1998.131.498.2 (Print black & white)
1998.131.498.2 (Print black & white)
Frederick Spencer Chapman
Frederick Spencer Chapman
October 1st 1936
Lhasa > Dekyi Lingka
1998.131.498.2
158 x 115
Print gelatin silver
Donated 1994
Mrs Faith Spencer Chapman
British Diplomatic Mission to Lhasa 1936-37
Frederick Spencer Chapman
C.6.5 In publication
'Lhasa Mission 1936, Diary of Events', P. Neame, H. Richardson, F. S. Chapman, Government of India Political Department [Note: photographs for October 18th - November 4th 1936 are not included as their relationship to text is not detailed; see Mission Diary text for details of images] [see photos in publication]
SC.T.2.498
Notes on print/mount - The back of the print is covered with crop and reproduction marks. The caption 'Ringang - an old Rugbeian' has been written on the back of the print in pencil, as has the reference number 'C/6/5'. A piece of thin paper has been stuck across the top back edge of the print and folded over the front as a means of transferring cropping instructions etc. A small box has been drawn around the figure of Ringang, indicating that his image was to be cropped from this photograph and enlarged. The caption seen on the back has also been written on the front [MS 30/03/2006]
Manual Catalogues - Caption in Chapman's hand-written list of negatives made whilst on the Mission to Lhasa, 1936-7 [See PRM Manuscripts Collection]: 'Ringang full size'; PRM Manuscripts Collection: ‘List of Tibetan Prints and Negatives’ - Book 2: ‘31/2 - Ringang, interpreter to the cabinet, and old Rugbeian, he was trained as an engineer and installed electric light in Lhasa’ [MS 30/03/2006]
Research publication - Clare Harris and Tsering Shakya (eds.), 'Seeing Lhasa: British Depictions of the Tibetan Capital 1936-1947', Chicago: Serindia Publications, 2003, p. 91.
Biographical Information - Ringang Was One Of The Four Boys Sent To England To Be Educated At Rugby In 1913 (this Was Arranged By Sir Charles Bell And The 13th Dalai Lama). On His Return From England He Was Responsible For Installing Electricity In Lhasa. [[Marina de Alarcón ZF 1995 4]]
Biographical Information - Chang Ngopa Rinzin Dorje (known as Ringang). Ringang was translator to the Lhasa cabinet and the magistrate of Purang, a district in southern Tibet. As a 6th rank (in 1936) official he could normally only wear silk in his own home and was not entitled to wear the amulet box which higher officials wore on their heads. In 1913 he was one of the Tibetan boys sent (by Charles Bell and the 13th Dalai Lama) to be educated at Rugby school in England. On his return he was responsible for installing electricity in Lhasa. At the time of the 14th Dalai Lama’s installation in 1940 Ringang was a civil officer in charge of organising and commanding the 600 strong cavalry that attended the event. Basil Gould noted: “ As District Magistrate of a distant part of Tibet (where his wife sometimes discharged his duties), engineer of the mint and of the hydro-electric installation and interpreter to the Cabinet, he had his hands full.” (1957: [CH 2003]
Other Information - Related Images: Images prefixed with 'C.6' comprise a group of negatives containing images of Trimon and 4th/5th rank officials, Amir Khan and staff, Ringang, lunch party, Yellow Hat Monks, Potala views, Norbhu Lingka stables. They all seem to have been taken between October 1st - 3rd 1936 [MS 30/03/2006]
Other Information - Setting: This photograph seems to have been taken on October 1st 1936 when the Mission hosted a lunch party for 4th rank officials and below. Richardson wrote in the Mission Diary of this occasion: "We gave a lunch party for 18 guests who were mainly fourth rank officials. Some of the more important officials could not come as they were too busy in arranging for the Regent's departure. The party, though not quite so convivial as that which we gave to the higher officials, was very successful and broke up at about 5 pm. // The Public Address outfit is a great help in supplementing the Tibetan orchestra" [MS 23/03/2006]
Other Information - Cultural Background: As A 6th Rank Official He Could Only Wear Silk In His Own Home And Was Not Entitled To Wear The Amulet Box Which Higher Officials Wore On Their Heads.
For Citation use:
The Tibet Album.
"Ringang"
05 Dec. 2006. The Pitt Rivers Museum.
<http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_1998.131.498.2.html>.
For more information about photographic usage or to order prints, please visit the The Pitt Rivers Museum.
© The Pitt Rivers Museum
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