Key Information

Photographer

Arthur Hopkinson

Collection

A. J. Hopkinson

Date of Photo

July 9th 1927

Region

Gyantse Region > Tengoling

Accession number

BMH.D.60.1

Image Dimensions

85 x 111

Monk dancers in a ceremony at Tengoling Monastery near Gyantse on the 10th day of the 5th Tibetan month in 1927. The courtyard is surrounded by onlookers who watch events from every vantage point. A. J. Hopkinson left his given location in the first floor balcony above the main entrance of the courtyard to take this photograph and went right down into the courtyard itself among the dancers. This kind of activity was in marked contrast to British officials who were of higher status, such as Sir Charles Bell, who were usually not permitted such freedom of movement

Further Information

Activity

Performing

Photographic Process

Negative film nitrate

Expedition

A. J. Hopkinson's Tour of Duty as British Trade Agent, Gyantse, 1927-28

Other Information

In Negative - 'D-60' has been written on the left edge of the negative in blue-black ink [MS 17/07/2006]

Notes on print/mount - Three contact prints made from this negative are contained in A. J. Hopkinson's negative case with the negative. One bears the caption "Monk dancers at Tengyoling", the name 'A. J. Hopkinson' and references 'D.60', 'H6' and '298U' on the back in pencil. Another print is annotated with the caption "Tengyoling Dancers" and the references 'D.60' and 'H6'. The third print has these references in pencil and the caption "Monks dancing" [MS 17/07/2006]

Manual Catalogues -

Manual Catalogues - [Caption in A. J. Hopkinson's negative album 'Tibet D']: 'The dance' [MS 28/04/2006]

Other Information - Dates

Other Information - Dates: For dating of image, see A. J. Hopkinson Archive, OIOC British Library, Mss Eur D998/54, Journal Letters from Gyantse and Various Camps, 1927-28, commencing July 5th 1927, Gyantse, page 3 ff [MS 17/07/2006]

For Citation use:
The Tibet Album. "Ceremony at Tengoling Monastery" 05 Dec. 2006. The British Museum. <http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_BMH.D.60.1.html>.

For more information about photographic usage or to order prints, please visit the The British Museum.