Story in photos: Tibet, when it was ruled by the nine-year-old Dalai Lama (56 photos)

American photographer and correspondent Archibald Trojan Steele visited Lhasa twice, in 1939 and 1944, to observe the young Lhamo Thondrub, who was recognized as a reincarnation at the age of four the previous spiritual leader of Tibet and became the 14th Dalai Lama.





In the summer of 1939, Archibald Trojan Steele, correspondent for the American newspaper "Chicago Daily News", living in China, went to the monastery Kumbum to observe the child from Amdo, who at that time checked for signs confirming his right to the throne Tibetan state as the 14th Dalai Lama. In 1944 Steele returned to Lhasa to visit the already enthroned Dalai Lama, who that time was nine years old.

During his trips to Lhasa in 1939 and 1944, Steele made these pictures; later they were donated to the Center for Asian Studies Arizona State University.

1. 9-year-old Dalai Lama, 1944



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3. Potala Palace, Lhasa, 1944



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9. State oracle of Tibet, 1944



10. State Oracle of Tibet with Archibald Steele, Lhasa, 1944



11. The 14th Dalai Lama at the age of 4 at Kumbum Monastery, 1939



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15. The Dalai Lama Family



16. The Dalai Lama Family



16. Tibetan monk on pilgrimage, 1944



18. An arch of stones and prayer flags over the Haro-la pass on the way to Lhasa, 1944



19. Caravan crossing the Nyapso-la pass on the way to China, 1944



20. Lake Yamdrok with the fortress city of Pedi on the shore, 1944



21. Street in Fari, Tibet, 1944



22. A pilgrim walking the sacred path around the Potala Palace, 1944



23. Inside Drepung Monastery, 1944



24. Drepung Monastery, 1944



25. Tibetan banner soldiers, 1944



26. Buddhist monks blowing the call to prayer, Potala Palace in the background, 1944



27. Gateway to Lhasa, 1944



28. Buddhist monument, chorten, against the backdrop of the palace, 1944



29. Tibetan with his yak, 1944



30. Tibetan beggars sit waiting for pilgrims at the sacred path around the Potala, the wall in the background is made of horns, 1944



31. Pilgrim on the sacred path around the palace, 1944



32. Tibetan peasant woman, 1944



33. High secretary lamas who controlled everything Tibetan monasteries and chose monk officials for the Tibetan governments



34. Water carrier, 1944



35. Lord Chamberlain, an influential monk and adviser to the Dalai Lama, 1944



36. Street in Lhasa, 1944



37. Women gossiping on the road outside Lhasa, 1944



38. A pilgrim monk busily turns a prayer wheel, 1944



39. A shaggy Tibetan dog greets visitors in front of the gate to the courtyard of the Dalai Lama's palace, Lhasa



40. Monks and pilgrims enter the throne room of the Dalai Lama, 1944



41. Expedition of the Chicago Daily News to Lhasa, 1944



42. Guide Archibald Steele in Lhasa, 1944



43. Memorial chorten on the way to Lhasa, 1944



44. Delegation with gifts for the Dalai Lama, 1944



45. Street market in Lhasa, 1944



46. ​​Pilgrims and officials leave the summer palace of the Dalai Lama, 1944



47. Dalai Lama with two attendants



48. Three Abbots of Drepung Monastery, 1939



49. Steele with two monks from Kumbum monastery, 1939



50. Boats on the Brahmaputra River, 1944



51. Caravan of yaks, 1944



52. Sir Basil Gould in Tibet, 1944



53. Performance of dancers, 1944



54. Performance of dancers, 1944



55. Dalai Lama, 1944