Himalayan Art Resources

Bibliography: Iconography Publications

General Bibliography

Subjects, Topics & Types:
- Description (below)
- Visual Graphic Publications
- Textual Description Publications
- Tibetan Iconographic Collections
- Iconography Main Page
- Others...

Videos:
- Buddhist Iconography: Compact Edition by Lokesh Chandra
- Tibetan Mandalas (Vajravali and Tantra-samuccaya) by Raghuvira and Lokesh Chandra
- Buddhist Symbols in Tibetan Culture by Loden Sherab Dagyab
- The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs by Robert Beer
- Deities of Tibetan Buddhism, The Zurich Paintings of the Icons Worthwhile to See. Tenpai Nyima the 4th [7th] Panchen Lama, 1782-1853. Translated by Martin Willson. Wisdom Publications, 2000. (Based on the Rinchen Trengwa of Taranata Kunga Nyingpo).
- All Mandala Videos
- Others...


There are two main types of iconography publications. The first is illustrative with drawings, images or diagrams and the second is textually descriptive. Early iconography texts are generally descriptive with the added information of symbolic meaning and a list of lineage teachers which establishes orthodoxy and legitimacy. The two main topics of importance are the source descriptive literature and the subsequent artistic examples over time displaying numerous styles of craftsmanship and regional aesthetics.
Essential Publications:

Buddhist Iconography: Compact Edition. Lokesh Chandra. International Academy of Indian Culture and Aditya Prakashan, New Delhi. Second reprint, 1999. (See Video Book Review). (Also see: Deities of Tibetan Buddhism. The Zurich Paintings of the Icons Worthwhile to See).

Tibetan Mandalas (Vajravali and Tantra-samuccaya). Raghuvira and Lokesh Chandra. International Academy of Indian Culture. New Delhi, 1995.

Buddhist Symbols in Tibetan Culture: An Investigation of the Nine Best-Known Groups of Symbols by Loden Sherap Dagyab. Wisdom Publications, 1995. (Book Review Video. Contents List)

The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs by Robert Beer. Shambhala Publications, 1999.

General Texts:

An Illustrated History of the Mandala, From its Genesis to the Kalacakratantra. Kimiaki Tanaka. Wisdom Publications, 2018.

Buddhist Iconography: Compact Edition. Lokesh Chandra. International Academy of Indian Culture and Aditya Prakashan, New Delhi. Second reprint 1999.

Buddhist Symbolism in Tibetan Thangkas. The Story of Siddhartha and Other Buddhas Interpreted in Modern Nepalese Painting. Ben Meulenbeld. Binkey Kok Publications, 2001.

Deities of Tibetan Buddhism. The Zurich Paintings of the Icons Worthwhile to See (Bris sku mthon ba don ldan). Edited by Martin Wilson and Martin Brauen. Translated by Martin Wilson. Introduced by Martin Brauen. Wisdom Publications, Boston 2000.

The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs, Robert Beer. Shambhala, Boston, 1999.

The Iconography of Tibetan Lamaism. Antoinette K. Gordon. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd., first 1914, first Indian edition 1978.

Mandala: The Architecture of Enlightenment Denise Patry Leidy and Robert A.F. Thurman. New York: Asia Society Galleries, Shambhala Publications, Inc. 1998.

Ruthless Compassion. Wrathful Deities in Early Indo-Tibetan Esoteric Buddhist Art. Rob Linrothe. Serindia Publications, London, 1999.

Tibetan Mandalas (Vajravali and Tantra-samuccaya). Raghuvira and Lokesh Chandra. International Academy of Indian Culture. New Delhi, 1995.

Tibetan Religious Art, (2 volumes). Loden Sherab Dagyab. Otto Harrasowitz, Wiesbaden, 1977.

Jeff Watt 3-2003 [updated 8-2018, 10-2022]