Description
On a willow-covered island in a sacred pond behind Tibet’s Potala Palace is a pagoda-roofed temple that was built in the eighteenth century. Unknown artists created a series of mysterious paintings on the walls of the temple’s private chapel, and these masterpieces of Tibetan art are reproduced in this extraordinary publication.
The chapel was reserved exclusively for the Dalai Lamas as a place of meditation and spiritual retreat, and for centuries the murals guided them in mystical contemplation.
At the heart of the book are 150 color photographs of the murals and their temple by Thomas Laird. Ian Baker’s text places these remarkable works within their historical and cultural perspective and is augmented by accounts from other Tibetan sources. A special feature of the book is an introduction and quotations by Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama.
Reviews
Fascinating …Laird’s awesome photographs capture the high quality of these Tibetan masterpieces.
— Library Journal
Immensely impressive in scope and style …a timeless work, one for readers to dip into again and again over the years.
— New Age Retailer
An unforgettable art book from Thames & Hudson.
— Publishers Weekly
This is a magnificent book, which should be seen and read by all those interested in Tibet, Buddhism, spirituality, art, and culture.
— The Explorers Journal
Contributors
Ian A. Baker
Author
Ian Baker’s many writings include The Tibetan Art of Healing.
His Holiness The Dalai Lama
Introduction By
Thomas Laird
Preface By
Thomas Laird’s work has appeared in National Geographic, Newsweek, and elsewhere.
