Page:Journey to Lhasa and Central Tibet.djvu/277

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JOURNEY TO LHASA AND CENTRAL TIBET.
239

The four Labrang[1] temples, built with Chinese roofs and gilded spires, are especially noticeable. They are called Labrang-shar (or "eastern"), Labrang-nub (or "western"), Labrang khung, and Khansar chenpo, and in their general arrangement they do not differ from the temples I had seen at Tashilhunpo and elsewhere.


WATERFALL ABOVE TALUNG MONASTERY ON THE WAY TO YUMPTSO LA.

In the palmy days of the Sakya hierarchy there were four abbots under the hierarch who ruled these four Labrang. The rank was hereditary in their families, and all those abbots, the hierarch included, were allowed to marry. This system of hereditary hierarchy

  1. Labrang means literally "dwelling of a lama dignitary." Phodrang is a palace or residence of a secular officer.—(W. R.)