The Iconography Of Tibetan Lamaism

The Iconography of Tibetan Lamaism is an authoritative text on the specifically Tibetan branch of Buddhism—one which possesses a rich visual history of Buddhist art and Iconagraphy. This book gives a descriptive outline of the principal gods in the Tibetan pantheon, tracing the main features and symbols that are used to denote each one. A Comprehensive illustrated list of the various ritual objects, talismans, symbols, mudras (symbolic hand poses), and asanas and vahanas (position of the lower limbs) that are used in the images of the gods is accompanied with a word list of the Sanskrit terms most commonly encountered in a study of Lamaism. A set of thirty-one thang-kas from the famous collection of Baron A. von Stael-Holstein, formerly of Peking, China, which came to America after the publication of the original edition of the book, has been included in this new and revised edition.

An informative overview of the intrinsic relationship of Buddhist deities to Tibetan art and well-captioned illustrations: temple paintings, books, wood blocks, ritual objects, robes, masks, metal work, more. 92 black-and-white illustrations.

In the Tibetan highlands Buddhism flowered in the form known as Lamaism, and the presence of religious art in Tibet has been universal, extending even to remote and secluded regions. This comprehensive treatise examines this artistic heritage, aided by copious color plates and line drawings. The iconography of the great Buddhist masters and saints is presented and the mystic and revelatory functions of Tibetan religious art is elucidated.