Tibet has produced some of the most distinctive art in the world, with qualities which set it apart from other Buddhist and Asian art. The author of this volume seeks to unravel the intertwined relationship between the art and the spiritual life of the region - a pantheon of variety and complexity. From the Potala in Lhasa - one of the world's greatest religious complexes - to painting, sculpture, manuscripts, silk embroidery and a highly developed tradition of portraiture and ritual objects, Tibet's unique artistic culture is explored. The cultural history of Tibet is traced from the foundation of the kingdom to its place in the contemporary art world.