Key Information

Photographer

Rabden Lepcha?

Collection

Sir Charles Bell

Date of Photo

August 6th 1921

Region

Lhasa > Norbu Lingka

Accession number

1998.285.252.2

Image Dimensions

81 x 81 mm

Ache Lhamo held in courtyard of Norbu Lingka, spectators around edge. Performers wearing traditional headdresses

Further Information

Activity

Dancing , Performing

Photographic Process

Lantern Slide

Date Acquired

Donated 1983

Donated by

St Antony's College, Oxford.

Expedition

Sir Charles Bell's Mission to Lhasa 1920-21

Photo also owned by

Royal Central Asiatic Society

Revised Photographer

Rabden Lepcha?

Previous Catologue Number

L.206

Previous Pitt Rivers Museum Number

BL.H.218a

Manual Catalogues -

Manual Catalogues - Bell's List of Illustrations entry: "[No. of chapter] XXXVIII. [Subject of Chapter] Folklore [Subject of Illustration] (a) Ache Lhamos of Chung Riwoche at Norbu Lingka from the borders of Tsang and Western Tibet, performing the play of 'Nor-zang'. The two teachers in the middle wear the white cloth head-dress of the old time. Trung-khor nowadays worn during Monlam. See Diary of Monlam. This head-dress was introduced by Song Tsen Gam-po."

Other Information - Setting

Other Information - Setting: Bell's Diary for 6th August 1921:"Today at Norbu Lingka the play of Nor-zang is acted by actors from the Chung country in western Tibet, where Tang-Dong Gyalpo, a lama, had a monastery called Ri-wo-che. ... These actors live more than a month's journey from Lhasa. Last year they excused themselves and did not come to Lhasa for the Ache Lhamo festival. The D[alai] L[ama] would not let them off again this year; he is anxious to keep up the old customs. Their dancing ( shap-ro ) is considered the best in Tibet, and the people of Lhasa always look forward to seeing it." [Diary Vol. XI, pp.85-7]

For Citation use:
The Tibet Album. "Ache Lhamo in Norbu Lingka" 05 Dec. 2006. The Pitt Rivers Museum. <http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_1998.285.252.2.html>.

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Ache Lhamo in Norbu Lingka