RESOURCES FOR
TIBETAN ART & CULTURE
This page is intended to give the reader additional information from a variety of sources related to Tibetan art and culture, and how it spread beyond Tibet. For example, the artifacts in the JMMTA collection represent the art of Tibet and those countries which fell within the sphere of Tibetan Buddhism, including Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia and Northern China and date from the 12th through 20th century. These objects are beautifully crafted and were made for use in the monasteries of Tibet.
The learning resources included here provide opportunities to explore the vastness of the Tibetan and Himalayan realm as well as a great diversity of cultural creations new and old from the many and diverse peoples of this expansive region.
TIBETAN ART COLLECTIONS
Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art
-
The JMMTA is working to bring its collections to larger audiences through off site exhibits as well as online access. Presently many pieces are included on the Himalayan Art Resources website and several items are on loan to the Rubin Museum for showing in the exquisite Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room. The Museum is pursuing funding to bring the full collection online. If you would like to contribute, you may designate a donation for this purpose or call the Museum to ask how to assist with fund raising and to learn about other current fund raising projects.
-
See information about the spread of Buddhism here. See video excerpt of interview with “New Wave” Tibetan filmmaker Pema Tseden. Films have been screened at universities, film festivals worldwide. He is an author, director, and screenwriter. (His films are included in the growing JMMTA film collection — available for educational programming at the Museum.)
-
Background on the museum’s Tibetan Collection is well presented in the New York Times’ 11/12/2011 article for this 100th year anniversary of the collection which coincided with the “Newark Peace Education Summit” attended by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso.
-
Opened in New York City in 2004 to provide “a dynamic environment that stimulates learning, promotes understanding, and inspires personal connections to the ideas, cultures, and art of Himalayan Asia.” Visit their Educational Interactive Library here.
-
Exquisite examples of Buddhist Art from many traditions, as well as Hindu arts and other traditions that influenced Buddhist arts can be seen among the Met’s collections. In 2014 a special exhibit was held entitled: “Tibet and India: Buddhist Traditions and Transformations”. This web page includes a recommended video introduction on Buddhism as transmitted to Tibet from India presented by Prof. Donald Lopez.
TIBET RELATED RESOURCES
-
The website for the Tibet House in New York City offers information about exhibitions and events, sponsored publications, and archives of its magazine.
-
Latse Library is a major library of modern Tibetan publications (English, Tibetan, and Chinese), linked to the Trace Foundation in Manhattan.
-
Established in 1997 “to create a comprehensive education and research database and virtual museum of Himalayan art.”
-
“It is our ambition to offer a forum for scholars, museums and commercial galleries. We display highlights of exhibitions in public and private institutions and galleries; present new discoveries by scholars and connoisseurs; and, by providing space for private galleries to present their works, offer the visitor a selection of fine Asian art worldwide.”
Tibetan and Himalayan Digital Library, University of Virginia
-
This digital library, maintained by the University of Virginia , allows visitors to search audio and visual resources, maps, and online versions of some of the library’s holdings.
Tibetan Studies WWW Virtual Library
-
Part of the Asian Studies WWW Virtual Library, this site maintains an extensive list of online resources on a variety of topics, including art, language, politics and society.
ACADEMIC RESOURCES
-
The Berzin Archives is the collection of works of the American scholar and author Alexander Berzin, who spent 29 years in India, studying and practicing Tibetan Buddhism.
Columbia University, Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Modern Tibetan Studies
-
Weatherhead Institute is a center for modern and contemporary East Asian studies, research and publications based at Columbia University which focuses on China, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, Mongolia and Tibet. Check their events calendar for opportunities to learn more about modern Tibetan life and culture “inside and out”. Find English translations of “Tibetan voices” from blogs and publications online.
Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center (TBRC)
-
Founded by the late E. Gene Smith, TBRC is currently based in Harvard Square in Cambridge, MA. The TBRC, dedicated to making Tibetan texts available to the public through the internet. Serious researcher/student resource.