This book made a name for the author in 1977 when it was first published at Wiesbaden, Germany. The book gives a general introduction to the background knowledge of Buddhism necessary for the understanding of Tibetan religious art, expounds the role played by Tibetan religious art in the religious belief of the Tibetans, makes an analysis of the Tibetan people's view on their religious artifacts, gives a clear explanation of various traditional arts, and makes a detailed description of the technological production process of various religious artifacts. With a preface by Wang Yao.

Li Yongxian, Tibetan Primitive Art, Sichuan People's Publishing House, Chengdu, January 1998. 328 pp. Illus. 20 cm. ISBN 7-220-03110-6. Hardcover.

An academic work dealing with ancient Tibetan art, including stone art, body adornment art, pottery art and rock paintings of Tibetan paleolithic age, neolithic age, bronze age down to the "Tubo tribal period." A systematic description of the development process of the Tibetan "primitive art."

Li Xinjian, ed, Tibetan Monastic Art, Chongqing Publishing House, Chongqing, March 1998. 232 pp. 21 cm. ISBN 7-5366-3832-9. Hardcover. Translated into English by Li Zhengzhong; photographed by Li Xinjian, et. al. Chinese-English bilingual edition.

An album of color pictures. Four parts: architecture, sculpture, frescoes, and thangkas. With 284 pictures reflecting the art of Tibetan Buddhism and a preface by Fei Xinbei, entitled "Soul of the Roof of the World: Art of Tibetan Buddhism."

Potala Editorial Board, ed, Potala: Tibetan Religious Art (2000-5), New Star Publishers, Beijing, 2000. 49 pp. Illus. 20 cm. ISBN 7-80148-322-7.

Eight articles, including "Tibetan Religious Art," "Various Schools of Tibetan Religious Art" and "In Search of the Gate to Mysterious Land of Happiness."

Painting, Calligraphy, and Seal Cutting

Tibet Autonomous Region Cultural Relics Administrative Committee, ed, Frescoes in Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries, Sichuan People's Publishing House, Chengdu, August 1994. 387 pp. Illus. 35×25 cm. ISBN 7-220-02570-X. Hardcover. Chinese-Tibetan-English trilingual edition.

A collection of 356 color pictures of Buddhist frescoes of Tibetan monasteries, each picture having a brief caption. The frescoes of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries are a treasure-house of rich Buddhist art and reflect the brilliant achievements of cultural exchanges between the Tibetan people and other ethnic groups in and outside China. With an article entitled "Fresco Art of Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries" by Huo Wei and Sonam Wangdu.

Xiong Wenbin, The Medieval Tibetan Buddhist Art: A Study of Mural Art of the Pelkor Chode Monastery, China Tibetology Publishing House, Beijing, November 1996. 240 pp. Illus. 20 cm. ISBN 7-80057-285-4.

A comprehensive description of the frescoes of the Pelkor Chode Monastery: their contents, dates, artistic styles as well as annotations on them. The book also gives the background of the frescoes and probes into relevant problems. With 53 pictures and a preface by Jin Weinuo. Appendixes: "A List of the Statues in the Pelkor Chode Monastery" and "Chinese-Tibetan-Sanskrit Names for Buddha Statues."

Phuntsok Namgyel, ed, photos by Abu, Dongkar Frescoes in Ngari, Tibet, Encyclopedia of China Publishing House, Beijing, January 1998. 137 pp. 29 cm. ISBN 7-5000-5901-9.

A pictorial album of about 200 color frescoes found in three of the grottoes at Dongkar, Zanda County, Ngari Prefecture. The editor came to the conclusion through analysis and research that these grottoes were carved in the early years of the "Latter Prosperity of Buddhism," i.e. during the 11th-12th century. All these frescoes were beautifully painted, with graceful and natural lines, unsophisticated bright colors, and neat and reasonable composition.

They are all well preserved.

Wang Leiyi, ed, Selected Statues of Tibetan Buddhism, Cultural Relics Publishing House, Beijing, October 1995. 195 pp. 17×18 cm. ISBN 7-5010-0814-0.

