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Idols in monastery at Gyantse, from a fascinating album which reveals new details on a little-known campaign in which a British military force brushed aside Tibetan defences to capture Lhasa, in 1904
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Idols in monastery at Gyantse, from a fascinating album which reveals new details on a little-known campaign in which a British military force brushed aside Tibetan defences to capture Lhasa, in 1904
Idols in monastery at Gyantse, from a fascinating album which reveals new details on a little-known campaign in which a British military force brushed aside Tibetan defences to capture Lhasa, in 1904. The Tibet Expedition was launched from India and sanctioned by Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India, who was concerned over Russian influence and supposed advance toward the border. The expedition eventually gained a number of concessions from Tibet, nominally under Chinese control at the time, but whether the effort was worth the return is certainly up for debate. This album came by direct descent from the family of Captain William Charles Hayman, ADC to the expedition's leader, Colonel Francis Younghusband of the Indian Political Service (Younghusband was accompanied by a strong military escort commanded by Brigadier General James Macdonald). The photographs show various elements of the expedition: military, monasteries, scenery, towns and locals. Date: 1904
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Advance Campaign Capture Carved Figures Gyantse Hayman Idol Idols Journey Lhasa Monastery Reportage Tibet Tibetan
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In this photograph, a group of idols is seen arranged on a shelf inside a monastery at Gyantse, Tibet. This image is taken from an intriguing album that offers a rare glimpse into the little-known British military campaign to capture Lhasa in 1904, an expedition that came to be known as the Tibet Expedition. Led by Colonel Francis Younghusband of the Indian Political Service, the expedition was launched from India under the orders of Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India, who was growing increasingly concerned over Russian influence and perceived advances toward the border. The album, which has been passed down through the family of Captain William Charles Hayman, who served as ADC to Colonel Younghusband, provides a unique insight into this fascinating period of history. The photographs within the album depict various elements of the expedition, including military scenes, monasteries, scenic vistas, towns, and local people. In this particular image, the intricately carved and painted idols, which once adorned the walls of the Gyantse monastery, are a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Tibet. The success of the Tibet Expedition is a subject of ongoing debate, as while the British were able to secure a number of concessions from Tibet, nominally under Chinese control at the time, the question of whether the effort was worth the return remains open to interpretation. Nonetheless, this album offers a valuable record of a pivotal moment in the history of the region, and a reminder of the complex political dynamics that shaped the borderlands between India, Tibet, and China over a century ago.
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