Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols

The first comprehensive sourcebook of its kind, The Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols is a portal into the rich, multifaceted, and profound symbolism of Tibetan sacred art. Author Robert Beer presents a deep and encompassing insight into the vast array of symbols and attributes that appear within the complex iconography of Tibetan Buddhism. The succinct descriptions that accompany the detailed line drawings reveal the origins, meanings, and functions of these symbols, which are derived from India, Tibet, and China. Beer unravels the multiple layers of symbolism and meaning contained within the iconography, affording the reader a panoramic vision into the deeper dimensions of this sacred art. Drawn largely from Beer's monumental work The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs, the meticulous brush drawings in this book were created over the course of nearly eight years. The selections included in this Handbook depict all of the major Buddhist symbols and motifs, including: the various groups of auspicious symbols; cosmological symbols; natural and mythical animals, such as the dragon, garuda and makara; the entire assembly of ritual tantric implements and weapons; magical and wrathful symbols; hand-held emblems, attributes and plants; esoteric Vajrayana offerings; and mudras or ritual hand gestures. This book will become a classic, not only for those interested in Buddhism, symbolism and Tibetan religious art, but also for artists, designers, and others who look towards the east in a search for meaning.Beer, Robert is the author of 'Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols', published 2003 under ISBN 9781932476033 and ISBN 1932476032.