IDNO

P.96979.WIL

Description

On Cech’s list describing prints:
“(58-135 where taken in Lhasa.)
74. “Potala from roof of Do-ring house 25.8.33”
See ww: doring
There is a large banner of victory (rgyal-mtshan) on the Do-ring roof top (see GTH: roof decorations).” [printed text]
For more information see Cech’s list.

View of the Potala from the roof of Do-ring’s house. There is a rgyal-mtshan (large banner of victory) consisting of a cylindrical layered cloth with emblems on the Do-ring roof top in the foreground. [JD 19/8/2008]

Place

C Asia; Tibet; Lhasa; Potala

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Doring

Photographer

Williamson, Frederick

Collector / Expedition

Date

25 August 1933

Collection Name

Williamson Collection

Source

Williamson, Margaret

Format

Print Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

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]

Context: The Banner of Victory (dpal-be) the cylindrical layered banner is a Buddhist object symbolizing victory over ignorance and death. The Victory Banner was traditionally carried in battle on the back of chariots, with great warriors would often having their own emblems.
“In early Buddhism, the banner represented Buddha's victorious enlightenment with his overcoming the armies of Mara (hindrances and defilements). Legend says the banner was placed on the summit of Mt Meru, symbolizing Buddha's victory over the entire universe.
In Tibetan Buddhism, the banner represents eleven methods of overcoming Mara: the development of knowledge, wisdom, compassion, meditation, and ethical vows; taking refuge in the Buddha; abandoning false views; generating spiritual aspiration, skillful means, and selflessness; and the unity of the three sam¨¢dhis of emptiness, formlessness, and desirelessness.” [Source: Tibet Geographic Magazine, http://en.tibettour.com.cn/geography/200412005122090042.htm, JD 19/8/2008]

Biographical Information: See Biographies File for more information on Doring. [JD 28/7/2008]

Exhibition: The album page with this print was displayed in Collected Sights in the section Tibet, Bhutan and Sikkim with the descriptive label: “One of the Williamson albums containing photographs of their time in Tibet. The open pages containing images of Lhasa including Cho-khang, the main temple, and various street scenes. View of the Himalayas and the Potala, palace of the Dalai Lama, can be seen in the distance.” [Alex Nadin 09/12/02]