IDNO

P.97083.WIL

Description

On Cech’s list describing print:
“(58-135 where taken in Lhasa.)
133. “Main gate of Norbhu lingka 2.10.33. Changlo-chen, Tampa Tsen-drön, Norbhu”
See ww: Changlo-chen, Tampa Tsen-drön, Norbhu
Armed guard and sentry box.” [printed text]
For more information see Cech’s list.

The main gate of Norbu lingka. Above the gate is an ornate pagoda style roof. On either end of the roof are two gilt dear, symbolising the deer park at Sarnath where Buddha preached his first sermon. In the centre is a gilt Wheel of Law (‘Khor-lo).

To the right of the gate stands a small row of soldiers, their rifles resting on their left shoulders. Also to the right stand Tampa Tsen-drön and Bahadur Norbhu Dhondup. Changlochen stands slightly to the left of the gate.

Place

C Asia; Tibet; Lhasa; Norbhu Lingka

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Changlochen (or Chang-lo-chen); Tampa Tsen-drön; Bahadur Norbhu Dhondup

Photographer

Williamson, Frederick

Collector / Expedition

Date

2 October 1933

Collection Name

Williamson Collection

Source

Williamson, Margaret

Format

Print Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

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]

Place: Norbulingka, situated 4 km to the west of Lhasa in a large open area, is the Summer Palace of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government. It was selected by the seventh Dalai Lama in the 18th century on account of its medicinal spring. The palace complex was notable for its ornate assembly halls and shrine rooms as well as for its extensive gardens. [Source: The Pitt Rivers museum, Visual Tibet http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/glossary.php, and Cech’s list, CJ 5/9/2008]

Context: Wheel of Law (‘Khor-lo) or The Golden Wheel “is an ancient Indian symbol of creation, sovereignty, protection, and the sun. The six-spoke wheel was associated with Vishnu and was known as the Sudarshana Chakra. The wheel represents motion, continuity, and change, forever moving onwards like the circular wheel of the heavens. Buddhism adopted the wheel as a symbol of the Buddha's teachings and his first discourse at the Deer Park in Sarnath is known as "the first turning of the wheel of dharma." In Tibetan Buddhism, it is understood as "the wheel of transformation" or spiritual change. The hub of the wheel symbolizes moral discipline, and the eight spokes represent analytical insight via rim-meditative concentration. The eight spokes point to the eight directions and symbolize the Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path: right understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, mindfulness, and concentration.’ [Source: Tibet Geographic Magazine, http://en.tibettour.com.cn/geography/200412005122090042.htm, CJ 2/09/2008]

Biographical Information: For further information on Tampa Tsen-drön see the Biographies File. [CJ 3/9/2008]

Biographical Information: For further information on Changlochen see the Biographies File. [CJ 3/9/2008]

Biographical Information: For further information on Bahadur Norbhu Dhondup see the Biographies File. [CJ 3/9/2008]

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Caspian James 5/9/2008]