Devoted to a period of extraordinary cultural achievement - from the 11th to the mid-15th century - when Tibet became known as the Buddhist holy land - this book accompanies a major touring show opening at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art in October 1998. It includes a collection of exquisite "thankas" (paintings) that incorporated traditions from eastern India; Nepal and China as well as the Tibetans' own Buddhist imagery. Though Tibet was closed to the West until the early-20th century; many thankas have survived in Western collections and these have been brought together on exhibition for the first time. The book also features scholarly essays that provide historical; stylistic and technical information.
#1911834 in Books 2011-09-30Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.25 x .70 x 5.50l; .65 #File Name: 0810127954224 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. An extraordinary book.By Robert W. EshbachThis is a beautiful and important book that I cannot recommend too highly; and that I will not forget: “Prisoner of Her Past;†Howard Reich’s family memoir of growing up in Chicago with parents who had survived the Holocaust; and of his Mother’s late-life struggle with late-onset Post Traumatic Stress Disorder resulting from her unfathomably brutal childhood experiences. It is an extraordinarily loving and humane look at his Mother’s life and a clear-eyed look at her disease — in a way; the diametrical opposite of dementia — which is characterized by extreme awareness of her surroundings (a survival mechanism from her childhood); coupled with paranoid delusions that people want to kill her. As she aged and her symptoms began to express themselves; Reich went to extraordinary lengths to understand his Mother’s childhood experience — something she had concealed; and would not talk about — reading the existing documents; going back to her little Polish village; talking with residents; visiting the house she grew up in; seeing the Jewish cemetery; and the places where so many perished.Reich brings this all into the present: “Surveying the psychological wreckage of the war this many years later; I couldn’t help thinking of the children of the world today — in Iraq; Israel; Gaza; the West Bank; Afghanistan; Darfur; Liberia. Youngsters in these war-torn places are suffering experiences with too many similarities to those my mother and father endured. These children; too; typically receive scant treatment for a disorder virtually unrecognized by practicing psychiatrists…†In making a compelling case for understanding late-onset PTSD; he writes: “PTSD may be the most patient and persistent of illnesses; content to wait half a century or more to unleash its full wrath; when its victims are old; weak; and at their most vulnerable.â€He concludes his book: “Now when I look at my mother — small; frail but defiant — I’m awed by her heroism in standing up to the horrors she believes she is facing once again. At last; I know and love my mother for who she really is; a woman whose steadfastness as a child saved her life and eventually gave life to me and so many others; a hero who to this day wants nothing more than to live; and to protect the lives of those she loves.â€This is an extraordinary book.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. About a brave womanBy A. BiancalanaThis book is very well written and informative. I didn't know that post traumatic stress disorder could appear many years after the trauma; while at first the person appears to function just fine. But the same book is published under a different title and I bought both not knowing that.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Four StarsBy Patricia GraunkeThe book was very good; but I ordered two copies and only received the first one.
