DR Christian Luczanits' Outputs (67)

Mustang at the Crossroads: on the Entanglement of Monastery Collections (2025)
Book Chapter
Luczanits, C. (in press). Mustang at the Crossroads: on the Entanglement of Monastery Collections. In S. Cubelic, J. Shrestha, & C. Zotter (Eds.), A Yam between Two Rocks: Transcultural Histories of Nepal’s Relations with India, China, and Tibet. Heidelberg University Publishing

Undertaken since 2012, the documentation of monastery collections in Mustang, Nepal, reveals a broad range of interregional relationships. While these largely conform to the connections apparent in the political and religious history of the region, e... Read More about Mustang at the Crossroads: on the Entanglement of Monastery Collections.

The Ultimate Conquerer in the Tabo Main Temple (2024)
Book Chapter
Luczanits, C. (2024). The Ultimate Conquerer in the Tabo Main Temple. In C. DiSimone, & N. Witkowski (Eds.), Buddhakṣetrapariśodhana. A Festschrift for Paul Harrison (343-355). Indica et Tibetica Verlag

This short essay proposes an identification for a group of five deities represented on the entry wall of the Tabo Main Temple that has remained unexplained. The fragmentary depiction dates to the renovation of the temple finished in 1042 CE under the... Read More about The Ultimate Conquerer in the Tabo Main Temple.

Visualizing the Taboo in Esoteric Buddhism (2024)
Book Chapter
Luczanits, C. (2024). Visualizing the Taboo in Esoteric Buddhism. In K. Behrendt (Ed.), Mandalas: Mapping the Buddhist Art of Tibet (46-67). Metropolitan Museum of Art

Introduction (2024)
Book Chapter
Luczanits, C., & Tythacott, L. (2024). Introduction. In C. Luczanits, & L. Tythacott (Eds.), Tibetan Monastery Collections and Museums: Traditional Practices and Contemporary Issues (13-25). Vajra Books

Monastery and Museum in Mustang and Ladakh (2024)
Book Chapter
Luczanits, C., & Tythacott, L. (2024). Monastery and Museum in Mustang and Ladakh. In C. Luczanits, & L. Tythacott (Eds.), Tibetan Monastery Collections and Museums: Traditional Practices and Contemporary Issues (24-85). Vajra Books

Mandalas Intertwined: Why Minor Goddesses in the Tabo Main Temple Matter (2023)
Book Chapter
Luczanits, C. (2023). Mandalas Intertwined: Why Minor Goddesses in the Tabo Main Temple Matter. In V. Eltschinger, J. Kramer, P. Patil, & C. Yoshimizu (Eds.), Burlesque of the Philosophers. Indian and Buddhist Studies in Memory of Helmut Krasser (363-393). Projektverlag

The Distinct Artistic Tradition of Kashmir and Its Impact in Tibet. Buddha on the Cosmic Mountain, Kashmir, India, ca. 720 (2023)
Book Chapter
Luczanits, C. (2023). The Distinct Artistic Tradition of Kashmir and Its Impact in Tibet. Buddha on the Cosmic Mountain, Kashmir, India, ca. 720. In Himalayan Art in 108 Objects (10). Scala

Intriguing Relations between India, China, and Tibet. Crowned Buddha, Nalanda Monastery, northeastern India, 10th century (2023)
Book Chapter
Luczanits, C. (2023). Intriguing Relations between India, China, and Tibet. Crowned Buddha, Nalanda Monastery, northeastern India, 10th century. In K. Debreczeny, & E. Pakhoutova (Eds.), Himalayan Art in 108 Objects (16). Scala

An Example of Court Patronage to Honor a Religious Master. Mandala of Manjuvajra of the Vajravali Set Commissioned in Memory of Lama Dampa Central Tibet, 1375–1380 (2023)
Book Chapter
Jackson, D. P., & Luczanits, C. (2023). An Example of Court Patronage to Honor a Religious Master. Mandala of Manjuvajra of the Vajravali Set Commissioned in Memory of Lama Dampa Central Tibet, 1375–1380. In K. Debreczeny, & E. Pakhoutova (Eds.), Himalayan Art in 108 Objects (50). Scala

Papier-Mâché Sculpture and the Nyingma School at the Periphery. Portrait of Ngadak Puntsok Rigdzin Lo Gekhar, Mustang, Nepal, mid-17th century (2023)
Book Chapter
Luczanits, C. (2023). Papier-Mâché Sculpture and the Nyingma School at the Periphery. Portrait of Ngadak Puntsok Rigdzin Lo Gekhar, Mustang, Nepal, mid-17th century. In K. Debreczeny, & E. Pakhoutova (Eds.), Himalayan Art in 108 Objects (70). Scala

