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History
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The name,
Bhutan, appears to derive from the ancient Indian term, Bhotanta, which means
the end of the land of the Bhots. Bhot was the Sanskrit term for Tibetans; thus,
Bhutan could mean the end of the land of Tibet. It could also extend from the
Sanskrit word, Bhutan, or high land. No one seems to be sure. Ancient Tibetan
writers called their fertile neighbours Lho Mon or Mon Yul, paradise of the
south or land of the monpas. The Bhutanese themselves refer to their country as
Druk Yul or the land of the peaceful dragon, Druk meaning dragon and extending
from the predominant Drukpa school of Tibetan Buddhism. |
The Raven Crown |
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Bhutan’s history parallels Buddhism’s following in the Himalayas,
and to properly understand Bhutan’s history one also needs to
understand its religion. Mystery surrounds Bhutan’s distant
past, as books and papers were lost in consecutive fires at the
National Printing Works and at Punakha Dzong in 1828 and 1832, and then a
massive earthquake in 1896 and a fire in Paro Dzong destroyed all but few of the
records that outlasted the first disasters. Despite these setbacks, enough
reliable information has been recorded to piece together a history, which sets
this small kingdom apart from others in its vicinity.
Bhutan was not
unified under a central authority until the 17th century; however, the religious
presence in the country had been acting as a spiritual cohesion for many years. It was in 747
AD that Padma Sambhava, who is known as Guru Rinpoche, made his legendary trip
from Tibet across the mountains, flying on a tigress’s back. He arrived in the
Paro valley at Taktsang Lhakhang, Tiger’s Nest. A monastery now perches
precariously on the cliff’s face as a permanent memory to his name.
Guru Rinpoche
is the father of the tantric strain of Mahayana Buddhism practiced in Bhutan.
His eight manifestations are worshipped throughout the kingdom, and wherever he
visited in the kingdom is today a pilgrimage site highly revered by Bhutanese.
Guru Rinpoche is not only recognized as the father of the Nyingmapa religious
school, but he is also considered to be the second Buddha.
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Shabdrung
Ngawang Namgyel, a Tibetan lama of the Drukpa school, designed the present
system of intertwined religious and secular government. He was invited to
Bhutan in 1616. At that time no central authority existed, and regional
conflict had persisted intermittently for centuries. In his quest to unify the
country, he gained the support of many powerful families of his school and
constructed dzongs (fortress monasteries) in the main valleys of western
Bhutan. Designed to scare aggressors, the dzongs command a powerful presence
over the valleys and remain the center of religious and civil authority. |
Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel
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Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel fought and won a battle against the
Tibetans in 1639 and assumed the title, Shabdrung, meaning "at
whose feet one submits." Later Shabdrung
unified the country and established himself as the country’s supreme leader and
vested civil power in a high officer known as the Druk Desi. Religious affairs
were charged to another leader, the Je Khenpo. The country was divided into
regions, and an intricate system of laws was codified. Bhutan’s first Shabdrung
died in 1651. Within the five years of his death the country had unified under
the control of the central government.
During the next
two centuries civil wars intermittently broke out, and the regional Penlops
became increasingly more powerful. At the end of the 19th century the Penlop of
Tongsa (who controlled central and eastern Bhutan) overcame his greatest rival,
the Penlop of Paro (who controlled western Bhutan), and was soon afterwards
recognized as the overall leader of Bhutan. An assembly of representatives of
the monastic community, civil servants, and the people elected the Penlop of
Tongsa, Ugyen Wangchuk, the first king of Bhutan in 1907.
The monarch has
thrived ever since, and the present king, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuk, the
first great grandson, commands the overwhelming support of his people.
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