Author: Norbu Wangdan

Translated by:  Zuo Yangyang, Zhao Xiaoxue

ISBN: 9787508544564

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.

The book entitled Tibetan Literature embodies the unique culture of Tibet and its charm. Tibetan literature is known as the “pearl” of Chinese literature.

The book gives an introduction to oral and written genres of Tibetan literature and the evolvement of other compositions that fall in between. It also presents the Tibetan life, thoughts and aesthetic ideas implied in Tibetan literature.

About the author

Norbu Wangdan, a researcher at the Ethnic Literature Institute, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and director of the National Leading Group Office of the Gesar Research, has published a number of works, including the Tibetan Epic from Cultural Criticism Perspective: Artists, Texts and Contexts, Tibetan Myths and Epics (in Tibetan) and the Wheel of Life: Reincarnation of Tulkus in Tibetan Buddhism.

Contents

Chapter Ⅰ

Tibetan Literature in the Age of Oral Tradition

Natural and Cultural Literature Environment

in the Age of Oral Tradition

Oral Tradition--the Cornerstone ofOral Literature

Three Treasures in Tibetan Literature--Sgrung,Ldevu and Bon

Philosophical Expression of Tibetan Oral Literature: Proverbs

Chapter Ⅱ

The Agglomeration of Tibetan Oral Tradition: Gesar

Introduction

Origins: So and Cultural Context

Singers of Fairy Tales

Text and Its Evolution

Conservation and Preservation

Chapter Ⅲ

Basic Types and Texts of Written Literature (I)

Tibetan as Medium for Written Literature

The Translation of Buddhist Scriptures as

the Beginning of Written Literature

Buddhist Literature

Historical Literature

Chapter Ⅳ

Basic Types and Texts of Written Literature (II)

Biographical Literature

Terma Literature

Poetry

Novels

The Collection of Letters

Chapter Ⅴ

The Literature Genres between Oral Language

and Written Language

Religious Song

Mam

Persuasion

Tibetan Opera