Key Information

Photographer

Hugh E. Richardson

Collection

Hugh Richardson

Date of Photo

1936-50

Region

Lhasa Area > Nechung

Accession number

BMR.6.8.29

Image Dimensions

60 x 90 mm

Nechung monastery buildings in a grove of trees. There is a dry stone wall in the foreground with outside which there is a cultivated field. Rocky mountains in the background.

Further Information

Photographic Process

Transparency Colour

Expedition

Hugh E. Richardson

Other Information

Technical Information - The camera used to take this collection of colour slides (Dufay colour) were a Zeiss Super Ikonta and a Reflex Korelle. [KC 09/10/2006]

Manual Catalogues -

Manual Catalogues - Typewritten handlist entitled 'Hugh Richardson Collection, The British Museum. Photographs taken between 1936-50. Cameras: Zeiss Super Ikonta, Reflex Korelle. 300 colour slides (Dufay colour); copies made Jan. 1995.
[no.] 29. Nechung Monastery.' [KC 09/10/2006]

Other Information - Setting

Other Information - Setting: Richardson describes Nechung monastery in High Peaks, Pure Earth , London, Serindia Publications, 1998, p. 304-5. " Gnas-chung (1936, 1944, 1946 and later), the temple and monastery of the State Oracle, is in a grove of fine old trees some way below 'Bras-spungs to the south-east. It stands in a spacious courtyard. Its decorations and contents were appropriately macabre, the heavy red door being covered in representations of human skin. Inside, the wall paintings were dark and sinister and the pillars were hung with weapons. In a recess at the back of the main hall stood the throne of the oracle on which rested his heavy robes and his massive, feather-crowned, silver helmet, together with his sacred breastplate, bow and sword. In a small room to its left were the remains of a sacred tree where the spirit which possesses him came to perch in the form of a dove." [KC 14/10/2006]

For Citation use:
The Tibet Album. "Nechung monastery" 05 Dec. 2006. The British Museum. <http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_BMR.6.8.29.html>.

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