Catalogue of Tibetan Mandalas

by Anne Burchardi

This visually stunning catalogue presents c. 300 iconographical materials and texts from the Tibetan collections of the Royal Library and the National Museum of Denmark. Most of the entries describe such iconographical materials as mandalas, elemental divination paintings, ritual 'tsak li’ cards and prayer flags. Unique handwritten meditation manuals, a Mongolian Book of the Dead, illuminated manuscripts as well as philosophical and medical works are also featured. These remarkable materials, which represent rare and unique forms of communication between man and nature in written and iconographical forms, play a central role in the performance of Buddhist and shamanistic rituals. In line with other volumes in the COMDC series, this catalogue is intended as a reference tool for scholars. It also supplements an earlier title in the series, the Catalogue of Tibetan Manuscripts and Xylographs, COMDC 6.1 & 6.2. In addition to rich descriptive detail, the catalogue includes over 250 colour illustrations.

Anne Burchardi, former Curator of the Tibetan Collection at The Royal Library of Denmark, holds an MA in Tibetology and has been teaching Tibetology as an External Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen for the past 18 years. Her research focuses on Buddhist literature, philosophy and metaphysics.

Publication year: 2016
320 pp / 279mm x 224mm
richly illustrated
ISBN: 978-87-7694-172-7, Hardback

NIAS Press