John Vincent Bellezza

Current Focus

johnbellezza

Background

  • 2003–present, Project director, Upper Tibetan pre-Buddhist archaeological Sites, Tibetan and Himalayan Library
  • 2002-present, Senior research fellow, East Asia Center, University of Virginia, USA
  • 2002–2005, Member, Bon Translation Project, Oxford University, UK
  • 1997–present, Tibetanist research scholar, Istituto Shangshung, Italy
  • 1990–present, Independent translation work
  • 1985–2000, Professional mountain, pilgrimage and cultural tour leader with various companies including Mountain Travel USA and Sherpa Expeditions
Educational and Research Overview

Twenty-five years of intensive exploration and research in Cultural Tibet and the Great Western Himalaya:

  • 2001–2008, The first comprehensive inventory of Upper Tibetan pre-Buddhist monuments and rock art
  • 2004–2007, In-depth archaeological analysis of the Zhang Zhung and Sumpa paleocultures
  • 2001–2005, The first cultural historical survey of the spirit-mediums of Upper Tibet
  • 1994–2001, Archaeological reconnaissance missions to Upper Tibet
  • 1992–1999, Cultural historical surveys of Upper Tibet
  • 1986–1991, Ethnographic and geographic researches in Tibet
  • 1983–1993, Ethnographic and geographic researches in the Great Western Himalaya

Interests and Activities

Taught in major universities, including University of Chicago, University of Virginia and Oxford University

Major Research Expeditions

Conceived and carried out numerous pioneering academic field excursions. Highlights include:

  • 2007, Wild Yak Lands Expedition (Partner: Ngari Xiangxiong Cultural Exchange Association)
  • 2006, Tibet Highland Expedition (Partner: Ngari Xiangxiong Cultural Exchange Association)
  • 2006, Tibet Ice Lakes Expedition
  • 2005, Tibet Upland Expedition (Partner: Ngari Xiangxiong Cultural Exchange Association)
  • 2004, High Tibet Welfare Expedition (Partner: Tibetan Academy of Social Sciences and Ngari Prefecture Government)
  • 2003, High Tibet Antiquities Expedition (Partner: Tibetan Academy of Social Sciences and Ngari Prefecture Government)
  • 2002, High Tibet Circle Expedition (Partner: Tibetan Academy of Social Sciences and Ngari Prefecture Government)
  • 2001, Upper Tibet Antiquities Expedition (Partner: Ngari Prefecture Government)
  • 2000, Upper Tibet Circumnavigation Expedition
  • 1999, Changthang Circuit Expedition
  • 1998, 1997, Byang-thang Cultural History Phase II Expeditions
  • 1996, 1994, 1992, Cultural Surveys of Kinnaur
  • 1995, 1994, Divine Dyads Expeditions
  • 1993, 1991, Cultural Geography of Upper gTsang-po Expeditions
  • 1983–1990, Hindu Kush Ethnographic Surveys
  • 1989–1994, Himachal Pradesh Ethnographic Surveys
  • 1992, 1987, Four Fountains of Tibet Expeditions
  • 1983–1994, Great Western Himalayan Traverse
Fellowships and Grants
  • 2008, 2006, 2005, 2004: Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation (New York City)
  • 2007: American Council of Learned Societies/Henry Luce Foundation (New York City)
  • 2006: Lumbini International Buddhist Institute (Lumbini, Nepal)
  • 2006: Expeditions Council, National Geographic Society (Washington, DC)
  • 2006: Unicorn Foundation (Atlanta, GA)
  • 2005: Kalpa Group (Oxford, UK)
  • 2004, 2003, 2002: Asian Cultural Council (New York City)
  • 2004: Trust for Mutual Understanding (New York City)
  • 2003: Bon Translation Project (Oxford University)
  • 2003: National Endowment for the Humanities Rubin Museum of Art shared grant (New York City)
  • 2000: Philadelphia Theravadin Meditation Center (Philadelphia, PA)
  • 2001, 1998: Spalding Trust (Stowmarket, UK)
  • 1999: Tibetan Medical Foundation (Weslaco, TX)
  • 1998, 1997: Shang Shung Institute (Merigar, Italy)
Other Distinctions

Selected as one of the 120 greatest contemporary explorers, Adventurous Dreams, Adventurous Lives, by Jason Schoonover.

