Author: Meulenbeld, Ben

A thangka literally means something that can be rolled up. Thangkas originated as a means for monks to carry the life and teachings of the Buddha to the people through the visual medium of paintings. These paintings could be taken on journeys, used as traveling altars, or hung in honor of specific deities. As old thangkas are rare and expensive, an increasing number of Nepalese and Tibetan artists are creating modern thangkas to meet demand. This sumptuously illustrated book contains 37 thangkas that present a pictorial life of the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, and the evolution of Tibetan Buddhism.