The Old Tibetan Annals, an official register of yearly events of the Tibetan Empire in the mid-7^th to mid-8^th centuries, is no doubt the most reliable source for the history of the Tibetan Empire (p. 9). Since its publication with a French translation in 1940–46, the Annals has proven to be the principal source for the chronology of the empire. Consequently, numerous studies of the Annals and other related texts have subsequently appeared and our understanding of the Annals and ancient Tibetan history has greatly improved. Thus, the need for a thoroughly revised integral publication of the Annals has been strongly felt. However, the difficulty of incorporating innumerable new findings published in various media and languages poses a great obstacle. This ambitious book by Brandon Dotson, therefore, is a truly welcome contribution to fulfill our needs.

The book consists of three parts. The main body, namely, the annotated English translation with edited transliteration of the Annals, constitutes Part II. The translation is plain and easily legible; new findings and issues for discussion are contained in footnotes. Together it is considered to be a dependable and updated English rendering of this important source. Part II also contains five kinds of appendices: 1) Annalistic Entries in Other Documents, 2) The Royal Succession, 3) The Sack of the Chinese Capital in the Old Tibetan Chronicle and the Zhol Pillar, 4) The “Succession of Chief Ministers” in the Old Tibetan Chronicle, and 5) The Regimes of Khri Srong-lde-brtsan, Khri Lde-srong-brtsan, and Khri Gtsug-lde-brtsan based on their Edicts. Each provides an extremely useful tool for chronological studies of the empire.

Part I is an ‘Introduction.' It comprises, in addition to an introduction to the Annals, an extensive survey of the issues regarding the social and administrative structures of the Tibetan Empire: i.e., ‘Succession and Marriage and the Tibetan Royal Line,' ‘Historical Geography,' ‘Administration and Administrators,' and ‘Class and Rank.' In discussing these issues, Dotson quotes many related documents but always keeps the Annals as the axis, which makes his analysis and survey coherent and convincing. Although there still remain several points to be investigated, the survey is well-balanced and integrates the fruits of previous research, especially on documents such as legal texts, contracts, wooden slips, and divination. Recent studies of these texts have revealed that the same textual formulae were coherently used all over the empire. We thus fully agree with Dotson's observation that “imperial Tibetan law and administration was more centralized, and enjoyed a longer geographical reach than in subsequent Tibetan administration” (p. 69).

Part III, Imperial Central Tibet: An Annotated Cartographical Survey of its Territorial Divisions and Key Political Sites by Guntram Hazod, is an amazing gift for us. Based on extensive and meticulous investigations of relevant texts, Hazod successfully identified many important toponyms, including the ancient principalities, the eighteen shares of power, the borders and centers of the Four Horns, the districts of the Four Horns, and the place names of the Annals in Central Tibet, and locates them in many beautifully drawn maps. What is most striking is the new data from his on-site field research, i.e., excavations of local tombs, topographical surveys, and investigations of local histories and legends. §3.2 (pp. 175–192) is a case in point, where the home lands of local dynasties are clearly attested and the transfer of the Zhol rdo-ring from the Kri Valley to Lhasa in the 17^th century is convincingly demonstrated. The numerous maps and beautiful photos taken in situ (including “Lho-brag inscription”!) almost enable us to visualize the main clan figures and the places they acted as described in the Annals. There is no doubt that this magnificent work by Hazod constitutes an epoch in Tibetan historiography.

The book is equipped with a glossary and two indices (place names and personal names) to the Annals. Though they are no doubt extremely useful, a general index to the entire volume also would have been convenient to readers. The volume concludes with color photographic reproductions of the Annals.

The book is carefully edited with only a few minor errors and typos: e.g., Part 1 (p. 36): ‘A-zha was . . . ethnically Turkic [> Mongol?]. Abbreviations (p. 265): CD 3 is confused with CD 4. Bibliography (p. 284): Uray (1979) is missing. Index of Personal Names (p. 297): Ton-ya-bgo Kha-gan, ruler of the land of ‘A-zha [> Western Turks].

This brilliant work by Brandon Dotson and Guntran Hazod deserves a high evaluation and will remain a standard reference not only for students of Tibetan studies but for all those who are interested in Asian cultures and history.