Pécha
The traditional Tibetan loose-leaf book format — used for canonical collections such as the Kangyur and Tengyur as well as any other text — whose characteristic oblong, landscape-oriented shape descends directly from the Indian palm-leaf manuscript (pothi) tradition introduced into Tibet around the 7th century. From the 11th century onward the pécha became the standard format for Buddhist texts, with pages sandwiched between wooden cover boards and wrapped in cloth; woodblock printing remained for long the traditional production method, with pairs of monks inking and pressing sheets in a continuous relay.
Since the early 8th century, Tibetans and Himalayan people have treasured "Namtars" as written or spoken narratives that demonstrate the realization of the Buddhist path by exceptional practitioners. These namtars, or spiritual biographies, serve as inspirational guides on the path to enlightenment.
Today, Namtars Foundation aims to record, preserve, and freely offer the world a written and electronic treasury of the oral wisdom of Tibetan and Himalayan Buddhism.
