For more than two millennia Buddhism shaped the cultures of Central, South, Southeast, and East Asia. Each territory had its own peculiar way of developing representations of the Buddha, the Bodhisattvas, and a variety of guardian deities and saints.

Of particular importance is the representation of the Buddha and his teachings in an iconic form in the shape of an impassable building. Called Stupa in Sanskrit, and Chorten in Tibetan, these structures not only characterize the urban space of the Newars in the Kathmandu Valley. They also mark the access to Tibetan villages in northern Nepal, line the trails across high passes, and stud topographically prominent places. By their thousands, they transform wilderness into a landscape that promises shelter, protection, and well-being.

584 maps, architectural drawings, and photographs, produced from 1970 to 2008, document the rich cultural heritage of the Tibetan and Tamang enclaves along the range of the high Himalaya.

Chorten in Nepal: Architecture and Buddhist Votive Practice in the Himalaya, Niels Gutschow, DOM Publishers, Hardcover (10.5" x 8.5"), 580 pages, $148.00

Niels Gutschow, born in Hamburg in 1941, studied architecture in Darmstadt and completed his PhD on Japanese cities in 1973. Gutschow lives and works in Abtsteinach, Germany and Bhaktapur, Nepal.

CONTENTS: Chorten in Nepal
7	Foreword
	Introduction
13	Stupas, Caityas and Chorten in Nepal
35	Protection and blessing -- the Triple Protection
41	The building of a Chorten
56	Chorten in the context of the Bon religion
58	The architecture of Chorten
62	Further reading
	PART I
65	Mustang Introduction
79	Panchgaon Cimang, Tsherok, Marpha, Shang
103	Baragaon Dangkardzong, Phelag, Pigling, Lubrak, Kag, Khyinga, Tiri, Dzar, Dzong, Purang, Chongkor, Putra
203	Shoyul Taye, Tshug (Braga, Tsekyab, Kyangma), Te, Tshognam, Tsele, Gyaga, Samar, Congzhi
269	Lower Lo Gelung, Gemi, Drakmar, Tsarang, Lo Gekar, Monthang
347	Upper Lo Tshonup-Tshosher: Namgyal, Thekhar, Nyanol, Dhuk, Gom, Nyiphu, Garphu, Arka
367	Eastern Lo: Shari Dri, Zurgang, Gara, Luri, Tangye
	PART II
399	Dolpo-Phoksumdo Tsho, Pugmo
	PART III
427	Mugu Kimri, Kari, Puwa, Kartike, Mangri, Wangri
	PART IV
477	Humla Kemi, Yalbang, Yangar, Muchu, Tumkot, Halji
	PART V
499	Nyishang - Manang Mano (Manang), Bo Dzong, Braga, Mugje, Humde, Pisang, Ghyaru, Koto
	PART VI
537	Western and Eastern Tamang Laba, Sertung, Tipling, Balchi, Chilime, Yarsa, Thulo Sailung, Pakhar, Bigu
569	Endnotes
573	Bibliography