Tsurphu monastery

Tsurphu monastery

2001.59.13.4.1 (Film negative)

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Key Information

Photographer

Hugh E. Richardson

Collection

Hugh Richardson

Date of Photo

1946 or 1950

Region

Tolung Valley Region > Tsurphu

Accession number

2001.59.13.4.1

Image Dimensions

85 x 60 mm

The buildings of Tsurphu monastery in the narrow valley of a tributary of the Tolung river.

Further Information

Photographic Process

Negative film nitrate

Date Acquired

Donated August 2001

Donated by

The executors of the estate of Hugh E. Richardson

Expedition

Hugh E. Richardson

Manual Catalogues -

Manual Catalogues - Notes on negative album - 'NYEMO. SAMYE. YARLUNG. RGYAL.' is written on the cover of this blue negative album in white in Richardson's hand. [KC 24/3/2006]

Manual Catalogues -


Manual Catalogues - Notes on Blue negative album index - '[MTSHUR PHU]' [KC 24/3/2006]

Manual Catalogues -


Manual Catalogues - Richardson's handlist: 'Blue Album. [nos] 3-6. Mtshur-phu, Karma Bka 'rgyud monastery founded 1187 by Dus gsum mkhyen. (There are other photographs in another album)' [KC 24/3/2006]
Notes on negative album - 'NYEMO. SAMYE. YARLUNG. RGYAL.'

Other Information - Cultural Background


Other Information - Cultural Background: Hugh Richardson, "Memories of Tshurphu", in High Peaks, Pure Earth , 1998, London. Serindia, pp: 730-733.

Other Information - Location: Tsurphu lies about forty miles to the west of Lhasa on the Drowo lungchu river. " Mtshur-phu (1946-50) [is] the principal seat of the Karma Bka'-brgyud school and residence of the Zhwa-nag ("Black Hat") incarnation. [It was founded] in 1187 ... Its many buildings are closely grouped in a high enclosed wall overlooking the 'Gro-bo-lung-chu. The entrance on the west side is by way of a courtyard in which stands an inscribed pillar dating from the ninth century which has no obvious connection with the monastery." ( High Peaks, Pure Earth, H. E. Richardson, London, Serindia Publications, 1998,
p. 312). Also, Richardson describes the valley where the monastery is situated. "The monastery stood in the shelter of a scrub covered hill on the north side of a high, bare and narrow valley. In front flowed a small tributary stream of the Tolung river." ( ibid . 731)

Other Information - Tsurphu (mtshur phu) is situated in Tolung (stod lung). The monastery is the seat of the Karmapa, head of the Karma Kargyu (kar ma bka' rgyud) school of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery was founded by Karmapa Dusum Kyenpa (1100-1193). Richardson visited Tsurphu twice first in 1946 and a second time just before leaving Lhasa in 1950. [TS 16/2/2005]













For Citation use:
The Tibet Album. "Tsurphu monastery" 05 Dec. 2006. The Pitt Rivers Museum. <http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_2001.59.13.4.1.html>.

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

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