Key Information

Photographer

Frederick Spencer Chapman

Collection

Hugh E. Richardson

Date of Photo

February 14th 1937

Region

Lhasa > Kundeling

Accession number

BMR.86.1.7.1

Four Gelugpa monks blowing ceremonial horns on the roof of Kundeling monastery. Two blow extendable trumpets, or radung, the ends of which are supported on ornate gilt trumpet stands decorated with eight auspicious Buddhist emblems and floral motifs. The monks wear yellow hats, maroon robes, brocade holy water bottles and felt and leather boots. Cylindrical Banners, which are auspicious emblems used as roof decoration, are decorated with pearls of wisdom and a trident on the top. The banner in the foreground is especially elaborate

Further Information

Activity

Ritual Activity

Photographic Process

Print gelatin silver

Expedition

British Diplomatic Mission to Lhasa 1936-37

Photo also owned by

Donated to the British Museum in 1986 by Hugh E. Richardson

Previous Catologue Number

E.5 [view film roll]

Related Collections

F. S. Chapman Collection in the Pitt Rivers Museum

This Image also appears in another collection

1998.131.374.1

Other Information

Notes on print/mount - 'At Kundeling Monastery' has been written beneath the image in the album in pencil, apparently not by Hugh Richardson [MS 10/06/2006]

Manual Catalogues -

Manual Catalogues - Caption in Chapman's hand-written list of negatives made whilst on the Mission to Lhasa, 1936-7 [See PRM Manuscripts Collection]: 'Full pl. Between 1 & 2 Ditto [Trumpets at Gundeling]'; PRM Manuscripts Collection: ‘List of Tibetan Prints and Negatives’ - Book 2: ‘16/2 - On the roof of Gundeling Monastery ceremonial trumpets’ [MS 22/03/2006]

Other Information - Album: This image appears by itself on page 7 of Hugh Richardson's album 'Lhasa 1936' [MS 10/06/2006]

Other Information - Related Images

Other Information - Related Images: Images prefixed with 'E' comprise a group of negatives containing images of Kundeling, Drepung, Gyantse, Karo La and Ralung bridge. They seem to have been taken in the last days if the Mission and after departure [MS 22/03/2006]

Other Information - Cultural Background

Other Information - Cultural Background: The radung is a very difficult instrument to play and requires perfection of a special circular breathing technique [MS 22/03/2006]

For Citation use:
The Tibet Album. "Monks blowing radung , Kundeling" 05 Dec. 2006. The British Museum. <http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_BMR.86.1.7.1.html>.

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