# Martin Brauen

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Not to be confused with [Martin Braun](/source/Martin_Braun).

Swiss cultural anthropologist

**Martin Brauen** (born 15 March 1948, in [Bern](/source/Bern)) is a cultural anthropologist from [Bern](/source/Bern), Switzerland who specialises in [Tibet](/source/Tibet), the Himalayas and history of religions.

## Biography

Martin Brauen studied [ethnology](/source/Ethnology) and religious history at the [University of Zurich](/source/University_of_Zurich) and [Buddhology](/source/Buddhology) at the [University of Delhi](/source/University_of_Delhi). He earned a doctorate after defending a thesis in Zurich on *Holidays and ceremonies in Ladakh* and a degree of *Privatdozent* (Habilitation in the field of anthropology of religions). Since 1975 he has had several positions at the EthnographicMuseum of the University of Zurich (Head of the "Himalaya, Tibet and the Far East" department, deputy director and director ad interim), as well as becoming a lecturer.[1][2] From 2008 to 2012 he was chief curator at the [Rubin Museum of Art](/source/Rubin_Museum_of_Art) in New York City.[3][4][5][6][7]

Since then he is working as an independent curator: Kosmos – Rätsel der Menschheit (Museum Rietberg);[8] Yak, Yetis, Yogis – Tibet im Comic (Museum Rietberg);[9] Bill Viola: Passions (in the Cathedral of Berne);[10][11] Cesar Ritz (old railway station Niederwald).[12]

Brauen is the author of several books and many exhibitions on Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, Ladakh, and Japan. Among his books, *Mandala: Sacred Circle in Tibetan Buddhism* is best known to the general public and has been translated into six languages.[1][13] Well known is also his book Dreamworld Tibet – Western Illusions (in German: Traumwelt Tibet).[14]

Martin Brauen has also produced several films and documentaries on [Tibet](/source/Tibet) and the Himalayas, and has worked in the areas of aid and development policy in a Swiss NGO (Brot für alle).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

He met Tibetans for the first time in 1965 and the [14th Dalai Lama](/source/14th_Dalai_Lama) in 1970 during an interview, and has since been committed to the Tibetan cause.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] He is married to the Tibetan artist [Sonam Dolma Brauen](/source/Sonam_Dolma_Brauen), with whom he had two children, actress and writer [Yangzom Brauen](/source/Yangzom_Brauen) and Tashi Brauen, artist.[15][16]

The great-grandfather of Martin Brauen, [Élie Ducommun](/source/%C3%89lie_Ducommun)[17] who received the [Nobel Peace Prize](/source/Nobel_Peace_Prize) in 1902, was a notable [pacifist](/source/Pacifist).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Publications

- 2014: *Bill Viola: Passions* (with Kathleen Bühler), Kunstmuseum Bern/Cathedral of Berne

- 2014: *Kosmos – Weltentwürfe im Vergleich* (with Albert Lutz *et al.*), Museum Rietberg Zürich/Verlag Scheidegger & Spiess AG, Zürich, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-85881-451-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-85881-451-7)

- 2011: *Quentin Roosevelt's China – Ancestral Realms of the Naxi* (with Christine Mathieu and Cindy Ho), Rubin Museum of Art, New York / Arnoldsche Art Publishers, Stuttgart

- 2010: *Grain of Emptiness – Buddhism-inspired contemporary art* (with [Mary Jane Jacob](/source/Mary_Jane_Jacob)) Rubin Museum of Art, New York, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-9772131-9-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-9772131-9-1)

- 2009: *Mandala – Sacred Circle in Tibetan Buddhism* (with Helen Abbott) Arnoldsche /Rubin Museum of Art, Stuttgart/New York, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-89790-305-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-89790-305-0)

- 2005: *The Virtual Mandala – The Tibetan Book of the Dead*/ Das tibetische Totenbuch (with Claudio Dal Pra), Art Adventures, Zürich, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [3-9522726-7-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-9522726-7-1) (part 1), [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-9522726-8-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-9522726-8-8) (part 2)

- 2005: *Die Dalai Lamas – Tibets Reinkarnationen des Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara*, Arnoldsche Art Publishers, Stuttgart,[ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [3-89790-219-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-89790-219-2)

- 2005: *The Dalai Lamas – A Visual History*, Serindia, Publications, Chicago, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-932476-22-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-932476-22-9)

