IDNO

DG.144851.SHP

Description

"Kaju Gompa [Kagyu Gonsar] above the Amo Chu (Chumbi) valley.
The first monastry [sic monastery] in Tibet. 11 August 1938."

Place

S Asia; Tibet; Chumbi Valley; Amo Chu River; Tsceholing [Kaju Gompa; Kagyu Gonsar]

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Photographer

Shepheard, Ken

Collector / Expedition

Date

11 August 1938

Collection Name

Shepheard Collection

Source

Shepheard Rogers, Patricia

Format

Album Print Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

Related Archive: Noted in Shepheard's diary 'Some Notes of Ken Shepheard on his expedition to Lhasa, Tibet, in September - October 1938' pp.12,
"11 Aug 1938 Left Chumbitang 0630 hrs
Arr. Yatung 1100 hrs
Road -- good bridle path but very muddy -- continues by easy gradients past Kaji Gompa (monastery) and then down steep slope to the river Ammo Chu where about 1 mile S. of Chema it joins route from Jelap La, short cut joins this route at Chema.
Amo Chu valley basin width varies from 100x to 300x and is largely cultivated in small (1 acre) walled fields.
Road follows river to Yatung crossing from R. to L. bank at Chumbi - gradient easy.
Fuel everywhere plentiful.
Camp for about 1 Coy. on grassy spur above Kaji Gompa, and lots of room in Ammo Chu valley.
About 5 basics shops in Yatung.
Lunched, teaed, played rummy and dined with P.A. (Gould), Maharaja of Sikkim and Raja Dorje of Bhutan.
Gould awe-inspiring but improves.
Maharaja nice but afraid of life. Dorje charming and interesting.
On our evening stroll the garrison (1 pl. 1/15 Punjab Regt.) guard turned out to H.H.
Yatung bazaar has several shops where necessities of life & torches, playing cards, cloth, etc. are obtainable.
Our first fine day -- slight rain for the last 2 or 3 miles only. Wonderful scenery." [JD 26/01/2020]

Publication: Image published in 'Portrait of a Vajra Siddhi: An Introduction of the Life and Work of Bara Kagyu Master Ajo Rinpoche (1856 - 1962)' by Tenzing Longsel Barphungpa, Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Sikkim. In Bulletin of Tibetology, Volume 53, No. 1, pp.37-52, and captioned: "Kagyu Gonsar in the Lower Chumbi Valley, 1938."
Barphungpa writes that Ajo Rinpoche presided over the Kagyu Gonsar, which was in the Chumbi Valley as the junction of the frequently used trails connecting India, Tibet and Bhutan. Kagyu Gonsar became known as Tsceholing (Tib. Tshe mchong gling) monastery, and using money from loyal patrons Ajo Rinpoche "built a two storeyed temple replete with scriptures, statues, frescoes and thangkas (p.41)." [JD 03/11/2022]