Arts and crafts of Bhutan
In brief
No place has more comprehensively embodied traditional Bhutanese arts and crafts than the Dzongs, the imposing monastic fortresses that appear throughout the landscape.
Religious art
In Bhutan the relationship between religion and the arts is extremely intimate. No artistic expression can be separated from its religious significance.
Traditional handicrafts
In Bhutan the series of traditional skills or crafts is defined as zorig chusum. Zo means the ability to make, rig stands for the science or craft, chusum is thirteen.
Punakha Dzong reconstructed
Straddling the confluence of the snow-fed Pho Chu and Mo Chu rivers in Punakha, the five gilded pinnacles of the Dewachenpoi Phodrang glisten in the sunlight, more brilliant than ever.
Punakha Dzong consecrated
For the large gathering that represented all sections of the Bhutanese population, the rabney of the historic Punakha Dzong was a re-enforcement of the priorities and values that had survived and strengthened over the centuries.
The wheel of life
One of the most dramatic and arresting subjects of Thangkas (religious paintings) is the Wheel of Life. Not only is it rich in symbolism, but it also captures key aspects of the Buddha's teaching, including rebirth, karma and dependent origination.
The art of weaving
In the high eastern mountain villages you will come across women weaving in the open-air with their back strap looms. They are Bhutan's weavers who practise their trade on the open mountainside or field singing gently as they rock back and forth.
The Phallus
In Bhutan the phallus is an integral part of ceremonies observed by communities, commonly used to ward off evil spirits and counter evil.
