Coracles on the Lukhang lake with gateway

Coracles on the Lukhang lake with gateway

1999.23.2.42 (Print black & white)

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Key Information

Photographer

H. Staunton ?

Collection

Harry Staunton

Date of Photo

1940 - 1941 [June]

Region

Lhasa > Lukhang

Accession number

1999.23.2.42

Image Dimensions

110 x 67 mm

Leather coracles being rowed across the Lukhang lake, a small temple of the naga deities in a lake to the north of the Potala. On the right there is a boat full of high lay officials, some of whom are holding umbrellas as sun shades. The boats on the left are filling up with officials of lesser status. There is a crowd of people waiting to embark on the far shore at a gated entrance beside a tall tree in the centre of the image. This is possibly the 15th day of the fourth month, Saga Dawa, when the moon is in the constellation of Saga and commemorates the Enlightenment of the Lord Buddha and also his death and attainment of nirvana.

Further Information

Photographic Process

Print gelatin silver

Date Acquired

Donated 1999

Donated by

Diana Hughes

Expedition

H. Staunton

Photo also owned by

Diana Hughes

Other Information

Notes on print/mount - On the reverse, "Velox" stamped in black ink and the number 619 stamped in red. [KC 21/10/2005]

Manual Catalogues -


Manual Catalogues - Richardson identifies this photograph as being the "Lukhang Tsongkha". [Hugh Richardson in conversation with Roger Croston, detailed in H. Staunton undated Related Documents File, PRM Manuscript Collections] [KC 21/10/2005]

Other Information - Setting


Other Information - Setting: Hugh Richardson describes how officials are rowed across the Lukhang Lake as part of Saga Dawa celebrations in Ceremonies of the Lhasa Year [London: Serindia , 1993, p.86]: "From there [the Potala] they [high officials of the Kashag] walk down to the Lukhang, a small temple of the Naga deities in a little lake to the north of the Potala. They are rowed out to the temple in leather coracles to make their offerings,after which they repair to a tent among trees on a pleasant green bank by the lake for a rest and a prolonged lunch during which the Lugarpa, a party of dancers, dance and sing for them." and photograph p.89 [ibid.]. See also Tibet the Lost Civilization [Normanton, London: Hamish Hamilton, 1998, p.156] for colour photographs of this event and the caption, "Later the same day there is a beautiful and informal festival at the Dragon temple, on an island in a lake behind the Potala. There is a holiday atmosphere. Wine and food shops spring up, picnic parties are everywhere. The ministers preside over a small ceremony in the Temple. Afterwards they are rowed around the island in hide boats and they sink five treasures into the lake as a dedication to the gods." [KC 21/10/2005]

Notes on print/mount -"Velox" and the number 500 are stamped on the reverse of the print in black ink.

Manual Catalogues -


Manual Catalogues - [Hugh Richardson in conversation with Roger Croston, detailed in H. Staunton undated Related Documents File, PRM Manuscript Collections] "Lukhang Jonka ceremony. Coracles on the lake. See p. 156 of S. Normanton's book, "Tibet the Lost Civilization".

Research publication - Simon Normanton, Tibet, the Lost Civilisation, 1988, London: Hamish Hamilton, p.156, "Later that day there is a beautiful and informal festival at the Dragon Temple, on an island in a lake behind the Potala. There is a holiday atmosphere. Wine and food shops spring up, picnic parties are everywhere. The ministers preside over a small ceremony in the Temple. Afterwards they are rowed around the island in hide boats and they sink five treasures into the lake as a dedication to the gods."

Research publication - Hugh Richardson, Ceremonies of the Lhasa Year, 1993, London: Serindia, p.87-8. This ceremony took place on the 15th day of the 4th month: The Flower Offering at Gunthang ( Gung thang me tog mchod pa ). "When the Shappes have left, other officials are also rowed round the temple and after them large numbers of the general public who have been enjoying picnics by the lake, dressed in their best clothes, take to the boats and go round the temple with much singing and laughter." (p.89)

Other Information - Setting


Other Information - Setting: F Spencer Chapman writes ( Lhasa: The Holy City , 1940, London: Readers Union Ltd, p.64) "The coracles are rectangular and made of yak-hide stretched over a framework of willow branches. Each boat is about 8 feet by 6 feet, and weighs 80 - 90 lb. During the crossing they get swept down nearly half a mile, so the boatmen lift the coracles onto their heads and walk up-stream again, afterwards propping the boats up on one oar to dry. They float very high out of the water and are absolutely unstreamlined." [KC 3/1/2006]

For Citation use:
The Tibet Album. "Coracles on the Lukhang lake with gateway" 05 Dec. 2006. The Pitt Rivers Museum. <http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_1999.23.2.42.html>.

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