- 2005: *Les Dalaï-Lamas – Les 14 réincarnations du bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara*, Favre, Lausanne, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [2-8289-0840-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/2-8289-0840-2)

- 2004: *Mandala – Cercle sacré du bouddhisme tibétain*, Favre, Lausanne, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [2-8289-0772-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/2-8289-0772-4)

- 2004: *Dreamworld Tibet – Western Illusions*, Weatherhill, Trumbull, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [083-4805-464](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/083-4805-464)

- 2003: *Bambus im alten Japan* / Bamboo in Old Japan, Arnoldsche Art Publishers, Stuttgart, (with Patrizia Jirka-Schmitz) [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [3-89790-190-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-89790-190-0)

- 2002: *Peter Aufschnaiter's Eight Years in Tibet*, Orchid Press, Bangkok, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [974-524-012-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/974-524-012-5)

- 2000: *Traumwelt Tibet – Westliche Trugbilder*, Haupt, Bern-Stuttgart-Wien, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [3-258-05639-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-258-05639-0)

- 2000: *Deities of Tibetan Buddhism – The Zürich Paintings of the Icons Worthwhile to See* (with Martin Willson), Wisdom Publications, Boston, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-86171-098-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-86171-098-3)

- 1999: *Mandala – Il cercio sacro del buddhismo tibetano*, Sovera editore, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [88-8124-074-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/88-8124-074-2)

- 1998: *Mandala – Posvatny kruh tibetského buddhismu*, Volvox Globator, Praha, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [80-7207-145-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/80-7207-145-9)

- 1998: *De Mandala – De heilige cirkel van het Tibetaans boeddhisme*, Asoka, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [90 5670 021 9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/90_5670_021_9)

- 1997: *The Mandala – Sacred Circle in Tibetan Buddhism*, Shambhala, Boston, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-57062-296-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-57062-296-5)

- 1994: *Irgendwo in Bhutan – Wo Frauen (fast immer) das Sagen haben*, Verlag im Waldgut, Frauenfeld, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [3 7294 0202 1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/3_7294_0202_1)

- 1992: *Das Mandala: Der Heilige Kreis im tantrischen Buddhismus*, DuMont, Köln, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [3-7701-2509-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-7701-2509-6)

- 1993: *Anthropology of Tibet and the Himalaya* (with [Charles Ramble](/source/Charles_Ramble)), Ethnologische Schriften Zürich, ESZ 12, Ethnological Museum of the University of Zurich, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [3-909105-24-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-909105-24-6)

- 1984: Nepal – Leben und Überleben, Ethnologische Schriften Zürich, ESZ 2, Völkerkundemuseum der Universität Zürich

- 1983: Peter Aufschnaiter – Sein Leben in Tibet, Steiger Verlag, Innsbruck, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [3-85423-016-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-85423-016-8)

- 1982: Junge Tibeter in der Schweiz – Studien zum Prozess kultureller Identifikation (with Detlef Kantowsky), Verlag Rüegger, Diessenhofen, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [3 7253 0169 7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/3_7253_0169_7)

- 1982: Fremden-Bilder, Ethnologische Schriften Zürich, ESZ 1, Völkerkundemuseum der Universität Zürich

- 1980: Feste in Ladakh, [Akademische Druck- und Verlagsanstalt](/source/Akademische_Druck-_und_Verlagsanstalt), Graz, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [3-201-01122-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-201-01122-3)

- 1978: Tibetan Studies, presented at the [International Seminar of Young Tibetologists](/source/International_Seminar_of_Young_Tibetologists) (with [Per Kværne](/source/Per_Kv%C3%A6rne)), Völkerkundemuseum der Universität Zürich

- 1974: *Heinrich Harrer's Impressionen aus Tibet*, Pinguin Verlag, Innsbruck

- 1969: Tibetische Kunst, Tibeta 69, Bern

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-wisdomp_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-wisdomp_1-1) [Martin Brauen](http://www.wisdompubs.org/author/martin-brauen), Wisdom Publications

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Martin Brauen](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/martin-brauen), Huffingtonpost

1. **[^](#cite_ref-tages-anzeiger_3-0)** Brigitta Niederhauser: *Ein Berner Ethnologe in New York*. In: *[Tages-Anzeiger](/source/Tages-Anzeiger)*, 12 March 2012. [Online](http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/leben/gesellschaft/Ein-Berner-Ethnologe-in-New-York/story/16045018)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Holland Cotter, [To Stimulate Souls, Cosmic Mansions With Many Rooms](https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/21/arts/design/21mandala.html), The New York Times, 20 August 2009

