Author: Kalsang Gyal

Translated by: Zhu Jianting, Li li, Wang li

ISBN: 9787508544618

Press:China Intercontinental Press

Publication Date: 2020-8

Abstract

The series “Tibet History and Culture” tells the stories about Tibet from a new perspective. It includes such books as A Brief History of Tibet, A Study of Tibetan Religions, Tibetan Folk Customs, Tibetan Literature, A Snapshot of Tibetan Arts, The Biography of Songtsen Gampo, Drogon Chogyal Phagpa: The First Imperial Preceptor of the Yuan Dynasty, The Ninth Panchen Lama: A Biography and Chief Tibetan Delegate Ngabo Ngawang Jigme. Whenever Tibet is introduced, its religions are mentioned. The book entitled A Study of Tibetan Religions, gives a comprehensive introduction to the Tibetan religions. It starts with the Bon religion, focuses on Tibetan Buddhism and then has a brief introduction to Islam and Christianity, reflecting the concepts of “harmony” and “wholeness” of Chinese traditional culture.

The book provides an overview of the Tibetan religions in an easy way to understand. On Tibetan Buddhism, the book mainly introduces its various sects and monasteries from a macro perspective. So it is very helpful for readers to have an overall understanding of the Tibetan religions.

About the author

KalSang Gyal, scholar majored in Tibetan Buddhism, professor at the Graduate School under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, has published a number of works, including The General History of Buddhism: on Tibetan Buddhism (Volume I and II), A Study of Tibetan Buddhism in the Qing Dynasty and The Religions in Tibet (Volume I and II).

Contents

Preface

Chapter I. The Bon Religion

Dor-Bonism period

Cha-Bonism period

Jo-Bonism period

The monasteries of the Bon religion

Chapter II. Tibetan Buddhism

Origins of Tibetan Buddhism

The formation of Tibetan Buddhism

I. The Buddhism promotion achievements of Trisong Detsen

II. Measures of Tritsuk Detsen on promoting Buddhism

III. King Lang Darma’s persecution of Buddhism

Development of Tibetan Buddhism

I. The Propagation of Buddhism from Eastern Tibet

II. The Propagation of Buddhism from India

Buddhist Sects

I. The Nyingmapa

II. The Kadampa

III. The Sakyapa

IV. The Kagyupa

V. The Jonangpa

VI. The Gelugpa

VII. The Zhibyedpa

VIII. The Gcodyulpa

IX. The Bulugspa

Tibetan Buddhism monasteries

I. The Monasteries of the Gelugpa

II. The Monasteries of the Nyingmapa

III. The Monasteries of the Kagyupa

IV. The Monasteries of the Sakyapa

V. The Monasteries of the Jonangpa

Chapter III. Christianity

History of Roman Catholicism in Tibet

History of rise and decline of Christianity in Batang

I. Emerging and decline of Catholicism

II. Emerging and decline of Christianity

History and current development of Catholicism in Tsakhalho

I. Checkered history of Catholicism in Tsakhalho

II. Catholic Church and its believers

Chapter IV. Islam

Mosques and Muslims in Lhasa

I. The development of the Grand Mosque of Lhasa

II. Life of Muslim residents of Lhasa

History and culture of the Mosque of Qamdo

I. Historical evolution and cultural background of the Mosque of Qamdo

II. The Mosque of Qamdo and Muslim families today