Matthew T. Kapstein

Exploring the long history of cultural exchange between 'the Roof of the World' and 'the Middle Kingdom,' Buddhism Between Tibet and China features a collection of noteworthy essays that probe the nature of their relationship, spanning from the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 CE) to the present day. Annotated and contextualized by noted scholar Matthew Kapstein and others, the historical accounts that comprise this volume display the rich dialogue between Tibet and China in the areas of scholarship, the fine arts, politics, philosophy, and religion. This thoughtful book provides insight into the surprisingly complex history behind the relationship from a variety of geographical regions.

Includes contributions from Rob Linrothe, Karl Debreczeny, Elliot Sperling, Paul Nietupski, Carmen Meinert, Gray Tuttle, Zhihua Yao, Ester Bianchi, Fabienne Jagou, Abraham Zablocki, and Matthew Kapstein.… (más)

Thirteen centuries of religious traditions in Tibet (primarily Bon and Buddhist) described alongside the political background of known Tibetan history. While fairly technical in terminology, a layman such as myself with some understanding of the situation and of Buddhism will have little trouble following along. The actual narrative is perhaps 110 pages, with the balance a lengthy notes section. Very informative regarding variations in Buddhist philosophy and techniques (especially the clarifications on tantric practices and the real meaning of the mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum"), as well as connections with China and Manchuria over the centuries. The brevity of the text makes the descriptions a bit choppy, but there are many sources quoted and described for the reader to use for further reading.… (más)

This is a wonderful book about the history of Tibet, and insofar as I can tell, unique. I have been doing a lot of reading on Tibet, it's art, history and culture, and that is a difficult task, due to the specialized nature of the literature out there. If you want to read a book on spirituality, you can find it. A book on Tibetan art can also be had. But if you want to find out how that art is related to spirituality, and how it plays into the politics and the people of the region, I can report that it is frustratingly difficult to do. Until now, that is.

This book is a wonderful synthesis, and I'd recommend it to anyone interested in this region for whatever reason, whether you're on a spiritual or academic journey, or just plain curious about what makes that part of the world tick.

This is the book I wish I had started my studies with. I would recommend it to anyone who is curious about these matters as the perfect starting
point.

Intriguingly, Kapstein covers all the bases of folklore, politics, etc., and gives a lot of indications about how little is known about several areas. There is still a lot of mystery about the "Land of Snows". This book covers what's known, and points the reader in the direction of the work that remains to be done to complete the picture.

Readable, thorough, and intriguing.… (más)