IDNO

P.96730.WIL

Description

On Cech’s list describing prints:
“F. W. became Political Officer in Sikkim on January 4th, 1933.
(Photos 85-7 were taken at Wangdü Potrang MPOW: 74)
86. “Wangdü Potrang 4,500’ 1-2.7.33”
See gi: Wangdü Potrang
86b. “J [printed text]
For more information see Cech’s list.

Place

S Asia; Bhutan; Wangdi Phodrang [Wangdue Phodrang]

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Photographer

Williamson, Frederick

Collector / Expedition

Date

2 July 1933

Collection Name

Williamson Collection

Source

Williamson, Margaret

Format

Print Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

Place: This record was previsoly recorded as ‘ Asia; South Asia; Bhutan; Wangdü Potrang” which is from Williamsons spelling but the correct historic place name was Wangdue Phodrang. The place is now know as Wangdi Phodrang. The record has been ammended accordingly. [Dawa Dem 18/9/2008]

Place: The Dzong is sitting on top of the hill looking out over the junction of the two rivers, this dzong is town’s most visible features. It was built in 1638 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. At the chosen spot the Shabdrung encountered a boy named Wangdi playing beside the river and hence named the dzong "Wangdi's Palace". [Dawa Dem 17/9/2008]

Context; The Shabdrung relied on visions and omens to site each of the dzongs. Modern military strategists would observe that the dzongs are well-sited with regard to their function as defensive fortresses. Wangdue Phodrang ( williamson ; Wangdu Potrang) dzong, for instance, is set upon a spur overlooking the confluence of the Puna Chhu and Tang Chhu rivers thus blocking any attacks by southern invaders who attempted to use a river route to bypass the trackless slopes of the middle Himalayas in attacking central Bhutan, [Dawa Dem 17/9/2008]

Context; Seen in the picture above the main dzong is the Ta-dzong. a smaller dzong or watchtower is typically built directly uphill from the main dzong with the purpose of keeping the slope clear of attackers who might otherwise shoot downward into the courtyard of the main dzong below. [Dawa Dem 17/9/2008]

The transcription of this album by Mark Turin and Sara Shneiderman was carried out with reference to Krystina Cech’s catalogue list alone. Alex Nadin has since revised their cataloguing by systematically matching their records to the images. Margaret Williamson’s handwritten captions for photographs have now been transcribed into the Inscription field, and Cech’s descriptions appear in the Description field. Correct entries for Place, Named Person and Other Nos. have also been entered by Alex Nadin. [Sudeshna Guha 29/10/2002]