The ancient palace of Yumbu Lakhar in Yarlung

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2001.59.15.43.2 (Print)

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Key Information

Photographer

Hugh E. Richardson

Collection

Hugh Richardson

Date of Photo

1949

Region

Yarlung Valley Region > Yumbu lakhar

Accession number

2001.59.15.43.2

Image Dimensions

60 x 60 mm

The ancient palace of Yumbu lakhar in the Yarlung valley. The tower is topped by a gilded rgya-phibs canopy. The approach to it was up a very steep track.

Further Information

Photographic Process

Print silver

Date Acquired

Donated August 2001

Donated by

The executors of the estate of Hugh E. Richardson

Expedition

Richardson's 1949 tour of the Yarlung and Chyongye valleys

Other Information

Notes on print/mount - 'From South Yambu Yombu' (in pencil), 'The oldest castle in Tibet Home of the Religious Kings (in blue ink) and 'from South' (partially erased in pencil) is written on the reverse of print in Richardson's hand and 'Velox' in an oval is stamped in black. [KC 12/6/2006]

Manual Catalogues -


Manual Catalogues - Notes in negative index - Folio 43. 'do' [Yum bu bla mkhar]. [KC 15/5/2006]

Manual Catalogues -


Manual Catalogues - Richardson's Handlist, Negative book '9' 'Drikhung, Chongye etc.' [nos] 42-6, 'Yum-bu bla-mkhar (Bla-sgang) Yam-bu gla sgang. Reputedly earliest palace of Tibetan kings. See Mkhyen Brtse p. 125. n.44. The building, apparently at one time a castle with a watch tower was converted into a sort of chapel' [KC 17/5/2006]

Research publication - High Peaks, Pure Earth , H. E. Richardson, London, Serindia Publications, 1998, plate 67 (cropped).

Other Information - Setting


Other Information - Setting: Richardson describes this site in High Peaks, Pure Earth , London, Serindia Publications, 1998, p. 319. "Further south [of Khra 'brug in the Yarlung valley] is Yum-bu Bla-mkhar (1949), the ancient palace of the Tibetan kings, prominent on a rocky hill. It is a narrow rectangular building with a slender white tower topped by a gilded rgya-phibs canopy. By tradition it was founded by the mythical king Nya-khri Btsan-po and it is associated, rather more possibly , with king Tho-tho-ri who may be placed tentatively in the middle of the fifth century. Legend has it that in his reign the first Buddhist books fell from heaven onto the roof of the palace, though they could not be understoood at the time. The story gives sanctity to the building which, which is approached by a narrow path up a steep hill and entered through a low door beyond which a steep ladder leads to the first floor. ..."


For Citation use:
The Tibet Album. "The ancient palace of Yumbu Lakhar in Yarlung" 05 Dec. 2006. The Pitt Rivers Museum. <http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_2001.59.15.43.2.html>.

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