Object structure
Title:

Remarks on the Practice of Installing Lhathos of Territorial Guardians inside Buddhist Temples in the Western Himalayas

Subtitle:

Ethnologia Polona 37 2016 (2017)

Creator:

Kozicz, Gerald

Publisher:

Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology Polish Academy of Sciences

Place of publishing:

Warsaw

Date issued/created:

2017

Description:

ill. ; 24 cm

Type of object:

Journal/Article

Subject and Keywords:

Lhatho ; Buddhism ; Ladakh ; Tibet ; sacral architecture ; Shang-Shung tradition ; Rinchen Zangpo ; Dorje Chenmo ; deities

Abstract:

A crucial factor for the successful establishment of Buddhism among Tibetan and Himalayan societies from the 10th century onwards was the integration of pre-Buddhist local myths into the art and architecture of the new doctrine. Depictions of territorial spiritual forces were incorporated into the Buddhist theological and iconographic systems, while lhathos, archaic chairns that were considered as seats of local guardians, became part of the specific architecture in the whole Himalayan landscape. The following article presents a few case-studies to describe the beginning of this phenomenon and discuss further developments. The specific interest is on the physical transfer of lhathos into orthodox Buddhist temples and their installation in eminent positions inside assembly halls or even inside main niches of a sanctum

References:

Bellini C. (in print). Some Pieces of the Puzzle: The Restoration of the Alchi gSum brtsegs by bKra shis rNam rgyal and Other Considerations
Denwood P. 2015. The Dating of the Sumtsek Temple at Alchi. In E. Lo Bue and J. Bray (eds.), Art and Architecture in Ladakh. Cross-Cultural Transmissions in the Himalayas and Karakorum, Leiden – Boston, 159–166
Francke A. H. 2014. Antiquities of Indian Tibet. Vol. 1 Personal Narrative. Archaeological Survey of India. Calcutta (reprint 1994 Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi)
Goepper R. 1990. Clues for the Dating of the Three-storeyed Temple (Sumtsek) in Alchi, Ladakh. In Asiatische Studien: Zeitschrift der Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für Asienkunde 44 (2), 159–175
van Ham P. 2011. Ladakh’s Missing Link? The Murals of Tragkhung Kowache. In Orientations 42 (5), Hong Kong, 50–57
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Kozicz G. 2014. The Tsugla Khang of Tabo and the Three-dimensionality of the Vajradhatu Mandala. In P. van Ham (ed.), Tabo – Gods of Light, Munich, 71–75
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Shakspo N. T. 2012. A Cultural History of Ladakh. Centre for Research on Ladakh, Sabu-Leh
Snellgrove D. and Skorupski T. 1980. The Cultural Heritage of Ladakh II: Zangskar and the Cave Temples of Ladakh, Warminster
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Relation:

Ethnologia Polona

Volume:

37

Start page:

9

End page:

30

Resource type:

Text

Detailed Resource Type:

Article

Format:

application/pdf

Resource Identifier:

0137-4079

Source:

IAiE PAN, call no. P 366 ; IAiE PAN, call no. P 367 ; IAiE PAN, call no. P 368 ; click here to follow the link

Language:

eng

Rights:

Rights Reserved - Free Access

Digitizing institution:

Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Original in:

Library of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Access:

Open

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