Book Description
These five magnificent volumes introduce the history and culture of Tibet from the Paleolithic Age to the 1940s through over 700 precious cultural relics. It is divided chronologically into five volumes, covering arts, architecture, cultures, politics, military affairs, religions, science, technology, trade and business, transportation, social life, etc. Each volume has many special topics with a brief essay that provides information about important events and cultural features in the related period. Most of the objects in these five volumes are rarely known and are published here for the first time. They belong the monasteries and institutions in Tibet, and include a wide range of materials: paintings (both Thangkas and wall paintings), sculptures, manuscripts, excavated relics, and ritual objects. Superbly photographed, each object is fully described. Volume 1 Prehistoric Age and Tubo Period ranges from stone tools of 50,000 years ago to the sculptures, paintings, and musical instruments of the mid-ninth century. Volume 2 The Period of Separatist Regimes covers mid-ninth to thirteenth century. It highlights surviving wall paintings, sculptures and artifacts from ruined temples. Volume 3 Yuan Dynasty and Ming Dynasty (1206-1644 AD) see increasing Chinese influence and Volume 4 Qing Dynasty presents historical relics between Tibet and the Qing court. Volume 5 Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China includes various minor arts and historical documents.