1998.131.415 (Print black & white)
1998.131.415 (Print black & white)
Frederick Spencer Chapman
Frederick Spencer Chapman
September 18th 1936
Lhasa > Dekyi Lingka
1998.131.415
100 x 149
Dancing
Print gelatin silver
Donated 1994
Faith Spencer Chapman
British Diplomatic Mission to Lhasa 1936-37
Frederick Spencer Chapman
CQ.13 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]
SC.T.2.415
'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]
Notes on print/mount - 'CQ 13' has been written in pencil in the top right hand corner on the back of the print [MS 24/03/2006]
Manual Catalogues - Caption in Chapman's hand-written list of negatives made whilst on the Mission to Lhasa, 1936-7 [See PRM Manuscripts Collection]: 'Semi-close, dancing girls' [MS 24/03/2006]
Other Information - Cultural Background: Although it was sometimes stated by members of the Mission that the long sleeves seen here are intended to be a mark of respect, in fact their main purpose is to add to the aesthetic effects of the dance. The top of the head dress is made of red felt and then corals would be attached to it. The hair hanging down over each head dress are is a wig [TS 14/2/2005]
Other Information - Related Images: Images prefixed with 'CQ' comprise a group of negatives containing images of beggars, Kundeling monastery, Potala, telephoto views of Potala, Tibetan dancers, Tibetan band, dancing girls, Tibetan telegraph master, female 'body cutters', old city magistrate, and an Austin car. They seem to have been taken between September 17th - 19th 1936, with this particular image being taken on September 18th [MS 24/03/2006]
Other Information - Description: The official Mission Diary for September 18th 1936 describes this event, and its comments on the women depicted here is revealing for some of the assumptions and misconceptions that Mission members would often make of the role and status of Tibetan women who attended these official functions either as dancers or 'Chang girls'. This extract was written by Hugh Richardson who went on to spend many years in Lhasa between 1936-50 and was to become a much more sensitive observer and leading British authority on Tibetan culture over the course of his time there: "The Tibetan Government entertained us to lunch in our garden at the Dekyi Lingka. They have been waiting for Mr Gould to recover and fortunately he was quite well enough to attend today. // Until the Cabinet have given the official Government Lunch no one, not even the Regent, can invite the Political Officer to a party. // As usual the Kashag's time and ours did not agree on their first visit they were an hour early; on the second an hour late, this time they arrived half an hour before they were expected. We were entertained before and during the meal by an orchestra of stringed instruments and a flute, and by dancing girls. ... // The musicians went at it with great persistence and their efforts seemed to improve as the party progressed. To their music danced three 'girls'. one about 50, the other two quite young. The dancing consisted simply of stamping on a plank in time to the music, varied by an occasional gesture with the hands and arms (which were hidden, out of respect, by long sleeves), and by occasional bursts of shrill singing. Not really very exciting for us and, to judge by the solemn expression of the girls, not very exhilarating for them. The dancers were of so low an order of society that they could not dare to look openly at the Political Officer not at the Great Powers of the Earth, as the Shapes are called" ['Lhasa Mission, 1936: Diary of Events', Part VI p.3, written by Richardson] [MS 24/03/2006]
For Citation use:
The Tibet Album.
"Young women dance at government lunch"
05 Dec. 2006. The Pitt Rivers Museum.
<http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_1998.131.415.html>.
For more information about photographic usage or to order prints, please visit the The Pitt Rivers Museum.
© The Pitt Rivers Museum
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