Guests at lunch party, Dekyi Lingka

Guests at lunch party, Dekyi Lingka

1998.131.411 (Print black & white)

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Key Information

Photographer

Frederick Spencer Chapman

Collection

Frederick Spencer Chapman

Date of Photo

October 1st 1936

Named Person

Rampa , Gyaltsen, Dapma Kusho

Region

Lhasa > Dekyi Lingka

Accession number

1998.131.411

Image Dimensions

121 x 175

Rampa on the left, and the monk official, Dapma Kusho Tsedon, who advised the Mission at lunch in a tent in the Dekyi Lingka. Between them is one of the senior clerks to the mission, wearing Sikkimese dress. Ramba's hair ornament would usually be made of gold and precious stones. Western-style cutlery has been laid on the table for the guests

Further Information

Photographic Process

Print gelatin silver

Date Acquired

Donated 1994

Donated by

Faith Spencer Chapman

Expedition

British Diplomatic Mission to Lhasa 1936-37

Photo also owned by

Frederick Spencer Chapman

Previous Catologue Number

CV.32 In publication
'Lhasa Mission 1936, Diary of Events', P. Neame, H. Richardson, F. S. Chapman, Government of India Political Department [Note: photographs for October 18th - November 4th 1936 are not included as their relationship to text is not detailed; see Mission Diary text for details of images] [see photos in publication]

Previous Pitt Rivers Museum Number

SC.T.2.411

Published

'Lhasa Mission 1936, Diary of Events', P. Neame, H. Richardson, F. S. Chapman, Government of India Political Department [Note: photographs for October 18th - November 4th 1936 are not included as their relationship to text is not detailed; see Mission Diary text for details of images] [view list of illustrations]

Other Information

Notes on print/mount - The reference 'C-V-32' has been written on the back of the print in pencil. There seems to have been some confusion with a print reference 'CU.32' as the following has also been written: "Ordered Will replace with CU.32 Sent instead of CV 33 C U 32" [MS 23/03/2006]

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]: 'Lay guide Gyaltsen and monk guide at lunch' [MS 23/03/2006]

Biographical Information - Chapman states in his book Lhasa the Holy City [London: Chatto & Windus, 1938; reprint, London: Readers Union Ltd., 1940, p.85 and p.89] that Ramba was jointly in charge of the hamlet of Sho at the foot of the Potala, a responsibility that he shared with Mondo, who had previously attended Rugby school in the UK. Chapman attempted to describe the manner in which official classifications were structured. He wrote: "One hundred and seventy-five lay officials are usually appointed, and a similar number of ecclesiastics. Very often certain positions are duplicated, a monk and a lay official being jointly in charge. For instance, the small hamlet at the foot of the Potala is in charge of Mondo (the monk Rugbeian) and Ramba (the acting lay guide to the Mission). The dzongpons similarly work in pairs, so also do the Commanders-in-chief of the army" [1940, p.89]

Other Information - Related Images


Other Information - Related Images: Images prefixed with 'CV' comprise a group of negatives containing images of chang girls, dancing girls and band, ‘King’ of Lhadu’s monk, medical work at mission hospital, Gould and Lonchen Shatra, wall painting in Duke’s [Kung] house, Potala from Chakpori, telephoto views of Potala and Kundeling, Gyaltsen, staff of mission. They seem all to have been taken between September 28th and October 1st 1936 [MS 23/03/2006]

Other Information - Setting


Other Information - Setting: This photograph seems to have been taken on October 1st 1936 when the Mission hosted a lunch party for 4th rank officials. Richardson wrote in the Mission Diary of this occasion: "We gave a lunch party for 18 guests who were mainly fourth rank officials. Some of the more important officials could not come as they were too busy in arranging for the Regent's departure. The party, though not quite so convivial as that which we gave to the higher officials, was very successful and broke up at about 5 p.m. // The Public Address outfit is a great help in supplementing the Tibetan orchestra" [MS 23/03/2006]

For Citation use:
The Tibet Album. "Guests at lunch party, Dekyi Lingka" 05 Dec. 2006. The Pitt Rivers Museum. <http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_1998.131.411.html>.

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