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Ken Johnson](/source/Ken_Johnson_(art_critic)), [Mulling Mortality, in the East and in the West](https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/07/arts/design/07remember.html), The New York Times, 6 May 2010

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Visions of the Cosmos](https://issuu.com/rmanyc/docs/visions-of-the-cosmos), [Rubin Museum of Art](/source/Rubin_Museum_of_Art)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Charlie Finch, [JUNGER THAN THAT NOW](http://www.artnet.com/magazineus/features/finch/cgjung10-7-09.asp)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [The Cosmos – An Enduring Mystery](http://www.rietberg.ch/en-gb/exhibitions/past-exhibitions/the-cosmos.aspx), Museum Rietberg

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Meier, Philipp (16 July 2013). ["Von weissen Yetis und grünen Lamas"](https://www.nzz.ch/zuerich/zuercher_kultur/von-weissen-yetis-und-gruenen-lamas-ld.698982). Retrieved 18 April 2024 – via [NZZ](/source/Neue_Z%C3%BCrcher_Zeitung).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Kunst - Bill Viola: Mystische Videomalerei in der Kirche"](https://www.srf.ch/kultur/kunst/kunst-bill-viola-mystische-videomalerei-in-der-kirche). *Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF)*. 26 April 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [Im Loop zwischen Leben und Tod](https://www.bernerzeitung.ch/kultur/kunst/Im-Loop-zwischen-Leben-und-Tod/story/29800234)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Homage to Caesar Ritz and the artist family Lorenz and Raphael Ritz"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190816074015/https://www.caesar-ritz.ch/visitor-centre/exposition/). Archived from [the original](https://www.caesar-ritz.ch/visitor-centre/exposition/) on 16 August 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Journal of Buddhist Ethics"](https://web.archive.org/web/20241127161923/http://kusala.online-dhamma.net/%E6%96%87%E5%AD%97%E8%B3%87%E6%96%99/%E5%8D%97%E5%82%B3%E4%BD%9B%E6%95%99%E5%9C%96%E6%9B%B8%E9%A4%A8%20Theravada%20Buddhism%20E-Library/054%20%E9%9B%9C%E8%AA%8C%20Magazine/Journal%20of%20Buddhist%20Ethics/JBE/www.jbe.gold.ac.uk/5/frankj.html). Archived from [the original](http://kusala.online-dhamma.net/%E6%96%87%E5%AD%97%E8%B3%87%E6%96%99/%E5%8D%97%E5%82%B3%E4%BD%9B%E6%95%99%E5%9C%96%E6%9B%B8%E9%A4%A8%20Theravada%20Buddhism%20E-Library/054%20%E9%9B%9C%E8%AA%8C%20Magazine/Journal%20of%20Buddhist%20Ethics/JBE/www.jbe.gold.ac.uk/5/frankj.html) on 27 November 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["The Twisted Paths of Dark Dreamin (Traumwelt Tibet — Westliche Trugbilder.) By Martin Brauen with Renate Kolle and Markus Vock"](http://www.globalbuddhism.org/jgb/index.php/jgb/article/view/34/42). Retrieved 18 April 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["'Grossmutter betet für mich'"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304121349/http://www.schweizer-illustrierte.ch/stars/grossmutter-betet-fuer-mich) [Grandmother uses to pray for me]. *[Schweizer Illustrierte](/source/Schweizer_Illustrierte)* (in German). 10 September 2009. Archived from [the original](http://www.schweizer-illustrierte.ch/stars/grossmutter-betet-fuer-mich) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["interlaken : Tashi Brauen"](http://tashibrauen.com). Retrieved 18 April 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Roger Durand, Elie Ducommun 1833–1906; Association "Genève: un lieu pour la paix", 11212 Grand-Lancy [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [2-88163-028-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/2-88163-028-6)

## External links

- [Publications by and about Martin Brauen](https://nb-helveticat.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,%22Martin+Brauen%22&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=MyInstitution&vid=41SNL_51_INST:helveticat&lang=de&offset=0) in the catalogue Helveticat of the [Swiss National Library](/source/Swiss_National_Library)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National United States France BnF data Japan Czech Republic Netherlands Korea Israel Academics CiNii People Deutsche Biographie DDB Other IdRef Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Martin Brauen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Brauen) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Brauen?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.