Publications

Books (Monographs)
  • Forthcoming. 2009. Antiquities of Zhang Zhung: A Comprehensive Inventory of Pre-Buddhist Sites on the Tibetan Upland, Residential Monuments, vol. 1, Tibetan and Himalayan Library.
  • Forthcoming, 2009. Antiquities of Zhang Zhung: A Comprehensive Inventory of Pre-Buddhist Sites on the Tibetan Upland, Ceremonial Monuments, vol. 2, Tibetan and Himalayan Library.
  • 2008. Zhang Zhung: Foundations of Civilization in Tibet. A Historical and Ethnoarchaeological Study of the Monuments, Rock Art, Texts and Oral Tradition of the Ancient Tibetan Upland, Wien: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften.
  • 2005. Calling Down the Gods: Spirit-Mediums, Sacred Mountains and Related Bon Textual Traditions in Upper Tibet, Tibetan Studies Library, vol. 8. Leiden: Brill.
  • 2002. Antiquities of Upper Tibet: An Inventory of Pre-Buddhist Archaeological Sites on the High Plateau, Delhi: Adroit.
  • 2001. Antiquities of Northern Tibet: Archaeological Discoveries on the High Plateau, Delhi: Adroit.
  • 1997. Divine Dyads: Ancient Civilization in Tibet, Dharamsala: Library of Tibetan Works and Archives.
Articles, Scholarly Papers and Book Reviews
  • Forthcoming. A study of Upper Tibetan rock art in Himalayan Art Resources.
  • In press a. “Proceedings of the Ceremonies and Oracular Utterances of the Spirit Mediums of Upper Tibet: An Introduction to their bSang Rituals”, prepared for the International Association of Tibetan Studies Conference XI: Bonn, 2006.
  • In press b. “Territorial Characteristics of the Pre-Buddhist Zhang-zhung Paleocultural Entity: A Comparative Analysis of Archaeological Evidence and Popular Bon Literary Sources”, prepared for the International Association of Tibetan Studies Conference X: Oxford, 2003.
  • 2005. “A Cornerstone Report. Comprehensive Archaeological Surveys Conducted in
    Upper Tibet between 2001 and 2004. Documentation of archaic monuments and rock art in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Carried out under the auspices of the Tibetan Academy of Social Sciences and Ngari Xiangxiong Cultural Exchange Association of the Tibet Autonomous Region.” in Tibetan and Himalayan Library
  • 2004. “Metal and Stone Vestiges: Religion, Magic and Protection in the Art of Ancient Tibet” in Asian Art Online Journal
  • 2004. “Pilgrim’s Way, Scientist’s Mind” (Chinese trans. Fu Jun) in Lhasa: Tibet Geographic, vol. 1, pp. 133–138.
  • 2003. “Pre-Buddhist Data” in Environmental and Cultural Geography Collection, in Tibetan and Himalayan Library (work in progress)
  • 2003. “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow: The Race to Document Upper Tibet’s Iron Age Heritage Before the Evidence is Carried Away” in San Francisco: Lotus Leaves, vol. 6 (1), pp. 1–3.
  • 2003. “Bringing to Light the Forgotten: Major Findings of a Comprehensive Inventory of Pre-Buddhist Sites in Upper Tibet (Tibet Autonomous Region, Peoples Republic of China). Conducted Between 1992–2002” in Westport: Athena Review, vol. 3 (4), pp. 16–26. Chinese language version: Xunzhao Shiluo De Wenhua: “Xibu Xizang Qian Fujiao Shiyi Zhongyao Kaogu Yiji Diao Cha Baogau” (trans. Tang Huisheng and Tan Xiuhua) in Essays on the International Conference on Tibetan Archaeology and Art, pp. 1–29. Chengdu: Sichuan Remin Chuban She, 2004.
  • 2003. “Tibetan Stones of Time: Exploration of the Ancient Bon Kingdom of Zhang Zhung” in , Ligmincha.org
