Reliquary monuments at Ushangdo
2001.59.2.5.1 (Film negative)
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Key Information
Photographer
Hugh E. Richardson
Collection
Hugh Richardson
Date of Photo
1948-50
Region
Lhasa Area > Ushangdo
Accession number
2001.59.2.5.1
Image Dimensions
55 X 56 mm
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
This Image also appears in another collection
2001.59.2.16.2
Manual Catalogues -
Manual Catalogues - Notes on front of negative album in Richardson's hand in white: '2' 'Ramagang, 'Ushang, Tshurphu rgyal, Misc pillars'. On the reverse of negative album written in blue ink on white labels in Richardson's hand: 'Hu zhang, Pa blon chen, Pha bong ka, Nyenchen thang lho, Rva sgreng, Khro 'brug, etc. etc.' [KC 10/3/2006]
Manual Catalogues -
Manual Catalogues - Notes on negative index - 'Folio 18. Missing' [not missing] [KC 10/3/2006]
Manual Catalogues -
Manual Catalogues - Richardson's Hand List: 'Album no. 2 [nos.] 13,14. pillar in temple probably not old'. [KC 10/3/2006]
Manual Catalogues -
Manual Catalogues - [Hugh Richardson in conversation with Paddy Booz; see PRM Related Documents File] 'U Shang, pillar. (also 'U-Shang). This site is downriver from Lhasa, on the left bank of the Kyichu river.' [KC 4/3/2006]
Research publication - H. E. Richardson, High Peaks, Pure Earth' , London, Serindia Publications, 1998, plate 59. "'On-cang-do." [KC 09/11/2006]
Other Information - History: Ushangdo ('u shang rdo) is situated on the east bank of the lower Kyi chu and historically is one of the most important religious sites. The Tibetan king Tri Ralpachan (khri ral pa can, 815-838 ) build a nine storey temple at Ushangdo in the 9th century AD. At the time of Richardson's visit the area was in ruin and traces of the original structure and complex can be seen. [TS 2/1/1970]
Other Information - History: Richardson briefly describes this pillar in High Peaks, Pure Earth, 1998, London: Serindia, '... a somewhat similar design [to that of a crescent and disc topped by a small knob symbolising air and ether on a pillar at Bsam-yas], a crescent and star, surmounts an uninscribed pillar at Hu-shang - traditionally 'U-shang-rdo - near Lhasa, which probably dates from the ninth century.' (p.229) [KC 4/3/2006]
Other Information - Related Image: 2001.59.2.14.1 which is taken at slightly more of a distance [KC 4/3/2006]
Other Information - Dates
Other Information - Dates: Hugh Richardson's interest in photographing inscription pillars and historical sites seems to have been particularly accute during the period 1948-50, although he states in A Corpus of Early Tibetan Inscriptions [Hertford: Stephen Austin and Sons, 1985, p.72] that he visited this site two miles out of Lhasa on many occasions [MS 16/12/2005]
For Citation use:
The Tibet Album.
"Reliquary monuments at Ushangdo"
05 Dec. 2006. The Pitt Rivers Museum.
<http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_2001.59.2.5.1.html>.
For more information about photographic usage or to order prints, please visit the The Pitt Rivers Museum.
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