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Chinese temple at Lhasa.

Inscribed: ‘This is a drawing of the Chinese Temple at Lassa, and is interesting as tending to show the powerful control which that nation exercises over the Tibetans at Lassa, who are of a different religion: still here is the Raja of Lassa and a deputy of the Gyalwa Rinpochi’ [i.e. the Dalai Lama] ‘ordered and forced to kneel and prostrate themselves before the Chinese idols and fire in the shape of lighted candles. This alone proves how odious the Chinese government must be to the Tibetans and how glad they would be of an opportunity to get rid of their oppressions.’

‘The name of the Temple is Zhangyangmun. Zhang is the name of the principal Deota, and yangmun is the Chinese name for a temple: it is called in Tibetan Gésirr Lahkung’ [Ge-sar lha-khan]. ‘The place where this temple is erected beneath a hill is called in Tibetan Pamari. There are eight Chinese temples in Lassa of which this is the principal and largest.’

‘1. Zhang or Gésirr Gyalpo’ [Ge-sar rgyal-po]’ who is supposed to have been a great king like Rama of the Hindoos: he is said to have conquered the whole of China, when he was deified. In his left hand he holds a lotus, and in this case represents Tiloknath or Changrézhig’ [Spyan-ras-gzigs]. ‘On his belly is a golden chukra [cakra] which intimates that he was Chukrabutti’ [cakravartin, ‘universal’]’ Raja, or korloghuruwa’ [hkhor-lo]: ‘in his right hand a battle-axe or Tata.’

‘2. Gyachashilkurr’ [rGya-tsha zal-dkar], ‘who is brother of Zhang, who was said to have been a great warrior, the emblem of which is his bloody sword in his right hand.’

‘3. Aku Thotum’ [a-khu, ‘i.e. uncle’ Khro-thun] ‘the uncle of Zhang. In one hand he holds a sword and in the other a book in explanation of the magic which he is supposed to have used.’

‘4. Chuikyong Pélna’ [Chos-skyon Ber-nag?] ‘was vizier of Zhang holds in one hand representation of mount Sumeru or Rirub’ [ri-rab] ‘and with the other he grasps his beard.’

‘5. Singtakadum’ [Sen-stag A-dom] ‘a great chief: he holds a sword with which is related he could kill everything.’

‘6. Kalun Durma Chugta’ [bkah-blon]’ a celebrated archer.’

‘7. Nyangtsa Aten’ [na-tsha A-rten] ‘a vizier celebrated for his dexterity in the use of the spear.’

‘On the blue ground in front of Zhang is in letters of gold the name of the Chinese Emperor in whose reign the temple was erected, it is in two languages, Chinese & Tibetan, the latter is Numgilah Juméyung Kongma Dakpo Chenpo. On the first day of every month they go to worship in this temple.’

‘8. Gyalpo Rating’ [rva-sgren] ‘or Raja or Lassa.’ [Rva-sgren Hutuktu I, appointed Regent in 1845, held office until 1855; came back again in 1856 and deposed in 1862. Information from H.E.Richardson].

‘9. Chikyub kenbo, the aide de camp of the Gyalwa Rinpochi.’

‘10. Gyalyub, the father of Gyalwa Rinpochi (yub’ [yab]’ means Father].’

‘11&12.The two Chinese Ambas’ [Ambans]

‘13.14.15. Teloyé (rank of Major) 13. Phokpun’ [phog-dpon]’ (treasurer) 15. Songye (rank of Captain).’

‘16. Chakoché} rank as our Tahsildars over Chinese only.’

‘17. Pichinché}’

‘18. Tongsi. The interpreter from’ [whom]’ they take the motions in kneeling, prostrations, et’c.’, he first says Chinhen when all place their hands flat on their thighs, at the second Chinhen they all kneel down and at the third Chinhen they prostrate their bodies with their foreheads touching the ground, and throwing out their hands stiffly behind them.’

‘19.20. The four Lassa viziers or Kalun [bkah-blon], who are obliged on this occasion’

‘21.22 to wear their clothes of the Chinese colour blue.’

‘The Lassa functionaries merely go through the forms without a particle of feeling on the occasion.’

‘23. Kianggotyerpa’ [rKyan-rgod]’ horse of the Deota Zhang, or rather a representation of it of earth painted.’

‘24. Gyacha’ [rGya-tsha]’ name of the Deota’s brother’s horse represented.’

‘25. Name of Temple in golden letters, this is called pun and emblems of the sun and moon as represented on Boodhist coins et’c. ‘This pun is given by the Emperor of China and contains the title whatever it may be. The Punchun’ [pan-chen]’ Rinpochi at Tashilunpo’ [bKra-sis-lhun-po]’ for instance has the pun before his name, chun or chen (great) and after it his title of Rinpochi’ [rin-po-ché, precious].

‘26. Gyokchung’ [hkhyogs-chun]’ or chair of the Lassa Raja.’

‘27. - ditto - or palkee of the Amba.’

‘28. - ditto - or of the Taloi.’

‘In winter they have a pane of glass to give light: but in su mmer the glass is removed and a pane of gauze supplies its place. The colour of the Rajas must be yellow: that of the Amba green and black of the Taloi. No others are allowed to ride in chairs or palkees of this colour. The chairs of the Raja and Amba and Taloi are carried by eight men, and if anyone else sports a palkee it must be covered with red, and must not have more than four men to carry it. Anyone infringing this law would be seriously punished.’

‘29. Duk’ [gdugs]’ or chettah of the Lassa Raja (pronounced Doo).’

‘30. - ditto - of the Taloi.’

‘31. - ditto - of the Ambas.’

‘Note: The Chinese letters are only resemblances of such, as my Lama does not write Chinese.’

‘No.48 in large map.’