Note préliminaire concernant les imprimeries non monastiques au Tibet

Abstract

The structure and organisation of the world of books in Tibet is a field of study that is barely explored. Apart from the noble families in Lhasa, who were active in publishing before 1959, few researchers are aware that there were a number of private printing houses in the capital city of Tibet, amongst which that of Chos kyi rgyal mtshan (1897-?). This article takes the catalogues of several of these printing houses as a basis of study, concentrating especially on the above- mentioned printer. In this way a portrait of the man, and his work, during a critical period of Tibetan history from the 1920s through to the mid-1950s is presented.