A collection of more than 100 line drawings of Tibetan Buddhist images, copies of thangkas compiled by the editor. With a preface by Wang Yinuan and an article entitled "A Brief Account of the Plastic Arts of Tibetan Buddhism" by the editor.

Kalzang, ed and tr, Measures on Painting Images of Buddhas Qinghai Ethnic Publishing House, Xining, 1996. 292 pp. Illus. 26 cm. ISBN 7-5420-0616-9. Hardcover.

A revised version of the first edition published in June 1992, which was listed in the Catalogue of Chinese Publications in Tibetan Studies (1992-1995), published by the Foreign Languages Press in 1997.

Tenpa Rabten, Tibetan Painting, China Tibetology Publishing House, Beijing, May 1996. 137 pp. Illus. 26 cm. ISBN 7-80057-203-X. Translated from Tibetan into Chinese by Ngawang Jigme.

A teaching material used in the Department of Art in Tibet University. The author is a well-known thangka painter. Written on the basis of his previous works and the artistry handed down from his ancestors. Four parts: an introduction to the history of Tibetan fine arts; measures and drawings of pictures; color and the compatibility of color; and method and proper steps for painting thangkas and frescoes. Appendix: "Glossary of Special Terms." With 10 illustrations on the history of Tibetan fine arts, 97 illustrations on proportion and measures, and 23 illustrations on the making of thangkas and frescoes. The text is in Tibetan; the second half of the book is its Chinese translation.

A collection of 378 paintings, most of them preserved in the Palace Museum. A comparative study of their title, content, artistic form, local characteristics, and the style of the times. The style of Tibetan Buddhist gilt and bronze images collected in the book are divided into three sections: foreign style, Tibetan local style and Chinese hinterland style. With the title, date, place of origin, metal nature, size, place where it is kept, and annotations of each statue, and an article by the author, entitled "An Introduction to the Gilt and Bronze Statues of Tibetan Buddhism."

Qu Yaofei and Zhang Husheng, Selected Illustrations from Tibetan Buddhist Scriptures, Tibetan People's Publishing House, Lhasa, December 1996. 193 pp. 18×17 cm. ISBN 7-223-00966-7.

193 illustrations in the Tibetan Buddhist sutra Astasahasrika-prajnapramita Sutra (Eight Thousand Prayers of Prajna). This sutra consists of 24 volumes, including 32 sections, and was translated from Sanskrit into Tibetan by Indian scholars Shakya Sena and Kyana Siddhi and Tibetan translator Lotsawa Dharma Dhashila. It contains more than 1,000 woodcut illustrations of the Buddha, Bodhisattvas, Avalokitesvara, Tara, eminent monks, great scholars, great sutra-translators and mahasiddhas (great adepts). The pictures reflect the achievements of Tibetan woodcut art. With an article written by Qu Yaofei, entitled "Unique Illustrations of Tibetan Buddhist Sutras."

Zhou Daguang, ed, New Tibetan Paintings, Ode to the Snowland: Selected Works of Nyima Tsering, Foreign Languages Press, Beijing, 1997. 17 pp. 17 cm. ISBN 7-119-01971-6.

A set of 12 picture postcards with rich Tibetan cultural and artistic flavor. Nyima Tsering was the late Tenth Panchen Lama's Painter.

Menla Dondrup and Duma Geshe Tenzin Phuntsok, Color Painting and Color Sculpture Art of Tibetan Buddhism: "Measures and Proportions Given by Tathagata Buddha" and "The Technological Process of Color Paintings," China Tibetology Publishing House, Beijing, June 1997. 153 pp. 18 cm. ISBN 7-80057-320-6. Translated from Tibetan into Chinese by Luo Bingfen.

