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Description:
The Bön religion is one of the main religious traditions of Tibet. It shares many affinities with Tibetan Buddhism, as is evidenced by this beautifully produced work on Bön art. Per Kværne is one of the leading Western scholars of Bön, and this volume brings together the results of the best and most up-to-date research on Bön, dispelling many myths and misconceptions by outlining the history, doctrines, ritual practices, and institutions of Bön. The major part of the book is devoted to the description of the major genres of Bön art, where many of the styles will be familiar to students of Tibetan Buddhist art, although the pantheon is quite different. The paintings, miniatures, and bronzes (dating from the 14th to the present century), beautifully reproduced in 60 color plates, are described in detail, with the deities (both peaceful and wrathful) and historical figures identified and contextualized. In many cases, prayers and invocations to the deities are provided in translation.
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