Books on Himalayas
We also have rare and out-of-print books on Himalayas, Central Asia, China
BHUTANESE TALES OF THE YETI
by Choden, Kunzang
US$ 14.50
Book order code : E 21 947
A collection of twenty-two stories set in four different regions of Bhutan. Belief in the yeti is ubiquitous in the Kingdoms of the Himalayas, where beliefs and attitudes related to it go beyond scientific judgment and analysis. The Bhutanese consider the yeti, or the migoi, to be an essential part of the backdrop of thier existence. Believed to possess supernatural powers enabling it to become invisible at will, the yeti oten manifests itself in a tangible from and then suddenly vanishes, leaving behind nothing but an unexpected void. Folklore about the abominable snowman has existed for centuries: however, with the far-reaching impact of the media, the perpetuation of this oral tradition is threatened. This collection of stories is an attempt to document a vital tradition before it is wiped out entirely.
(Bangkok 1997) ISBN 974-8496-87-2
165 pp., 23 pp. illus., 150 x 210 mm, pbk.
FOLKTALES OF BHUTAN
by Choden, Kunzang
US$ 15.50
Book order code : E 21 668
This first attempt of a Bhutanese to record in English the oral tradition of this kingdom comprises a collection of 38 folktales and legends. The rugged and awesome terrain of Bhutan, which cherished a self-imposed isolation for centuries, and the people's closeness to nature, together with their philosophy of karmic life cycles, an unquestioning belief in unseen co-inhabitants of the earth-like spirits, ghosts and demons, and the creative genius of the storytellers culminated in a remarkable repository of tales and legends which were passed on and developed through generations.
(Bangkok 1994) ISBN 974-8495-96-5
197 pp., illus., 148 x 210 mm, pbk.
THE CULTURAL MONUMENTS OF THE TIBET'S OUTER PROVINCES
AMDO : Volume 1. The Qinghai Partby Gruschke, A.
US$ 43.50
Book order code : E 22 229
This book presents the fascinating world of northeast Tibet's historical and cultural monuments. The author's original studies reveal that Tibetan culture is thriving. Tibetans have rebuilt their economy and revitalized their traditional way of life. East Tibet has not until now been thoroughly researched although it comprises about two-thirds of the Tibetan Plateau. This book provides comprehensive information on unknown sites in Amdo. The first volume starts with the famous Kumbum Monastery. Next, the major lamaseries of Tsongkha and the Yellow River bend are described with a historical outline of northeast Tibet. Detailed descriptions of the major historic sites will help understand their development, as well as locating sites and understanding what can be seen there. Amdo includes densely populated Tsongkha with Muslim, Han-Chinese and Tibetan communities, the realm of Ngolok's sacred Amnye Machen mountain and the vast empty steppes and deserts of the central highland and Tsaidam basin. The pastoral world of the formerly notorious Ngolok nomads and their religious realm are also described.
(Bangkok 2001) ISBN 974-7534-59-2
308 pp., 100 pp. color illus., 210 x 290 mm, pbk.
THE CULTERAL MONUMENTD OF THE TIBET'S OUTER PROVINCES
AMDO : Volume 2. The Gansu and Sechuan Parts of Amdoby Gruschke, Andreas
US$ 43.50
Book order code : E 22 230
The second volume reveals that Tibetans have rebuilt their economy and revitalized their traditional way of life. Despite Tibet being an issue, east Tibet has not until now been thoroughly researched, though it comprises about two thirds of the Tibetan Plateau. It is astounding, therefore, that the West knows hardly anything about it. This book makes up this deficit, providing interested readers with comprehensive information about unknown sites in Amdo, which are fascinating and puzzling, as well as their role in history.
This second volume on Amdo first presents unknown Tibetan Buddhist art and hitherto overlooked Sino-Tibetan lamaseries on the silk Road fringes. Labrang Monastery in the Tibeto-Chinese borderlands highlights the nexus between Tibet, East and Central Asia. Continuing south in Gansu, the Sichuan part of Amdo contains a wealth of local Tibetan cultural centres. The importance of the Ngawa Gelugpa realm and the last Jonangpa communities in Dzamthang have been absolutely underestimated for centuries. This book helps to dispel some of the uninformed views which have been spread in the West.
Detailed descriptions of the major historic sites facilitate understanding of their development, and provides guidance to find the sights and understand what can be seen there. One can prepare a tour to this region in advance by going through this presentation of the extraordinary cultural monuments presented in this volume. Serta, the world's largest Buddhist academy, virtually unknown, has impressive architectural features such as the Jonang chörten and temple towers seen nowhere else in Tibet. These add to the hidden treasures of Amdo's living and revitalized Buddhist tradition. The region presented in this book is one of diversity in a highland realm that for long was neglected in respect of its historic and cultural importance.
(Bangkok 2001) ISBN 974-7534-90-3
263 pp., 80 pp. color illus., 210 x 290 mm, pbk.