Both "Measures and Proportions Given by Tathagata Buddha" and "The Technological Process of Color Paintings" are classics of Tibetan Buddhism on the theories of painting and sculpture. "Measures and Proportions Given by Tathagata Buddha" was written by Menla Dondrup in the thirties or forties of the fifteenth century. He was born at Lhodrak of Shannan, Tibet, and good at painting and sculpture. Many statues and frescoes in the Tashilhunpo Monastery were made by him. The Tibetan block edition of the book was carved at Ganden Monastery in 1675, and it has 24 pages. "The Technological Process of Color Paintings" is a Tibetan Buddhist monograph on color painting, written in 1758 with 68 pages. The author Duma Geshe Tenzin Phuntsok, born in 1725 in Chamdo, Tibet, was also a Tibetan medical and pharmaceutical master. Appendixes: "A List of Unit Terms for Tibetan Folk Painting and Carving," and "Tibetan-Chinese Glossary." With a preface by An Xu.

Tsondrup Lhagye, ed, A Detailed Explanation of the Long Scroll of Color Pictures: Tibetan Culture and Arts of China, Ethnic Publishing House, Beijing, February 1999. 689 pp. Illus. 26 cm. ISBN 7-105-03305-3. Hardcover.

"The long scroll of color pictures" is a picture scroll of well over 600 meters in length, a wonder entered in the Guinness Book of Records. The work was done with Tsondrup Lhagye as the production designer and organizer, and about 100 painters took part in the making of the scroll. This book is a detailed explanation of the long scroll, containing more than 70 articles by 30-odd authors about traditional Tibetan culture. With a foreword by Tsoru Tsenam, famous Tibetan physician.

Ai Xuan, Ai Xuan's Oil Paintings on Tibetan Vignettes, Sichuan Fine Arts Publishing House, Chengdu, February 1998. 17 pp. 28 cm. ISBN 7-5410-1380-3.

A collection of 18 realistic oil paintings.

Treasured Thangkas of Yonghegong Lamasery Compiling Committee, Treasured Thangkas of Yonghegong Lamasery (second edition), China Ethnic Photographic Art Publishing House, May 1998. 144 pp. Illus. 26 cm. ISBN 7-80069-182-9. Chinese-English bilingual edition.

"Thangka," a term transliterated from Tibetan, refers to varied religious scroll paintings preserved in monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism. Yonghegong, a monastery of Tibetan Buddhism in Beijing, has a collection of thousands of thangkas. This album contains a selection of thangkas preserved at Yonghegong. Four parts: guru teachers, yidams, Buddhas, and Protectors of the Dharma. The first edition of the album was published in October 1994; this second edition has reserved 43 pictures and added 20 pictures of the thangkas presented to the Qing court by eminent Tibetan monks during the Qing Dynasty. The title, size, and content interpretation of the picture is added to each thangka.

Gu Jianhua, ed, Thangka Art of Tibetan Buddhism in China, Religious Culture Publishing House, Beijing, August 1999. 143 pp. Illus. 28 cm. ISBN 7-80123-226-7.

A pictorial album of 131 thangkas. Five parts: guru teachers; bodhisattvas and Buddhas; tantric tutelary deities and Dharma protectors; arhats; and offerings.

Ma Jixiang and Alo Rinchen Gyelpo, A Collection of Line Drawings of Tibetan Buddhism, Beijing Arts and Crafts Publishing House, Beijing, January 1999. 353 pp.Illus. 26 cm. ISBN 7-80526-323-X.

The authors have been to Tibetan areas to collect, collate and study Tibetan cultural relics. This album contains rough sketches collected by them over the years. With an article by Jin Shen, entitled "Measures on Painting Images."

Ngawang Kelsang, The Art of Tibetan Decorative Patterns, Tibetan People's Publishing House, Lhasa, and Jiangxi Fine Arts Publishing House, Nanchang, May 1999. 247 pp. Illus. 28 cm. ISBN 7-80580-601-2.

A result of the author's five-year hard work, a collection of about a thousand Tibetan traditional patterns, copied by the author from original pictures. Patterns of varied aspects in different periods are demonstrated, including religious structures, buildings, household utensils, clothing and accessories, letters and symbols. With a brief interpretation for each pattern.

