Acknowledgements; Abbreviations for Frequently-Cited Works; Introduction; Prologue on Old Tibetan; Chapter One Religion and politics in Tibet's imperial government, and the place of Buddhism therein; Chapter Two Sku, bla, lha, etc.: The language and phraseology of early Tibetan politics and religion; Chapter Three Rituals in the Imperium and later: Continuity in the rituals of Tibetan Buddhism; Chapter Four The intersection of religion and politics; Appendix One The religio-political significance of gold; Appendix Two A brief excursus on Bon; Select bibliography; Index
Summary
This book analyzes the religious-political culture of the Tibetan Empire (c. 620-842) and the establishment of Buddhism, based on early sources. It shows how relationships formed in the Imperial period underlie many of the unique characteristics of traditional Tibetan Buddhism
