the 12- and 8-year-old life-sized images of the Jowo Śākyamuni housed in Lhasa’s Jokhang and Ramoche Temples respectively, it is venerated as one of the three legendary sacred images that have shaped the spiritual consciousness of Buddhist followers across centuries.
According to Master Xuanzang’s Great Tang Records on the Western Regions (Da Tang Xiyu Ji), this statue was crafted by none other than Maitreya Bodhisattva, who manifested in the human realm to create this sublime image. During the 14th century, amid the turmoil of Islamic invasions in India, devoted monks buried the statue beneath mounds of earth, disguising the Mahābodhi Temple as a simple hillock in order to protect it from desecration. Thanks to their foresight, the sacred image was preserved. It remained hidden for centuries until its rediscovery in the 19th century, when the statue was unearthed. Damaged portions were subsequently restored using pure gold, ensuring the image’s continued radiance and sanctity.
Preservation and Protection Through the Ages
This Buddha image is universally acknowledged as the most accurate depiction of the Blessed One’s true form.
These three sacred images—enshrined in India and Tibet—are not merely historical or artistic treasures; they are fields of merit (puṇyakṣetra) through which sentient beings can accumulate vast stores of spiritual merit. By beholding, prostrating to, making offerings before, and circumambulating these icons, practitioners create the necessary causes and conditions for awakening.
However, the continued presence of such holy objects in the world is not guaranteed. Their survival depends entirely on the collective karmic merit and spiritual devotion of sentient beings. If humanity’s virtue diminishes, even the most sacred of treasures may vanish from this world.
Therefore, let all beings diligently cultivate merit, that the Dharma may flourish unceasingly, and that such peerless supports for faith and practice may remain in the world to guide beings on the path to enlightenment.