Book of the Week: Tibetan Medical Paintings

We found this stunning set of books in a recent collection. “ Tibetan Medical Paintings Illustrations to the Blue Beryl Treatise” are two large lavish hardbacks in a beautiful slipcase.

“Tibetan Medical Paintings" presents a previously unknown set of paintings that illustrate a famous 17th century medical treatise based on a complex system of prevention and care that has been in use since the eighth century and is still practised today in parts of Tibet and other countries.  Sangye Gyamtso (1653-1705), integrated its complex and diverse wisdom into a coherent body of knowledge, the “Blue Beryl” treatise.

The first volume has  76 brilliantly coloured, highly detailed paintings containing  more than 10,000 individual images depict the many themes, subjects, and properties of Tibetan medicine. The second volume places the paintings in context with a  foreword by the fourteenth Dalai Lama, summaries of the "Blue Beryl" treatise, and translations of Tibetan inscriptions found on the paintings themselves.

"Tibetan Medical Paintings" is of interest not only to medical historians, but also to those drawn to  alternative and complementary medical systems, and and to lovers of Tibetan culture.