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Gansu Buddhist Seminary, ed, Tibetan Calligraphy, Gansu Ethnic Publishing House, Lanzhou, February 1995. 59 pp. 26 cm. ISBN 7-5421-0309-1. Copied by Yeshe Gyatso.

A teaching material for beginners, introducing the way of writing Tibetan letters, including the script with long strokes and short strokes, rhombus-shaped script, and cursive script. This book teaches learners starting from basic strokes, providing various examples and drawing different parts in details

.

Pari Sangye, A General Introduction to Tibetan Calligraphy, Ethnic Publishing House, Beijing, May 1997. 185 pp. 20 cm. ISBN 7-105-02628-6.

A systematic and detailed introduction to Tibetan calligraphy: its origin and development, various kinds of calligraphy, the making of paper, pens and colors, the way of holding a pen, and writing skills. Also on the composition of Tibetan calligraphy art and its aesthetic principles.

Kunga Sumpo, A Copybook of Tibetan Calligraphy: the Kham "Dezil" Style, Qinghai Ethnic Publishing House, Xining, June 1997. 92 pp. 26 cm. ISBN 7-5420-0652-5.

A brief introduction to the Tibetan regular and cursive scripts popular in Kham and Amdo, and to the stroke structure of six Tibetan written-language styles and the way of writing them. With a preface by Druro Gyatso.

Tsering Omgye, A Copybook of Tibetan Calligraphy , Sichuan Ethnic Publishing House, Chengdu, July 1998. 72 pp. 26 cm. ISBN 7-5409-2056-4.

An introduction to the two categories of Tibetan written language: regular script and cursive script, including rhombus-shaped, squat-shaped, semi-cursive, Ranza and Wade styles. With a detailed description of the structure of the strokes of every style and the way of writing it. Prefaced by Namkha Norbu and Khenrab Odser.

Dorje Tsering, A Copybook for Tibetan Calligraphy (1): Tshugthung Script, Ethnic Publishing House, Beijing, December 1998. 20 pp. 26 cm. ISBN 7-105-03261-8.

A copybook for Tshugthung script, one of the Tibetan scripts in common use.

Dorje Tsering, A Copybook for Tibetan Calligraphy (2): Cursive Script, Ethnic Publishing House, Beijing, December 1998. 37 pp. 26 cm. ISBN 7-105-03262-6.

A copybook for cursive script, one of the Tibetan scripts in common use.

Dorje Tsering, A Copybook for Tibetan Calligraphy (3): Drutsa Script, Ethnic Publishing House, Beijing, December 1998. 26 pp. 26 cm. ISBN 7-105-03263-4.

A copybook for Drutsa script, one of the Tibetan scripts in common use.

Dorje Tsering, A Copybook for Tibetan Calligraphy (4): Uchen Script, Ethnic Publishing House, Beijing, December 1998. 20 pp. 26 cm. ISBN 7-105-03327-4.

A copybook for Uchen script, one of the Tibetan scripts in common use.

A collection of ancient scripts before the time of Thonmi Sambhota, including the Banye script of Tazig, Marchen and Marchung scripts of Shangshung, God-sent script, the Uchen and Ume scripts created by Thonmi Sambhota and various scripts evolved from them. Various new scripts and Tibetan symbols and numerals are also included. All the scripts and symbols were copied from relevant documentary materials.

Photography and Handicraft

Zhao Chunjiang, Zhao Chunjiangs Photographic Album of Tibetan Vignettes, Jilin Photography Publishing House, Changchun, March 1996. 19×21 cm. ISBN 7-80606-057-X. Edited by Li Li.

With more than 70 photos of varied plateau landscapes, local religious practice and Tibetan people. With an article by Gao Jiheng, entitled "Mysterious Sky: Impressions of Zhao Chunjiang's Photographic Exhibition of Tibetan Vignettes."

Heng Kao, Local Customs in Amdo: Heng Kao's Collection of Photographic Works, Gansu People's Fine Arts Publishing House, Lanzhou, January 1997. 64 pp. Illus. 24×26 cm. ISBN 7-80588-168-5.