Commemorative Monument for a Charismatic Teacher. The Chorten Cave of Luri, present-day Mustang District, Nepal, ca. 1300 (2023)
Book Chapter
Luczanits, C. (2023). Commemorative Monument for a Charismatic Teacher. The Chorten Cave of Luri, present-day Mustang District, Nepal, ca. 1300. In K. Debreczeny, & E. Pakhoutova (Eds.), Himalayan Art in 108 Objects (44). Scala

Alchi at the Threshold of a New Era in Tibetan Buddhist Art. Monumental Manjushri with Mahasiddha-Adorned Robe, Alchi Sumtsek, Ladakh, India, ca. 1220 (2023)
Book Chapter
Luczanits, C. (2023). Alchi at the Threshold of a New Era in Tibetan Buddhist Art. Monumental Manjushri with Mahasiddha-Adorned Robe, Alchi Sumtsek, Ladakh, India, ca. 1220. In K. Debreczeny, & E. Pakhoutova (Eds.), Himalayan Art in 108 Objects (35). Scala

A Royal Teacher and an Artist. Portrait of Lowo Khenchen Sonam Lhundrub, Mustang, Nepal, first half of the 16th century (2023)
Book Chapter
Kramer, J., & Luczanits, C. (2023). A Royal Teacher and an Artist. Portrait of Lowo Khenchen Sonam Lhundrub, Mustang, Nepal, first half of the 16th century. In K. Debreczeny, & E. Pakhoutova (Eds.), Himalayan Art in 108 Objects (63). Scala

The Iconographic Program of a Mid-eleventh Century Monument. Goddess Dharmameghabhumi in the Tabo Main Temple, Tabo Monastery, Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, India, ca. 1040 (2023)
Book Chapter
Luczanits, C. (2023). The Iconographic Program of a Mid-eleventh Century Monument. Goddess Dharmameghabhumi in the Tabo Main Temple, Tabo Monastery, Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, India, ca. 1040. In K. Debreczeny, & E. Pakhoutova (Eds.), Himalayan Art in 108 Objects (21). Scala

A Vajradhātu Mandala in a Prajñāpāramitā Manuscript of Tabo Monastery (2021)
Book Chapter
Allinger, E., & Luczanits, C. (2021). A Vajradhātu Mandala in a Prajñāpāramitā Manuscript of Tabo Monastery. In C. Jahoda, & C. Kalantari (Eds.), Early West Tibetan Buddhist Monuments: Architecture, Art,History and Texts. Austrian Academy of Sciences Press

What is a mandala? (2021)
Book Chapter
Luczanits, C. (2021). What is a mandala?. In E. J. Harris (Ed.), Buddhism in Five Minutes (254-258). Equinox. https://doi.org/10.1558/equinox.40790

The mandala is first and foremost a ritual tool. In its simplest form, it consists of a square space marked by protective features and a circle of deities within it. The ground marks a purified space to which deities can be invited during the ritual.

Why do Buddhists make art? (2021)
Book Chapter
Luczanits, C. (2021). Why do Buddhists make art?. In E. J. Harris (Ed.), Buddhism in Five Minutes (248-253). Equinox. https://doi.org/10.1558/equinox.40789

There is no term for “art” in Buddhist literature. Instead, the terms used make clear that what we understand as art today was made for a purpose. Buddhist texts also rarely explain this purpose, so the information has to be pieced together from scan... Read More about Why do Buddhists make art?.

A Case of Old Menri (sman ris rnying pa) in Mustang? (2021)
Book Chapter
Luczanits, C. (2021). A Case of Old Menri (sman ris rnying pa) in Mustang?. In V. Caumanns, J. Heimbel, K. Kano, & A. Schiller (Eds.), Gateways to Tibetan Studies: A Collection of Essays in Honour of David P. Jackson on the Occasion of his 70th Birthday (643-657). Department of Indian and Tibetan Studies, Universität Hamburg

A Crucial Link in Fifteenth-Century Tibetan Art (2019)
Book Chapter
Luczanits, C. (2019). A Crucial Link in Fifteenth-Century Tibetan Art. In M. Clemente, O. Nalesini, & F. Venturi (Eds.), Perspectives on Tibetan Culture: A Small Garland of Forget-me-nots Offered to Elena De Rossi Filibeck (203-226). Vajra Books

Unveiling a Unique Ningma Pantheon: the Art of Gönpa Gang (2018)
Book Chapter
Luczanits, C. (2018). Unveiling a Unique Ningma Pantheon: the Art of Gönpa Gang. In J. Harrison, C. Luczanits, C. Ramble, & N. Drandul (Eds.), A Blessing for the Land: The Architecture Art and History of a Buddhist Convent in Mustang Nepal (54-99). Vajra Books