Name/Title
Fabric of life : textile arts in Bhutan : culture, tradition and transformationEntry/Object ID
NK8876.8.B47.A48Description
This extensive work dedicated to the unique textile art of Bhutan is an impressive illustration of how closely art, spirituality, and life are interwoven in the last of the Buddhist kingdoms in the Himalayas. It gives new insight into Bhutanese cosmology, worldview, culture, and society, which is associated with a variety of historical, philosophical, religious, social, and artistic perspectives. The remote mountain location, low-key foreign policy, and basic principles of Buddhism has made it possible for Bhutan, the last of the Buddhist kingdoms in the Himalayas, to preserve a remarkable form of textile art that is interwoven with all aspects of life. Karin Altmann shows us Bhutan textiles in their diversity: they are clothes and everyday objects, currency and commodity, mark important events as gifts during life, and are testament to the social status of a person. But they are also an integral aspect of religious festivals, dances, and rituals that provide insight into the mystical and religious beliefs of the Bhutanese people, and reflect the concept of gender in Bhutanese society. The book also tells the story of a country that is searching for a sensitive balance between tradition and progress in a globalized world.Lexicon
Search Terms
textile crafts--bhutan, textile fabrics--bhutanBook Details
Author
Karin Altmann, Sarah TolleyPublisher
De GruyterPlace Published
City
BerlinCountry
GermanyContinent
EuropeDate Published
2016Call No.
NK8876.8.B47.A48ISBN
3110437953, 9783110437959Notes
Length: 435General Notes
Note Type
ContentsNote
Introduction -- Textiles in the cultural history of Bhutan -- Bon and Buddhism -- Colours, threads and cloths in ritual contexts -- Sacred festivals and dances -- Jampe Lhakhang Drup: a case study -- Cham lineages and dance costumes of Bhutan -- The production of textiles -- Creativity and tradition: positioning textile art between freedom of artistic expression and subjection to strict rules -- Textiles and mysticism -- Gender-specific attribution in Bhutanese society -- The importance of textiles to the life of society and individuals -- Bhutan's textile art in transition.