The old photo of Labrang Temple in Xiahe, Gansu in 1925. The magnificent buildings in front of the river and behind the mountain

Today, I would like to share with you a group of old photos of Labrang Temple in Xiahe, Gansu in 1925, taken by Joseph· Locke

Joseph· Born in Vienna on January 13, 1884, Rock (Joseph Francis Charles) was an adventurer since childhood. He always dreamed of traveling and tried to learn foreign languages by himself. In 1905, Locke came to the United States alone. In 1911, he officially became a professor of botany at the University of Hawaii. From 1920 to 1921, he was sent by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to Thailand, Myanmar, India and other countries to conduct a one-year search for the species of hyacinth. During 1922-1932, he visited China six times, mainly in Sichuan, Gansu, Yunnan and Qinghai

In April 1925, he came to Gansu for an investigation. During the following two years of investigation in Gansu, he took a large number of local photos, mapped topographic maps, and collected a large number of physical specimens and cultural relics

Labrang Temple is located in Xiahe County, Gannan, Gansu Province. Its full Tibetan name is:“ Jiadan Xiazhudar Jizaxi Yisuqi has lang”, It means to have a happy talk about the building of the auspicious Youxuan Temple. It is called Zhaxiqi Temple for short, and is generally called Labrang Temple. Labrang Monastery is one of the six major monasteries of Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, and it is known as ““ World Tibetan Academy”. In its heyday, there were more than 4000 monks. In 1980, it was open to tourism

The first Jiamuyang Awang Master Song Zhe was founded in the 48th year of Kangxi (1709) of the Qing Dynasty. Established in the 53rd year of Kangxi (1714); Pull seal” (i.e. Jiamuyang Buddha Palace),“ Pull seal” The tone changes to“ Labling”, It means the highest living Buddha residence in the temple</ Div</ Div

1926年，洛克再次拍摄下坐落在大夏河（桑曲河）北岸台地上的拉卜楞寺景象。

1926年，洛克在拉卜楞寺看到正在交易牧草等物资的藏民。

1925年11月29日，洛克来到了夏河拉卜楞寺内的嘉木样活佛的府邸

1925年11月29日，洛克拍摄下拉卜楞寺内嘉木样活佛的府邸近景。

1925年11月30日，洛克拍摄下大夏河北岸台地上拉卜楞寺规模宏大的藏传佛教寺院建筑群的景况。

1926年，洛克从夏河旁边眺望对岸的拉卜楞寺贡堂塔等建筑。

1926年，洛克镜头下的拉卜楞寺闻思学院经堂，也称大经堂。

1926年，洛克再次拍摄下坐落在大夏河（桑曲河）北岸台地上的拉卜楞寺景象。

1926年4月30日，洛克拍摄下大夏河北岸台地上拉卜楞寺的远景。

1926年4月30日，洛克拍摄下大夏河北岸台地上拉卜楞寺的壮观景象。

1926年4月30日，洛克拍摄下拉卜楞寺大厨房景象，这里有五口直径近2米，深近1米的巨锅，这是拉卜楞寺用来煮酥油茶或米肉粥的，五口巨锅煮出的粥可供四千位僧人食用。

洛克从嘉木样活佛的府邸屋顶俯瞰拉卜楞寺东北角的景象。