Wisdom and Compassion

For centuries the priciples of Buddhism have inspired Tibetan artists to create some of the world's most sophisticated, profound and beautiful art. Tangkas, paintings, sculptures and mandalas provide a window on the enlightened realm of pure wisdom, the perfected universe that represents the ultimate goal of Buddhism. This book shows, explains and celebrates 240 Tibetan Buddhist works of art. Spanning a millenium, from the 9th to the 19th centuries, and ranging from tiny ivory carvings to a large-scale tapestry, these pieces are presented in terms of their religious meaning, their purpose and function.