IDNO

P.96963.WIL

Description

Closer view of the Dalai Lama's palace, Chensek Potrang, in Chense Lingka (meaning ‘favourite garden’) in the Norbu Lingka. Gold emblems can be seen on the roof and the well-established gardens in which the palace is situated can all be seen.
In the foreground are the three Tibetan officials Ringang, Bahadur Norbhu Dhondup, and Kunphela. “Ringang, being only a 6th rank official, is not allowed to wear silk or the charm box which higher officials wear on the tops of their heads, though his hair is bound in the same way with red ribbon. He is seen wearing a flat-topped hat of yellow wool on top of his head. Norbhu, being a ‘dzasa’ wears a robe of saffron-yellow silk. He wears a long earring and a wide-brimmed brocade hat with coral and turquoise insignia on top.” [JD 16/5/2008]

On Cech’s list describing prints:
“(58-135 where taken in Lhasa.)
63. Chense lingka
63c. “Ringang, Norbhu, Kumphela”
See ww: Ringang, Norbhu, Kumphela
Each official is wearing a different style of hat. Ringang, being only a 6th rank official, is not allowed to wear silk or the charm box which higher officials wear on the tops of their heads, though his hair is bound in the same way with red ribbon. He is seen wearing a flat-topped hat of yellow wool on top of his head. Norbhu, being a ‘dzasa’ wears a robe of saffron-yellow silk. He wears a long earring and a wide-brimmed brocade hat with coral and turquoise insignia on top.” [printed text]
For more information see Cech’s list.

Place

C Asia; Tibet; Lhasa; Norbulingka; Chense Potrang

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Ringang; Bahadur Norbhu Dhondup; Kunphela

Photographer

Williamson, Frederick

Collector / Expedition

Date

21 August 1933

Collection Name

Williamson Collection

Source

Williamson, Margaret

Format

Print Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

Bibliographical Reference: The Williamson’s visit to Chense Lingka at Norbulingka is mentioned in Williamson, Margaret, 1987. Memoirs of a Political Officer’s Wife (Wisdom Publication, London) p.123, which has the following test:
“Down a broad avenue of poplar trees we found Chense Lingka, meaning ‘favourite garden’, which consisted of another private palace and garden that Kunphel-la had recently designed and built for His Holiness. Here more flowers bloomed and we saw the bower where His Holiness liked to sit in the afternoon. Behind the main palace was another small palace with a sun-room at the rear.” [JD 16/5/2008]

Named Person: See Biographies for further information on Ringang. [JD 16/5/2008]

Named Person: See Biographies for further information on Bahadur Norbhu Dhondup. [JD 16/5/2008]

Named Person: See Biographies for further information on Kunphela. [JD 16/5/2008]

Place: “Chensek Potrang - This palace was built in 1922 within the Norbulingka complex for Thubten Gyatso, the 13th Dalai Lama by a wealthy lay Buddhist supporter called Chensek Kumbu.” [Source: Cech’s list, JD 16/5/2008]

Related Image: A photograph of the same building is within the Frederick Spencer Chapman’s Collections at the British Museum, reference BMR.86.1.17.3, and catalogued with the following information:
“Part of the Dalai Lama's palace in the Norbu Lingka. Gold emblems can be seen on the roof and the well-established gardens in which the palace is situated can all be seen encroaching on the building.” [Source: The Tibet Album, http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_BMR.86.1.17.3.html, JD 16/5/2008]

Related Image: A photograph of the same building is within the Hugh Richardson’s Collections at the British Museum, reference BMR.6.8.15, and catalogued with the following information:
“Kesang Podrang, the main palace in the Norbu Lingka "Jewel Park". There is a path leading up to it and shrubs and plants in the garden surrounding it..” “[no.] 15. ‘Kesang Podrang, main palace of the Norbulingka. Morning receptions by the Dalai Lama took place here.'” [Source: The Tibet Album, http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_BMR.6.8.15.html, JD 16/5/2008]

Transcription: 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]

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Jocelyne Dudding 16/5/2008]