Tales of the Turquoise: A Pilgrimage in Dolpo

by Corneille Jest

Overview

In the early spring of 1961, Dr. Corneille Jest undertook a three-week circumambulation of the valley in the company of Tibetans visiting temples, shrines, and sacred mountains. His companion Karma, an elderly nomad from Western Tibet and a gifted storyteller, punctuated the journey with traditional tales and his own reflections. Charmingly written, colorful, and engaging, the narrative transports the reader to a world of Tibetan spirit in ways not readily accessible to outsiders.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781559390958
Publisher:	Shambhala
Publication date:	01/01/1998
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.56(d)

About the Author

Dr. Corneille Jest, former director of research at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in Paris, specializes in social and economic change among populations living in harsh climates. He is particularly interested in the conservation of cultural heritage in the Himalayan and Central Asian regions.

Table of Contents

List of Karma's Stories	7
Acknowledgments	10
Foreword	11
Karma the Pilgrim	15
Trangdrug the Magician	26
The Quest of the Flower Utumwara	40
The Shepherd-princess	50
The Shepherd Who Wished to Understand the Language of Animals	59
Somaki and the Three Keys	66
The Tail That Talks	72
The Myna Bird	79
The Lama and the Queen of the Witches	86
The Nine Tricks of the Hare	92
Balabewa the Innocent	104
The End of the Demon of the Cave	112
The Three Children Who Were Saved from the Water	117
The Middle Kingdom	124
The Mummy of the Lama of Shang	136
The Jewel	144
How One BecomesIntelligent	150
The Man of Evil Ways and the Man of Good Ways	160
The Horseman Who Does Not Steal or Lie	169
How to RidOneself of a Rival	175
The Child and the Demoness	179
Tashi Taken, the Gelder	183
The Battle of Gesar and Demon Akyung	186
The Identification of an Illegitimate Child	191
The Cow Ba-tratatrari	198
The Return to Kagar	203
The End of the Pilgrimage	212
Notes	215
Bibliographical Notes	218
Bibliographical References	220
Glossary	223

Editorial Reviews

"The old wise man Karma is a treasure store of ancient stories all retained in his mind and heart. His contribution to the theme of the book is a shining example of Tibetan spirit having its root in ancient Tibetan custom and culture. The book also serves as a code of conduct when one visits Tibetan Buddhist places and people."—Tibet Journal

From the Publisher