The author is a Tibetan amateur photographer, also named Khore Sonam Wanshul. He has engaged in photographic creation in the Amdo Tibetan areas (part of Qinghai, Sichuan, and Gansu) since 1985. This album contains 80-odd pictures selected from his works taken during the past ten years, showing the simple and honest local customs and colorful folk culture in the Amdo Tibetan areas. With a preface by Kunphel Drashi and a profile of the author. Chinese-Tibetan-English trilingual edition.

Xue Huake, Tibetans, China Photography Publishing House, Beijing, May 1997. 130 pp. Illus. 26 cm. ISBN 7-80007-225-8. Hardcover.

One hundred and twenty-six photos, showing the life style of ethnic Tibetans. Chinese-English bilingual edition.

Wu Jianping, Portraits of Tibetans, China Photography Publishing House, Beijing, May 1997. 128 pp. 26 cm. ISBN 7-80007-226-6. Hardcover. Chinese-English bilingual edition.

A collection of 128 black-and-white photos taken realistically, showing the simple, honest and tenacious character of the Tibetans.

Che Gang, Majestic Plateau, Tibetan People's Publishing House, Lhasa, February 1998. 109 pp. Illus. 25×26 cm. ISBN 7-223-01108-4. Hardcover.

An album of color pictures, representative works of Che Gang's 15 years of photographic career, introducing magnificent and beautiful Tibet under several special topics such as "Impressions of Tibet," "Qomolangma and Her Brothers," "Places the Mother River Flows Through," "Brilliant Golden Roof," "Boundless Changtang," "Eastern Fairy Tales," "The Remote Western Region," and "Buddha's Light in the Snowland." With "A Tourist Map of the Tibet Autonomous Region" and a preface by Lecho. Chinese-English bilingual edition.

Wan Yuchuan, ed, Tibetan Architecture, Clothing and Accessories: Pan Zhilin's Photographic Album, Sichuan Ethnic Publishing House, Chengdu, September 1998. 105 pp. Illus. 28×29 cm. ISBN 7-5409- 2099-8. Hardcover. Chinese-English bilingual edition.

A large photographic album by Pan Zhilin, a Tibetan painter, with many photos taken by him on the plateau of northwest Sichuan, including religious architecture, domestic architecture, doors, windows, pillars, artistic carvings, pagodas, watchtowers, temples, indoor and outdoor decorations, festival ornaments, headdress, daily clothing and accessories, and religious clothing and accessories, reflecting the living conditions, history, culture, folk customs, religious belief, and aesthetic standards of the Tibetan people living in the Snowland.

Tsalpa Tashi, A Glittering Jewel on the Plateau: Tsalpa Tashi's Photographic Album of Markam, Great Wall Publishing House, Beijing, January 1999. Illus. 116 pp. 29×29 cm. ISBN 7-80017-404-2. Hardcover. Chinese-Tibetan-English trilingual edition.

An album of color pictures introducing the natural landscapes, farming, animal husbandry, forestry, culture, education, industry, city construction, communications and transportation of Markam County, situated in the Hengduan Mountains in the southeastern part of Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet.

Lu Chuanqiang, People of Tibetan Areas in Gannan , China Workers Publishing House, Beijing, January 2000. 32 pp. Illus. 28 cm. ISBN 7-5008-2348-7. China Visual Arts Library.

An album of 56 color photos about people in the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province, including monks, women and children.

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Ma Jianshe, Ethnic Arts and Crafts on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Qinghai People's Publishing House, Xining, February 1999. 270 pp. Illus. 20 cm. ISBN 7-225-01696-2.

The evolution, exchanges and process of development of the ethnic arts and crafts on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Three parts: prehistoric times, ancient times and modern times, dealing with the history of development and artistic characteristics of various kinds of arts and crafts including metal, carving, embroidery, clothing and accessories, pottery, porcelain, and leather.

