Key Information

Photographer

Hugh E. Richardson

Collection

Hugh Richardson

Date of Photo

1946-50

Region

Lhasa > Sho

Accession number

2001.59.17.24.1

Image Dimensions

55 x 55 mm

Middle section of the Sho inscription pillar, Lhasa with extensive damage on the left.

Further Information

Photographic Process

Negative film nitrate

Date Acquired

Donated August 2001

Donated by

The executors of the estate of Hugh E. Richardson

Expedition

Hugh E. Richardson

Manual Catalogues -

Manual Catalogues - Notes on negative album (outer case) - 'INSCRIPTIONS ON RDO RINGS' (in black ink on white label) and 'Inscriptions & misc.' (in black ink on yellow label) is written in Richardson's hand on the cover of the negative album. [KC 21/9/2006]

Manual Catalogues -

Manual Catalogues - Notes on negative index - 'do. [13. 44] 28 - 42'

Other Information - Location and History; Richardson discusses this pillar and provides traslation of the inscriptions on it in A Corpus of Early Tibetan Inscriptions , Hertford: Royal Asiatic Society (James G. Forlong Series No. XXIX), 1985, pp. 1-25. "The three connected inscriptions on the east, south, and north faces of the tall and graceful stone pillar standing on the south side of the road that runs past the village of Zhol at the foot of the Potala are the earliest surviving from the time of the kings. pillar stands on the south side of the road that runs past the village of Zhol at the foot of the Potala in Lhasa." (p.1) The Zhol Pillar is thought to have been erected during the reign of Khri srong lde brtsan (755-c.794 A.D) to mark the appointment of relatively unknown person, Nganlam Tagdrag Lukhong (Ngan-Lam Stag sgra klu-khong), as a minister. [KC 21/9/2006]

Hugh Richardson argues that the pillar was erected in 764 A.D or little later. The piller is inscribed on all four sides. For a full transcrition and translation, see: H. E. Ricardson, A Corpus of Early Tibetan Inscriptions" Hugh Richardson, A Corpus of Early Tibetan Inscriptions". Royal Asiatic Society, London. 1985. pp:1-25. [TS 4/4/2005]

For Citation use:
The Tibet Album. "Middle section of the Sho inscription pillar, Lhasa" 05 Dec. 2006. The Pitt Rivers Museum. <http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_2001.59.17.24.1.html>.

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