  • 2002. “Gods, Hunting and Society: Animals in the Ancient Cave Paintings of Celestial Lake in Northern Tibet” in Rome: East and West, vol. 52 (1–4), pp. 347–396.
  • 2000. “Pre-Buddhist Archaeological Sites in Northern Tibet: An Introductory Report on the Types of Monuments and Related Literary and Oral Historical Sources” in Kathmandu: Kailash, vol. 19 (1–2), pp. 1–142.
  • 2000. “Bon Rock Paintings at gNam mtsho: Glimpses of the Ancient Religion of Northern Tibet” in Melbourne: Rock Art Research, vol. 17 (1), pp. 35–55.
  • 2000. ‘Schuyler Jones’ “Tibetan Nomads”, book review in Dharamsala: The Tibet Journal, vol. 25 (1), pp. 94–99.
  • 2000. “Images of Lost Civilization: The Ancient Rock Art of Upper Tibet” in Asian Art Online Journal.
  • 2000. “Elders of Tibet: Vital Link with a Vast Unwritten Tradition” in Conway: The Mirror: Newspaper of the International Dzogchen Community, May/June, no. 4.
  • 1999. “Archaeological Mysteries at Tibet’s Sacred Mountain Nyenchen Thanglha” in Kathmandu: Himal, vol. 12 (12), pp. 42, 43.
  • 1999. “High Country Culture” in El Paso: Discovering Archaeology, vol. 1 (3), pp. 78–83.
  • 1999. “A Preliminary Archaeological Survey of Da rog mtsho” in Dharamsala: The Tibet Journal, vol. 24 (1), pp. 56–90.
  • 1999. “Northern Tibet Exploration: Archaeological Discoveries of the Changthang Circuit Expedition” in Asian Art Online Journal
  • 1999. “The Ancient Amulets of Tibet”, in Asian Art Online Journal
  • 1998. “Thogchags: Talismans of Tibet” in Hong Kong: Arts of Asia, vol. 28 (3), pp. 44–64.
  • 1997. “Notes on Three Series of Unusual Symbols Discovered on the Byang thang” in Rome: East and West, vol. 47 (1–4), pp. 395–405.
  • 1996. “A Preliminary Archaeological Survey of gNam mtsho and Dang ra g.yu mtsho” in Dharamsala: The Tibet Journal, vol. 21 (2), 58–84. Reprint: The History of Tibet, vol. 1, pp. 99–117. Routledge Curzon: London, 2003. Reprint: The Mirror: Newspaper of the International Dzogchen Community, May/June 1997; July/August 1997; April/May 1998; June/July 1998.
  • 1995. “Doring Revisited” in Kathmandu: Himal, vol. 8 (3), pp. 29–32.
  • 1994. “Thog lcags” in Dharamsala: The Tibet Journal, vol. 19 (1), pp. 92–97.
  • 1994. “Victor Chen’s Tibet Handbook”, book review in Kathmandu: Himal, vol. 7 (6), p. 31.
  • 1993. “Quest for the Four Fountains of Tibet” in Kathmandu: Himal, vol 6 (1), pp. 41–44.
Media Participation
  • Discovery, TV documentary, Mysteries of Guge: Tibet’s Lost Kingdom, Bang Productions: 2007
  • Canadian Broadcasting Company, TV documentary on Tibetan shamans, AllinOneFilms: 2006
  • National Public Radio, Radio Expeditions, “Exploring Tibet’s Lost Civilization”: February 9, 2005
  • KSFR (90.7 FM), Santa Fe Radio Cafe: January 22, 2004
  • KSFR (90.7 FM), The Journey Home: January, 2003
  • Washington Post, “Clues to Legendary Tibetan Culture Emerge”, Guy Gugliotta: February 17, 2003
  • WNYC (93.9 FM), The Leonard Lopate Show: January 23, 2003
Additional Published Works
  • Co-authored Lonely Planet Tibet (Lonely Planet Publications, Melbourne: 1999; 2002; 2005; 2008)
  • Contributed information and written pieces for Victor Chan’s Tibet Handbook, Stephen Batchelor’s Tibet Guide Book, Stan Armington’s Lonely Planet Trekking in Nepal and Lonely Planet Bhutan, Hugh Swift’s Trekking in the Himalaya and Karakorum
  • Author of monthly newsletter, Flight of the Khyung, at www.TibetArchaelogy.com