Key Information

Photographer

Arthur Hopkinson

Collection

A. J. Hopkinson

Date of Photo

July 9th 1927

Region

Gyantse Region > Tengoling

Accession number

BMH.D.68.1

Image Dimensions

85 x 113

A dancer 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.

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-68' has been written on the right hand edge of the negative in black ink [MS 27/07/2006]

Notes on print/mount - One contact print made from this negative is contained in A. J. Hopkinson's negative case with the negative. The captions "Tengjoling" and "Grave and gay are mixed up, as in the old Mystery Plays. Here we have a comic " Masker " "Masquer" - a prelude to a very sacred ceremony" has been written on the back of the print in pencil. Other inscriptions include 'D.68', 'A. J. Hopkinson', ' H.6 ' and '298 U' have also been written on the back in pencil. A small piece of perforated paper with red print had been stuck to the back of the print in the top right corner but has been torn off [MS 27/07/2006]

Manual Catalogues -

Manual Catalogues - [Caption in A. J. Hopkinson's negative album 'Tibet D']: 'Devil dance - dancers mumming' [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.68.1.html>.

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