Temple and doring at Nechung monastery

Temple and doring at Nechung monastery

BMR.6.8.25 (Transparency colour)

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Key Information

Photographer

Hugh E. Richardson

Collection

Hugh Richardson

Date of Photo

1936-50

Region

Lhasa Area > Nechung

Accession number

BMR.6.8.25

Image Dimensions

60 x 90 mm

The main temple of Nechung monastery. In the foreground there is a small uninscribed pillar or doring (rdo ring) with insense burners (bsangs khang) either side of it. Two stone lions are behind it on the steps of the entrance to the temple.

Further Information

Photographic Process

Transparency Colour

Expedition

Hugh E. Richardson

Other Information

Technical Information - The camera used to take this collection of colour slides (Dufay colour) were a Zeiss Super Ikonta and a Reflex Korelle. [KC 09/10/2006]

Manual Catalogues -


Manual Catalogues - Typewritten handlist entitled 'Hugh Richardson Collection, The British Museum. Photographs taken between 1936-50. Cameras: Zeiss Super Ikonta, Reflex Korelle. 300 colour slides (Dufay colour); copies made Jan. 1995.
[no.] 25. Nechung Monastery, below Drepung Monastery, west of Lhasa. This is the main courtyard. The pillar, flanked by incense burners, has no inscription. A pair of lions behind protects the entrance.' [KC 09/10/2006]

Other Information - Setting


Other Information - Setting: Richardson describes Nechung monastery in High Peaks, Pure Earth , London, Serindia Publications, 1998, p. 304-5. " Gnas-chung (1936, 1944, 1946 and later), the temple and monastery of the State Oracle, is in a grove of fine old trees some way below 'Bras-spungs to the south-east. It stands in a spacious courtyard. Its decorations and contents were appropriately macabre, the heavy red door being covered in representations of human skin. Inside, the wall paintings were dark and sinister and the pillars were hung with weapons. In a recess at the back of the main hall stood the throne of the oracle on which rested his heavy robes and his massive, feather-crowned, silver helmet, together with his sacred breastplate, bow and sword. In a small room to its left were the remains of a sacred tree where the spirit which possesses him came to perch in the form of a dove." [KC 14/10/2006]

For Citation use:
The Tibet Album. "Temple and doring at Nechung monastery" 05 Dec. 2006. The British Museum. <http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_BMR.6.8.25.html>.

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