The eastern temple of the protectors of the three families (nub rigs gsum mgon po'i lha khang) is one of eight protector temples that were once located around Lhasa in each of the four cardinal and four intermediate directions. The three heads of these families (rigs) are Mañjuśrī, Avalokiteśvara, and Vajrapāṇi. Though it no longer exists, the eastern temple of the protectors of the three families was actually located to the northeast of the Jokhang temple, near the Islamic mosque (i si lam phyag 'tshal khang), which is also known as the "Chinese temple" (rgya lha khang).