A Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols

by Robert Beer

Long a student and practitioner of Tibetan thangka painting, Beer has recently concentrated on iconographic drawings and symbols. Here he synthesizes material from his 1999 Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs and his contribution to the 2000 Deities of Tibetan Buddhism by Martin Willson and Martin Brauen into an easily accessible format. He provides a detailed table of contents, but no index. Annotation 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Genres: Buddhism, Reference, Religion, Art, Philosophy, Spirituality, Research

256 pages, Paperback

First published September 10, 2003

About the author

Robert Beer has studied and practiced Tibetan thangka painting for thirty years, including five years of study with master artists Jampa of Dharamsala and Khamtrül Rinpoche of Tashijong. Beer is one of the first Westerners to become actively involved in this art form. Over the last two decades he has concentrated on an extensive series of iconographical drawings depicting the major deities, lineage holders, and symbols that occur in the spectrum of Tibetan art.

Reviews

[Erik Steevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

In fact, it is not a book to be read from cover to cover. It is a book for studying the Tibetian art used in drawings and paintings and also in sculptures. It will be a thankful source for my own drawing and painting skills.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

understately AMAZING visual resource. the most delicate, yet the strongest of line work of images ranging from ornate animals to obtusely decorative animals to severed limbs...

[Carl Liu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cool, lots of interesting information and just pleasing to look at.

[Paul Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

lots of beautiful linedrawings in the tibetan style. a good tibetan studies resource to have around. most of the descriptions and history are about the hindu origins . A good amount of reference to Tibetan culture too though.

[Ayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! My go-to resource for my interest in Indo-Tibetan symbolism and mythology.