Guru Lhakhang monastery

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2001.59.4.88.2 (Print)

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Key Information

Photographer

Hugh E. Richardson

Collection

Hugh Richardson

Date of Photo

1950

Region

Lhodrag Region > Guru Lhakhang

Accession number

2001.59.4.88.2

Image Dimensions

56 X 45 mm

The monastery of Guru Lhakhang with its square tower clearly visible in the centre. The buildings are surrounded by trees and fields. Some buildings, possibly hermitages, may be seen on the hillside above the monastery.

Further Information

Photographic Process

Print silver

Date Acquired

Donated August 2001

Donated by

The executors of the estate of Hugh E. Richardson

Expedition

Richardson's 1950 Lhodrag tour

Other Information

Notes on print - 'Guru Lhakhang' is written in pencil and '614' and 'Velox' in an oval is stamped in black.

Manual Catalogues -


Manual Catalogues - Notes in negative album '4' - Folio 88. 'do.' [Guru Lha khang].

Manual Catalogues -


Manual Catalogues - Richardson Handlist- Album 4. 'Journey starting at Gong-dkar rdzong on Gtsang-po, 29. 18. N 90. 48 E', '[nos.] 87-89. do.' [Gu-ru Lha-khang (La-yag Gu-ru Lha-khang) founded by Gu-ru Chos dbang 1212-1273. 28.26.N. 90.37. E.']

Other Information - Background: Richardson describes the site in High Peaks, Pure Earth , London, Serindia Publications, 1998, p. 324, "Not far to the west [of Lhalung] is the distinctive little square tower of Gu-ru Lha-khang (1950), properly know as Bsam-grub Bde-chen. Originally founded by Padmasambhava as instructed by Khri Sronglde-brtsan, it was taken over and rebuilt by Guru Chos-dbang in the thirteenth century. It was recently almost completely rebuilt. ...".

Other Information - History: Guru Lhakhang is known as Layag Guru Lhakhang (la yag gu ru lha khang) or more formally as Samdrup Dechen (bsam grub bde chen). The monastery was founded by Guru Chowang in 13th century. The plain for the temple is said to be based on Nalanda monastery in India. The monastery was renovated in 1949, a year before Richardson's visit. (TS)

Research publication - Hugh Richardson, High Peaks, Pure Earth. Collected Writings on Tibetan History and Culture , 1998, Serindia. London. Plate 79. "Gu-ru Lha-khang (Bsam-grub Bde-chen)." [KC 10/11/2006]

Other Information - Dates


Other Information - Dates: The date is derived from Richardson’s negative album No.4, the cover of which is marked with ‘Lhobrag 1950’. These images seem mainly to have been developed as part of a batch arising from a trip to Mug, Lhobrag etc in 1950, as well as images taken on other trips during this year (eg: Talung/Reting). The batch development numbers 608-615 on the back of the contact prints run sequentially and the images seem all to have been developed at the same time, and must therefore have been taken in or around this date. In addition, 2001.59.4.83.2, one of this batch, has also been identified on the back as having been taken in 1950 [MS 22/12/2005]

For Citation use:
The Tibet Album. "Guru Lhakhang monastery " 05 Dec. 2006. The Pitt Rivers Museum. <http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_2001.59.4.88.2.html>.

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