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Shinjey, Tamzhing Phala Choethpa: Final Day [Close shot]

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Library division & collection with this item:

LIBRARY DIVISION
Jerome Robbins Dance Division

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COLLECTION
Bhutan Dance Project, Core of Culture

This Item

Shinjey

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Title
Shinjey, Tamzhing Phala Choethpa: Final Day [Close shot]
Additional title: Dance of the Lord of Death and his Consort
Names
Core of Culture (Organization) (Producer)
Core of Culture (Organization) (Donor)
Collection

Bhutan Dance Project, Core of Culture

Dates / Origin
Date Created: 2005
Library locations
Jerome Robbins Dance Division
Shelf locator: *MGZIDF 715B
Topics
Dance -- Bhutan
Folk dancing -- Bhutan
Dance -- Religious aspects -- Buddhism
Rites & ceremonies -- Bhutan
Masks -- Bhutan
Festivals -- Bhutan
Dzongs -- Bhutan -- Bumthang (District)
Bumthang (Bhutan : District)
Sword-dance -- Bhutan
Genres
Filmed dance
Filmed performances
Notes
Biographical/historical: The Bodhisatva Manjusiri (Jampelyang) represents the body of Wisdom of all the Buddhas. When he takes on the appearance of the terrifying Lord of Death, he is known as Shinjey (Shin is Death and Jey means Lord). As the Lord of Death he is considered to be the ruler of the Three Worlds, which are under his protection. His wrathful Bull or Buffalo face guards the four continents and blesses them before the arrival on Earth of the gods of Wisdom. Sheljor The two consorts shake their heads as they pass each other. This movement is known as sheljor - bussing or face kissing - and it shows how close the two deities are to each other. Lopoen Phuntsho of Tamzhing thinks that this sheljor is only typically found in the Shinjey dance. Tenzing-la of Tamzhing thinks that it has the function of frightening the evil spirits. Lopoen Mindu of CMA says that it represents the wrathful aspect of the two Shinjey figures.
Biographical/historical: Tamzhing Phala Choethpa means the Tamzhing Festival of the Boar or Pig. Five kms drive from the Jakar town lies the Tamshing Lungrub Chholing which means the Temple of the Good message. In 1501 Pema Lingpa established it and now is the most important Nyingma goemba in the Kingdom. It is believed that Pema Lingpa had built the goemba with the assistance from Khandroma (female celestial deities/angels). Inside there are original images painted by Pema Lingpa. On the east side of the inner court lies a small lhakhang called as Dunkur Lhakhang. The lhakhang has an unusual design with the main chapel in the center of the assemble hall, almost like a separate building. In the front lies three thrones for the three incarnations (body, mind & speech) of Terton Pema Lingpa.
Content: Tamzhing Phala Choethpa Festival (Sept. 15, 2005: Day Four): Throzam - Wrathful-masked Zam dance ; Shinjey - Dance of the Lord of Death and his Consort (Laymen) ; Durdag - Dance of the Four Lords of the Charnel Grounds ; Tangrag Serkem Zhanag Cham - Black Hats Thanksgiving Dance ; Sangay Lingpai Nga Cham - The Drum Dance of Sangay Lingpa ; Chendren Ngama - Tseo Marpo - Manifestation of the Local Protector Deity.
Venue: Videotaped in performance at the Tamzhing Lhakhang/Monastery (Dance apron of main courtyard, corner looking across arena diagonal at the dancers' entrance), in Bumthang, on Sept. 15, 2005.
Acquisition: Gift; Core of Culture. NN-PD
Biographical/historical: Tamzhing Phala Choethpa is held for three days each year from the 10-12th day of 8th Bhutanese month. A Chamjug or rehearsal day is held on the 9th day of the Lunar Month.
Physical Description
Born digital
Extent: 1 video file (ca. 7 min.) : sound, color
Description
Shinjey Yab Yum - Dance of Yamantaka, the Lord of Death, and his Consort, each wearing wrathful Bull masks. This dance, which always occurs at the start of proceedings sees the pair clearing the arena of evil influence and blessing the site prior to the arrival on earth of the Deities that are to follow. (Shin means Death: Je means Lord) (Yab means Male: Yum means Female). This dance is a rare laymans' version of the dance normally performed by monks. They use the same costumes as used previously by the monks. The two versions make for an interesting analytical comparison. This is the first time we've seen a peasants' version. They use the same costumes as used previously by the monks. These two versions will be very interesting to compare analytically.
Type of Resource
Moving image
Identifiers
NYPL catalog ID (B-number): b19787686
Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 7d725eb0-8292-0130-c956-3c075448cc4b
Copyright Notice
Core of Culture
Rights Statement
This item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Item timeline of events

  • 2005: Created
  • 2013: Digitized
  • 2024: Found by you!
  • 2025

MLA Format

Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library. "Shinjey" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 2005. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/7d948740-8292-0130-c711-3c075448cc4b

Chicago/Turabian Format

Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library. "Shinjey" New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 25, 2024. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/7d948740-8292-0130-c711-3c075448cc4b

APA Format

Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library. (2005). Shinjey Retrieved from https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/7d948740-8292-0130-c711-3c075448cc4b

Wikipedia Citation

<ref name=NYPL>{{cite web | url=https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/7d948740-8292-0130-c711-3c075448cc4b | title= (moving image) Shinjey, (2005)|author=Digital Collections, The New York Public Library |accessdate=April 25, 2024 |publisher=The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations}}</ref>

Shinjey