Namseling Manor

World Monuments Watch
near Shannan, Tibet Autonomous Region, China

1996 and 1998 World Monuments Watch

Namseling Manor is among the rarest and most revealing examples of Tibetan vernacular architecture. Although the destruction of the Tibetan Buddhist heritage is well known, the demise of Tibet's great manor houses, palaces, fortresses, and noble estates – a phenomenon of equal import – has been ignored. Up until 1959, this seven-story country residence was occupied by members of the Namseling family who oversaw the surrounding gardens, orchards, farmland, and stables. One of only six extant Tibetan manor houses, Namseling is especially conspicuous because it stands alone in its landscape, with no modern buildings intruding on it. The Tibetan religious community has remained uninterested in preserving Namseling because it is a former fief. But since the building's plight was made known, largely because of World Monuments Watch listing, progress has been made, including structural stabilization, the rebuilding of a porch, and removal and recording of debris. In order for the goal to be met of making the house into a cultural center, funds are needed for documentation and technical assistance.

Last updated: July 2017.

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