Key Information

Photographer

H. Staunton ?

Collection

Harry Staunton

Date of Photo

1940 - 1941

Region

Lhasa > Barkhor

Accession number

1999.23.1.21.1

Image Dimensions

115 x 87 mm

View of the Potala from the south west. The paved square in the centre of the image is the Sungchora Square which was one of the largest squares in Lhasa and was on the south side of the Jokhang Temple in front of the Kashag. The Prayer flag on the left is the Kesang Darchen which was positioned in front of the house of the 7th Dalai Lama's family, the Yabshi Sampho. In the centre of the image an insense burner (bsang khang) can be seen. The house seen immediately below the Potala is the Doring house. The awnings on the right are above stalls selling foodstuff.

Further Information

Photographic Process

Print gelatin silver

Date Acquired

Donated 1999

Donated by

Diana Hughes

Expedition

H. Staunton

Photo also owned by

Diana Hughes

Other Information

Notes on album mount - "Street Scenes Lhasa" written in pencil in Staunton's hand as a combined caption for 1999.23.1.21.1/2 in the album in which this appears [KC 17/10/2005]

Manual Catalogues -

Manual Catalogues - [Hugh Richardson in conversation with Roger Croston, detailed in H. Staunton undated Related Documents File, PRM Manuscript Collections] "The south side of the Jokhang, in front of the Kashag"[KC 17/10/2005]

Other Information - Related images: 1999.23.2.16 taken at a different time. The same view from a slightly different angle.[KC 17/10/2005]

Contemporary Publication -

Contemporary Publication - A similar image taken by Spencer Chapman is reproduced in Lhasa: The Holy City (between pp.176 - 177) with the following caption, "A Lhasa street. Notice prayer-pole on left, and, in centre, incense burner and paving in front of Kashag building. Potala in background, and Holy Mountain (18,500 ft.) in distance". There is also a description of the square in front of the Kashag on p.155, "To the south of the cathedral is the main square, which is used as a market place. To the north of this square - and therefore built right against the Cathedral - is the Kashag, the meeting-place of the Tibetan Cabinet,from which its name is taken. Here also is the Government Treasury and other official buildings. For some distance in front of the Kashag the ground is set with square cobbles,and there is a large insense-burner. It is here that the Dalai Lama, or Regent,preaches a sermon to the people on the occasion of the Tibetan New Year." [KC 17/10/2005]

Other Information - Related images: see 1999.23.2.16. This is almost exactly the same view taken at the time of the New Year

For Citation use:
The Tibet Album. "Sungchora Square in front of Kashag with Potala" 05 Dec. 2006. The Pitt Rivers Museum. <http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_1999.23.1.21.1.html>.

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Sungchora Square in front of Kashag with Potala