Customer Reviews

Wisdom and Compassion: The Sacred Art of Tibet (Expanded Edition)

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I wish I had seen the exhibition of which this beautiful book is the catalogue. It must have been breathtaking. This is more than a catalogue, it is a reference book, beginning with an overview and four informative introductory essays. The Catalogue itself is divided into twelve specific areas/types of Tibetan Sacred Art. These cover not only the different representations of the Shakyamuni Buddha, Arhats, Boddhisattvas and others, but also the four Tibetan Buddhist Orders. The Illustations are very clear and many detailed illusrtrations and graphs help to explain the Thangaks and Mandalas. The text is very informative, and the book is also printed and bound well.... A truly wonderful gift.

This is one book you can judge by it's cover. It is fabulous. The photos of Tibetan paintings and statuary are simply beautiful. In some cases, such as a Tibetan thangka painting of Shakyamuni buddha's life, the whole painting is shown first, then close-up shots of other parts of the painting are shown for a more detailed view. Scenes from the painting are then explained. Anyone who has tried to decipher the meaning in a thangka, knows that without the help of experts, it is nearly impossible to capture the true story. Marylin Rhie and Robert Thurman help unlock the mysteries in a book with stunning photography, history and artful explanations. If you are interested in Tibetan iconography, a collector, buddhist or an art student--BUY IT, you'll love it!

Tibet's sacred art is a large, ancient and complex subject. Here, it is made invitingly comprehensible even to those unfamiliar with Buddhist thought and culture. With matchless insight and clarity, Wisdom and Compassion brings an understanding of Tibet's uniquely developed culture within our grasp. It is a book that astonishes, informs, and inspires.

See also Rhie's important study: Early Buddhist Art of China and Central Asia, Volume 1: Later Han, Three Kingdoms and Western Chin in China and Bactria to Shan-Shan in Central Asia (Handbook of Oriental Studies: Section 4 China) and Early Buddhist Art of China and Central Asia: Part 4, Vol. 12 (2 Vol. Set, Text and Plates) (Handbook of Oriental Studies/Handbuch Der Orientalistik)

A big, handsome piece of work from Abrams: 488 pp, almost 5 pounds, large format, with dustjacket.

Red cloth with gold details over hardback boards. Glossary, Bibliography, Index, Supplement. Approximately 400 color illustrations.