Key Information

Photographer

H. Staunton ?

Collection

Harry Staunton

Date of Photo

1940 - 1941 [March]

Region

Lhasa > Barkhor > Jokhang

Accession number

1999.23.2.14

Image Dimensions

67 x 113 mm

A procession of mounted senior aristocrats on horseback riding along the Barkhor and nearing the Jokhang in central Lhasa. This procession takes place during the Great Prayer festival, Monlam Chenmo during the first Tibetan month. Crowds of monks line the street and there are spectators in the windows and on the roofs of some of the houses. In the centre in the background an extremely tall wooden pole, possibly a prayer flag pole, may be seen.

Further Information

Activity

Riding

Photographic Process

Print gelatin silver

Date Acquired

Donated 1999

Donated by

Diana Hughes

Expedition

H. Staunton

Photo also owned by

Diana Hughes

This Image also appears in another collection

1999.23.2.13

Other Information

Notes on print/mount - The word "Velox" is printed in black on the back of the photograph. Also, the number 611 in red ink is stamped on the back. [KC 14/10/2005]

Research publication - A copy of this photograph is reproduced in Seeing Lhasa, ( Clare Harris and Tsering Shakya eds., 2003, Serindia publications, Chicago p. 33) with the following caption: "During New Year's ceremonies,the cavalry of the Yaso generals ride through the streets of Lhasa on horseback. They are members of the Trapchi regiment based on the outskirts of Lhasa. Staunton photographed them from the vantage point of a balcony above the crowds. [KC 17/10/2005]

Other Information - Dates

Other Information - Dates: Staunton was certainly in Lhasa for the Tibetan New Year in 1940 and possibly in 1941. This image is part of a group of 17 photographs taken over a two-day period (the 23rd and 24th of the first Tibetan month) which have the number 611 stamped in red on the back. [KC 31/10/2005]

Other Information - Setting

Other Information - Setting: According to T. the squat 3-storey house on the right is Pomdatsang (The old Tsarong house). The house opposite it is the Surkhang house and the house in the foreground, on the left, with people on the roof is Lhabrang Nyingba. The photograph was probably taken from the roof of Samdru Phodrang (also known as Phodangshar and Yabshi Sampho) the house of the 7th Dalai Lama's (Kelsang Gyatso) family. [KC 14/11/2005]

For Citation use:
The Tibet Album. "Procession of mounted senior aristocrats in the Barkhor" 05 Dec. 2006. The Pitt Rivers Museum. <http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_1999.23.2.14.html>.

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