Manuscript Cover

Object specifics

• Type
  Writing
• Culture
  Tibetan
• Artist/Maker
• Place made
  Asia: Central Asia: Tibet [China]: Ü-Tsang: Lhasa
• Date made
  13th Century
• Materials
  Metal Gilt; Pigment; Wood
• Location
  Item not currently on display
• Acquisition
  From the Collection of Sir Charles Bell
• Collector
  Charles Alfred Bell
• Place collected
  Asia: Central Asia: Tibet [China]: Ü-Tsang: Lhasa
• Date collected
  1913-01-20 before
• Measurements
  248 mm x 697 mm x 22 mm; 9 3/4 in x 27 7/16 in x 7/8 in
• Note
  List of Curios No 110: Per Barmiak Lama on 20th January 1913. Tibetan bookcover 28" by 10". Five large figures representing the five Jinas (Gye-wa Ri-nga) See Waddell's "Lamaism" pp. 336 and 349. On the extreme left is Rin-chen Jung-ne (Ssk. Ratna Sambhava) with right hand downwards and palm outwards in the "bestowing" (chok-jin) attitude (Waddell's Lamaism pp. 337). He gives spiritual towards the attainment of Buddhahood (S.L. Das Dictionary p.359). In the centre is Nam-par Nang-dze (Ssk. Vairocana) hands in the (chang-chup-chok-ki-cha-gya) (byang chub mchog gi phyag rgya) attitude i.e the attitude of remitting sins and giving knowledge but Nam-par Nang-dze is the "most precious" one. Then Ö-pa-me (Ssk Amitabha) with hands in Nyan-sha (mnyam gzhag) i.e "meditative attitude". On extreme right Tön-yö Trup-pa (don yod brub pa) in the attitude of preaching religion. Obtained from Sera Monastery. Curator's note: Bell did not acquire this bookcover directly from Sera Monastery, as he did not visit Lhasa until 1920-21. He could have acquired it from one of the aristocratic families he visited during his annual inspection trips to southern Tibet. The Palha family are a likely candidate as Bell notes in his book, Portrait of the Dalai Lama that the Palha family were, 'in alliance with Sera' and he was a regular visitor to them on these trips. Or he could have bought it from a trader in Sikkim or Kalimpong. Bell made a feature of his Tibetan manuscript covers in his Residency in Gangtok, Sikkim. He appears to have employed a local carpenter to bracket several of the bookcovers together to form a surround for his fireplace (see attached image). From here he displayed a large number of items in his collection that can now be found in the National Museums Liverpool collection. It is unclear whether or not the fireplace was in working order, but if fires were lit, it would explain the lack of gilt on the bookcovers. Written by Emma Martin
• Related people
  Barmiok [Burmiok, Bermiok], Jedrung Karma Palden Chogyal ( described by); Charles Alfred Bell ( Collector)