Wangmu and An Xu, ed, Tibetan Carving Art, China Archives Publishing House, Beijing, January 1998. 144 pp. Illus. 28 cm. ISBN 7-80019-746-8. Hardcover. Chinese-English-Tibetan trilingual edition.

With an introduction to the origin, development, artistic style and craftsmanship of the Tibetan carving and sculpture. Five parts: Buddhist images; architectural carving; religious instruments and offerings; applied carvings; rock painting, wood covers of sutras and seal cutting. With a total of 147 pictures.

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Yang Jiaming, et al, Tibetan Architectural Art. Sichuan People's Publishing House, Chengdu, August 1998. 140 pp. Illus. 30 cm. ISBN 7-220-04185-3. Hardcover. Chinese-English bilingual edition.

A collection of 300 color photos of Tibetan architecture, divided into nine sections, including palace buildings, the ruins of the capital of Guge Kingdom, monastic buildings, Buddhist pagodas, watchtowers, domestic buildings, and bridges. With a preface by the authors, entitled "A Survey of the Tibetan-Style Architectural Art."

Huang Weizhong, ed, Domestic Buildings in Tibet, China Intercontinental Press, Beijing, December 1996. 17 pp. Illus. 19×19.5 cm. ISBN 7-80113-178-9. Tibet Pictorial Series.

A collection of 20-odd color photos, introducing the villages near Xigaze characteristic of the domestic building style of the Tsang region, newly constructed Tibetan-style domestic buildings at Lhasa, herdsmen's tents on the North Tibet Plateau, and the Tibetan-style architectural decorations.

Music and Dance

Tian Liantao, ed, A Gem of Traditional Tibetan Music: A Collection of the Well-known Folk Artist Chungpochen's Songs, Tibetan People's Publishing House, Lhasa, December 1996. 464 pp. Illus. 18 cm. ISBN 7-223-00969-1.

A record of the singing performance content and style of the Tibetan well-known folk artist Chungpochen (1920-1985). A collection of 93 traditional Tibetan music pieces, 90 of them being copied from the audio-tapes recorded in 1960 while he worked as a teacher with the Arts Department of the Central Institute for National Minorities, and the other three being taken from other materials, including 34 thoshae，17 nangma ，18 gorshe，10 thopashe，11 repashe，and 3 folk songs. With a preface by Tseten Drolma and He Yongcai.

Ode to Kong Fansen Compiling Committee, Ode to Kong Fansen, Shandong Literature and Art Publishing House, Jinan, March 1996. 193 pp. 20 cm. ISBN 7-5329-1323-6

Eighty-two songs selected from the "Ode to Kong Fansen" activities conducted by the Shandong Provincial Party Committee Publicity Department, including prize-winning works "Devotion," "Folks of Ngari Miss you," and "Wholehearted Devotion to the Snowland."

Luo Nianyi, Song of Laundresses: A Collection of Songs Composed by Luo Nianyi, Tibetan People's Publishing House, Lhasa, July 1998. 421 pp. Illus. 20 cm. ISBN 7-223-00999-3.

A collection of 169 musical works written by the well-known composer during his 46 years of stay in Tibet, including "How Can We Refrain from Singing," "Beautiful Tibet, My Beloved Homeland," and "Song of Laundresses." With a preface by Li Jiajun, an article by Liang Maochun, entitled "He comes from Snow-Capped Mountains: A Comment on Luo Nianyi's Musical Works" and an article by Wang Litian and Liu Bingkui, entitled "Song of Laundresses and Its Composer."

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Ome Gyeltsen, Repa on the Snowland, Ethnic Publishing House, Beijing, November 1998. 364 pp. Illus. 20 cm. ISBN 7-105-03017-8. Tibetan-Chinese bilingual edition.

Eleven articles, introducing the origin, spread and development of the Repa dance, including "A Brief Introduction to the Life of Milarepa," "Probing into the Origin and Development of Repa," "The Spread of Repa and Tibetan Folk Culture and Arts," "Classification of Repa," "Skills of Repa Dance," and "The Performance Procedure of Traditional Repa Dance." Repa songs popular in various periods are also collected.