Once the centre of a prosperous kingdom, Mustang is rich in ancient portable artefacts. Since 2012, a SOAS-based, AHRC-funded research project on Tibetan Buddhist Monastery Collections Today, led by Christian Luczanits, has documented these artefacts in detail to support their preservation on site. The Norbusum Foundation has supported this documentation since its inception and serves as the project's local representative.
The portable heritage of Mustang is not only an important cultural asset but also offers unique insights into the region's history and its relations with its neighbours. The first research results provide extremely rich detail on the early spread of Buddhist literature, local sculptural traditions, and the importance of charismatic Buddhist teachers for Mustang's heritage.
The portable heritage of Mustang is not only an important cultural asset but also offers unique insights into the region's history and its relations with its neighbours. The first research results provide extremely rich detail on the early spread of Buddhist literature, local sculptural traditions, and the importance of charismatic Buddhist teachers for Mustang's heritage.
Examples
ChuksangA collection of a village monastery hidden for decades. |
ChödzongA collection in a remote ancient temple built in front of a painted cave. |
NamgyalOne of the main collections preserved in Mustang. |
Publications
Here is a list of publications, the most recent ones on top, that focus on objects documented in the region. Many of these are on objects in the substantial collection of Namgyal Monastery.
- Klohe, Hans Werner. 2024. “The Lamdré Lineage Set by Donor Lodrö Gyeltsen in the Collection of Namgyal Monastery, Mustang, Nepal.” In Tibetan Monastery Collections and Museums. Traditional Practices and Contemporary Issues, edited by Christian Luczanits, and Louise Tythacott. Vajra Books.
- Cammarota, Isabella. 2024. “Making Tibetan books: A study of the gold and red book covers in the library of Namgyal Monastery, Mustang, Nepal.” In Tibetan Monastery Collections and Museums. Traditional Practices and Contemporary Issues, edited by Christian Luczanits, and Louise Tythacott. Vajra Books.
- Luczanits, Christian, and Louise Tythacott, eds. 2024. Tibetan Monastery Collections and Museums: Traditional Practices and Contemporary Issues. Vajra Books.
- Luczanits, Christian. 2023. The Collection of Namgyal Monastery, Mustang, Nepal, in Transition. Gods’ Collections, accessed 3 February 2023, https://www.godscollections.org/case-studies/namgyal-monastery-nepal.
- Luczanits, Christian. 2023. Papier-Mâché Sculpture and the Nyingma School at the Periphery. Portrait of Ngadak Puntsok Rigdzin Lo Gekhar, Mustang, Nepal, mid-17th century. accessed https://projecthimalayanart.rubinmuseum.org/essays/portrait-of-ngadak-puntsok-rigdzin/, no. 70, 304-307.
- Luczanits, Christian. 2023. Commemorative Monument for a Charismatic Teacher. The Chorten Cave of Luri, present-day Mustang District, Nepal, ca. 1300. accessed Feb 29 2024, https://projecthimalayanart.rubinmuseum.org/essays/the-chorten-cave-of-luri/, no. 44.
- Kramer, Jowita, and Christian Luczanits. 2023. “A Royal Teacher and an Artist. Portrait of Lowo Khenchen Sonam Lhundrub, Mustang, Nepal, first half of the 16th century.” In Himalayan Art in 108 Objects, edited by Karl Debreczeny, and Elena Pakhoutova. Scala. Also https://rubinmuseum.org/projecthimalayanart/essays/portrait-of-lowo-khenchen-sonam-lhundrub/
- Luczanits, Christian, and Markus Viehbeck. 2021. Two Illuminated Text Collections of Namgyal Monastery. A Study of Early Buddhist Art and Literature in Mustang. Vajra Books.
- Luczanits, Christian. 2021. “A Case of Old Menri (sman ris rnying pa) in Mustang?” In Gateways to Tibetan Studies: A Collection of Essays in Honour of David P. Jackson on the Occasion of His 70th Birthday, edited by Volker Caumanns, Jörg Heimbel, Kazuo Kano, and Alexander Schiller. Department of Indian and Tibetan Studies, Universität Hamburg.
- Luczanits, Christian. 2020. “Establishing an Iconography – The Case of Early Tibetan Representations of the Medicine Buddhas.” Journal of Tibetology 22: 119–148.
- Luczanits, Christian. 2016. “Portable Heritage in the Himalayas. The Example of Namgyal Monastery, Mustang: Part 2, Books and Stupas.” Orientations 47 (5): 22–32.
- Luczanits, Christian. 2016. “Portable Heritage in the Himalayas. The Example of Namgyal Monastery, Mustang: Part 1, Sculpture.” Orientations 47 (2): 120–130.