Religion Asia from Orchid Press

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2014. The 19th century was one of the most tumultuous in recent Burmese history, encompassing as it did three brutal wars between British and Burmese forces. The outcome of these conflicts, as well as of a series of bloody internal rebellions and murderous court intrigues, was the humiliating annexation first of the southern part of the country,… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2005. Growing interest in tantric Buddhism worldwide has resulted in an explosion of literature on the subject; despite this, there still remain many voids in our understanding of this complex practice, with its proliferation of gods and saints, bodhisattvas and demons. R. H. van Gulik was one of the pioneer Western scholars of the tantric deities, having… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2006. The author, an eminent scholar with a long focus on Eastern religious expressions, summarizes his thoughts on how the relevance of Christianity, Islam and Buddhism compare in the modern world. Professor Snellgrove critically reviews the history, evolution, strengths and weaknesses of these belief systems within the context of contemporary philosophical and belief systems such as Judaism,… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2003. "The civilization of the Tibetan people is disappearing before our very eyes, and apart from a few gentle protests here and there, the rest of the world lets it go without comment and without regret. Many civilizations have declined and disintegrated in the past, but it is rare that one has the opportunity of being an… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2000. An edited collection of documents selected by Professor Mukherjee during his last years, for their importance to the history of the Jagannath Temple in Orissa, India. 160 pp., 6 b&w plates, index. First Edition. Softbound. New. 22 x 15 cm..

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 1995. The details of specific missionaries, their activities and their indigenous charges are placed within the broader context of the political rivalries between the kingdoms of Ava and Pegu, and later of the wars against British forces. Reprint of the 1887 original Rangoon edition. 152 pp.. Softbound. New. 19 x 13 cm..

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2002. A monograph on the influence of Mahayana, Tantric and other northern Buddhist schools on early Burmese Buddhist traditions. In completing this important study, the distinguished Indian scholar draws not only on Sanskrit literary sources but also on a wide range of archaeological evidence, epigraphical remains, sculptures and paintings. Reprint of the 1936 edition. 130 pp., bibliography.… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 1984. Des monuments centenaires dans cette région aride, admirablement belle et montagneuse témoignent d'un passé riche et turbulent. Ce livre décrit la majeure partie des sanctuaires bouddhistes à l'aide de photos, de dessins très détaillés, et de brèves descriptions. C'est un guide indispensable pour les visiteurs, une base essentielle sur les monastères et les sanctuaires bouddhiques du… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2002. Until well into the eighth century, Bön was the dominant religion and culture on the roof of the world; it is in essence the belief system of ancient Tibet. From the second half of the eighth century onward, Bön was superseded by Buddhism, which had traveled north from India, and the two religions came to influence… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2000. The autobiographical account of the extraordinary career and travels of scholar/author David Snellgrove, spanning his explorations of Central, South and Southeast Asian cultures over a period of 56 years. 587 pp., 65 colour and 178 b&w plates, 17 maps. First Edition. Hard Cover. New/new. 24.5 x 17.5 cm.

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2016. This volume provides a comprehensive survey of Indian Buddhism and its subsequent establishment in Tibet, where it was transferred more or less complete preceding its demise in northern India in the thirteenth century AD. It is especially informative on the tantric period of Buddhist theory and practice from the eighth to the thirteenth centuries, but also… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 1998. Full subtitle : "The Oral tradition from the Land of Zhangzhung Depicted on Two Tibetan Paintings". In this pioneering work, the author analyses two rare Tibetan thangkas, enabling him to shed light on the history and theory of a little known meditative discipline practised by adherents of the ancient Bon religion. xix, 120 pp., 68… Read more about this item

Trumbull: Weatherhill, 2003. Treasures hide in the temples of Pagan-treasures in part never meant to be seen, enshrouded in the darkness of high vaults. They compose a unique ensemble in the Buddhist world of the eleventh to fourteenth century, giving us a glimpse of a lost splendour, and providing evidence of the major political, religious and artistic position that Pagan… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2006. A sensitively written and beautifully presented photographic essay exploring the lives of a community of Buddhist monks and nuns, young and old, in Laos. The authors' sincere interest was rewarded with candid comments and intimate photographs of the daily routines of these dedicated followers of the 2,500 year old Theravada tradition. The result is a unique… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2001. This book presents findings of research on a particular form of Buddhist ritual practised by Sakyas and Vajracaryas, the inheritors of the monastic tradition and the highest Buddhist castes among the Newars, the indigenous peoples of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. The author presents an authentic record of a unique form of Buddhist devotionalism and ritual :… Read more about this item

Kathmandu: Bibliotheca Himalayica, 2000. A multi-disciplinary study of Gulmi and Argha-Khanci, two districts in modern central Nepal which coincide with the boundaries of prominent earlier principalities, prior to the unification of the country in the late 18th century. The study, conducted by a team of French scholars in the early 1990's, traces the history, ecology, ethnology, social and political structure,… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 1995. One of the earliest comprehensive studies on Tibetan art, addressing painting, illustrated manuscripts, imagery and architecture. Drawn from the author's sojourns in all lamaist countries, from Ladakh in the west to Bhutan in the east. 230 pp., 86 colour plates and 18 b&w figures, bibliographies of Tibetan and foreign language sources, index. Soft Cover. Fine. 30… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2015. Memoirs of a 'dob-dob' or fighting monk, trained to keep the peace in a monastic community of several thousand monks, during and after the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1959. Compiled by Hugh Richardson and edited by Tadeusz Skorupski. 135 pp.. Reprint. Soft Cover. New. 21.5 x 15.2 cm.

Warminster: Aris & Phillips, 1979. Ladakh existed as an independent kingdom until 1834 when it became an integral part of India. It has, however, remained one of the few regions in which Tibetan Buddhism and the traditional Tibetan way of life continue to flourish. Professor Snellgrove and Tadeusz Skorupski were the first western scholars to visit Ladakh in 1974, shortly… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2004. In this lively and engaging new work on conceptions ofTibet in Western European and American societies, anthropologist Brauen paints a damning portrait of misinterpretation, trivialization and political and commercial exploitation of a rich and ancient culture. Starting with idealistic adventurers in search of a Himalayan Utopia from the 17th century onward, Brauen's most disturbing portrayals are… Read more about this item