What is Kora in Tibet

Kora is a type of pilgrimage or a type of meditation in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Generally, kora is performed by making a walking circumambulation around a temple, stupa, or other sacred site. There are some traditional koras in Tibet, like walking clockwise around Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Kora, circumambulating Namtso Lake and Mount Kailash and so on. Walking kora is not limited in these places in Tibet. There are numerous sacred sites in Tibet.

Kora is mainly performed while spinning prayer wheels, chanting mantra, counting mala, or repeatedly prostrating oneself. In this way kora functions as a mind-calming meditative exercise. In accordance with Buddhist tradition and belief, kora is always performed in a clock-wise direction, and is often performed 108 times.

Recently, there is a movie called "Kora" releasing in Lhasa. "Kora" is about a Taiwanese college student named Zhang Shuhao who travelling to Lhasa from Lijiang alone by bike. Although Zhang encountered many difficulties and dangers which made him once decide to give up, he persevered and eventually succeeded. He presented his persistence, bravery and vigor by acting a true story about travelling from Taiwan to Lhasa by bike.