THE CULTERAL MONUMENTS OF TIBET'S OUTER PROVINCES
KHAM : Volume 1. The TAR Part of Kham
(Tibet Autonomous Region)by Gruschke, Andreas
US$ 43.50
Book order code : E 22 359
Kham in the Tibeto-Chinese borderlands are not just some bigger lamaseries along the old China-Lhasa trade route, with Chamdo and some minor monasteries far from the heartland of Tibetan culture. This detailed survey of the cultural monuments of Tibet's outer provinces reveals that Tibetan culture is neither extinct in Tibet proper nor in the outer provinces of Amdo and Kham. Their inhabitants' accomplishments in rebuilding monasteries, restructuring the economy and revitalizing the traditional way of life are among the most fascinating recent events in Asia. Thus the author of this work takes it as his expression of admiration and respect for what Tibetans have accomplished within the last decades. The author has visited and thoroughly documented many of the unknown sites in Amdo and Kham, among them highly active monastic establishments with hundreds or even thousands of monks, or hidden treasures of Tibet's living and revitalized Buddhist tradition. In presenting this study of the cultural monuments in eastern Tibet, he covered a variety of historical, economic or religio-philosophical aspects in order to explain and evaluate the differences and the common features within the Tibetan cultural context.The wealth of materials has made it both necessary and awarding to publish several volumes dealing with the historical monuments of east Tibet, of which three volumes present the fascinating world of east Tibetans in Kham: vol. 1 on those parts administratively belonging to the Tibet Autonomous Region, vol. 2 on the Qinghai and vol. 3 on the Yunnan and Sichuan parts of Kham.
(Bangkok 2004) ISBN: 974-4800-49-6
166 pp., 45map, fully in col., 210 x 295 mm, pbk.
THE CULTERAL MONUMENTS OF TIBET'S OUTER PROVINCES
KHAM : Vol 2 The Qinghai Part of Khamby Gruschke, Andreas
US$ 63.00
Book order code : E 22442
Kham in the Tibeto-Chinese borderlands is not just some bigger lamaseries along the old China-Lhasa trade route, with Chamdo and some minor monasteries far from the heartland of Tibetan culture. This detailed survey of the cultural monuments of Tibet's outer provinces reveals that Tibetan culture is neither extinct in Tibet proper nor in the outer-provinces of Amdo and Kham. Their inhabitants' accomplishments in rebuilding monasteries, restructuring the economy and revitalizing the traditional way of life are among the most fascinating recent events in Asia. Thus the author of this work takes it as his expression of admiration and respect for what Tibetans have accomplished within the last decades. The author has visited and thoroughly documented many of the unknown sites in Amdo and Kham, among them highly active monastic establishments with hundreds or even thousands of monks, or hidden treasures of Tibet's living and revitalized Buddhist tradition. In presenting this study of the cultural monuments in eastern Tibet, he covered a variety of historical, economic or religio-philosophical aspects in order to explain and evaluate the differences and the common features within the Tibetan cultural context. The wealth of materials has made it both necessary and awarding to publish several volumes dealing with the historical monuments of east Tibet, of which three volumes present the fascinating world of east Tibetans in Kham: vol. 1 on those parts administratively belonging to the Tibet Autonomous Region, vol. 2 on the Qinghai and vol. 3 on the Yunnan and Sichuan parts of Kham.
(Bangkok, 2005) ISBN 974-4800-61-5
334 pp., fully illus. in col., 27 maps, 210 x 295 mm
THE THRONE OF THE GODS
: An Account of the First Swiss Expedition to the Himalayasby Heim, Arnold & August Gansser
US$ 25.00
Book order code : E 22 172
Originally published in German in 1938 and in English in 1939, this account was written by two geologists whose eight months journey in the Himalayas took them through the then "forbidden" lands of Nepal and Tibet, culminating at Mt. Kailas, "The Throne of The Gods." Apart form their geological studies, altitudes were measured (using barometric observations). The lives of the people, animals, and plants were recorded, both among the crags and glaciers of the high mountains and also on the way there through the plains and foothills of India. The return journey included a visit to the source of the Ganges. A wealth of period photos and maps makes this book a valuable resource for naturalists, geologists, and mountaineers. With a new Foreword by A. Gansser.
(Bangkok 2000; repr. from 1939) ISBN 974-7534-31-2
385 pp., 120 pp. illus., 1 col. map, 1 foldout chart, 1 foldout panoramic view, 150 x 210 mm, pbk.
THE PHUR-PA
: Tibetan Ritual Daggersby Huntington, John C.
US$ 111.00
Book order code : I 727
The “far reaching” arrow or bolt as a means of controlling negative factors in one’s life is a phenomenon occurring in many circum Pacific cultures. But nowhere has it reached the importance and complex development that the phur pa achieved in association with Buddhism in the Nepalo Tibetan regions. This study is an attempt to survey the iconography of the manifold types of phur pa and to set up broad categories of classification based on iconographic elements. A considerable variety of implements is examined and analyzed in order to determine their relationship to underlying principles. In each case it will be seen that nothing less than the force of the Universal itself is brought to bear on the subject of concern.
(Ascona, no date)
83 pp., 62 pp. illus. 240 x 320 mm
We also have rare and out-of-print books on Himalayas, Central Asia, China
