TY - BOOK AU - Van Ham,Peter TI - Guge - ages of gold: the West-Tibetan masterpieces SN - 9783777426686 AV - N7346.T5 V36 2016 U1 - 709.51/5 23 PY - 2016///] CY - [Munich] PB - Hirmer KW - Buddhist art KW - China KW - Tibet Autonomous Region KW - Buddhist gods in art KW - Buddhist sculpture KW - Buddhist painting KW - Buddhist temples KW - Manuscripts, Tibetan KW - To 1500 KW - Painting, Tibetan KW - Tibetan literature N1 - Includes bibliographical references N2 - "During the 10th century Buddhism blossomed in the far west of Tibet into unexpected magnificence and greatness. In breathtaking views of temple complexes that are no longer accessible to Western cameras, this volume shows for the first time anywhere in the world the masterly relics of that incomparable era that have survived to the present day, from both the Indian and the Tibetan side of the old Kingdom of Guge. The rulers of the Kingdom of Guge were patrons of the arts who invited Indian scholars to translate the texts of the Buddha into Tibetan, thereby preserving the teachings. At the same time they had a large number of temple complexes built and ornamented to create unique artworks by master craftsmen from Kashmir. Until well into the 17th century Guge experienced two golden ages in which the West Tibetan artistic style was perfected in monasteries like Tholing, Tsaparang and Dungkar. Together with "TABO -- Gods of Light: The Indo-Tibetan Masterpiece" this volume represents a unique overall view of the monastery art of Western Tibet"--Publisher's website ER -