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Guide for Teachers Bhutan Canada Foundation Guide for Teachers Contents The Kingdom of Bhutan 2 History and Economy 4 Religion and Spirituality 10 Customs and Traditions 16 Language 24 Education in Bhutan 26 Gross National Happiness 30 Living in Bhutan 32 Healthcare and Medical 42 Travel 43 What to Bring 44 Do’s and Don’t 46 Recommended Reads and Watches 47 Glossary 48 Bibliography 54 1 The Kingdom of Bhutan Population: 797, 765 (2016) Bordering Countries: China (Tibet) / India ​ ​ Capital: Thimphu Highest Point: Gangkar Phinsum ​ ​ Area: 38, 394 sq kilometers ​ Geography Much of Bhutan's terrain is extremely rugged. It is often divided into three regions that are distinguished by their altitude. The first is the Himalayan region in the north that consists of many mountain peaks reaching over 24,000 ft (7,351 m). The second region is central uplands on the slopes and valleys of the Himalayas. This region is divided by several large rivers. The third is the Duars Plain that opens out toward India from the Himalayan foothills. Demographics Bhutanese people primarily consist of the Ngalops and Sharchops, called the Western Bhutanese and Eastern Bhutanese respectively. The Ngalops primarily consist of Bhutanese living in the western part of the country. Their culture is closely related to that of Tibet. Much the same could be said of the Sharchops, the dominant group, who originate from the eastern part of Bhutan (but who traditionally follow the Nyingmapa rather than the official Drukpa Kagyu form of Mahayana Buddhism). Districts Bhutan comprises twenty districts (dzongkhag, both singular and plural): ​ ​ 1. Bumthang 11. Samdrup Jongkhar 2. Chukha (old spelling Chhukha) 12. Samtse 3. Dagana 13. Sarpang 4. Gasa 14. Thimphu 5. Haa 15. Trashigang 6. Lhuntse (old spelling Lhuntshi) 16. Trashiyangste 7. Mongar 17. Trongsa 8. Paro 18. Tsirang 9. Pemagatshel 19. Wangdue Phodrang 10. Punakha 20. Zhemgang 2 Climate Bhutan's climate varies with these regions. The southern plains, for instance, feature a tropical climate while the uplands have cool winters and hot summers, and the northern mountains have extremely cold winters and cool summers. The average day temperature ranges from a minimum of 4°C to a maximum of 18°C (55°F to 60°F), however nights will be a minimum of -2°C. Maps 3 History and Economy History Bhutan’s recorded history dates as far back as the 6th century A.D., while the real historical period started with the introduction of Buddhism from 7th century A.D. Since then, Buddhism has largely shaped the history of Bhutan and the way of life of its people. Bhutan’s geographical situation kept the world at bay and, together with the policy of isolation, this small kingdom was never colonized, a matter of great pride to the Bhutanese. Its ancient history, which is a mixture of the oral tradition and classical literature, tells of a largely self-sufficient population that had limited contact with the outside world until the turn of the century. The earliest notable relics visible of the history of Bhutan, today, are the two monasteries, the Kyichu Lhakhang in Paro and Jambay Lhakhang in Bumthang which were built in the 7th Century A.D. Little is known about Bhutan during that period. It was not until the visit of Guru Rimpochey (also known as Padma Sambhava) in 747 A.D., that Buddhism took firm root in the country. It is believed that Guru Rimpochey flew into Bhutan on the back of a tiger and landed in Taktsang, Paro, where the Taktsang monastery, one of the most revered sacred sites and the most distinguished religious and historical icon of Bhutan, stands today. Another important chapter in the history of Bhutan evolved in the first half of the 13th century when the spiritual master, Phajo Drugom Zhingpo arrived. He was the precursor of the Drukpa Kagyu tradition of Mahayana Buddhism, which ultimately gained pre-eminence in the country. Over the years many saints and religious figures helped shape Bhutan's history and develop its religion, of which the Tertons (treasure discoverers), who were pre-destined to unearth the ters (relics) hidden by Guru Rimpoche and other saints, played an important role. Among the Tertons, Pema Lingpa, born in the Tang valley of Bumthang, occupies the most important place in the Bhutanese history. His discovery of ters from a lake called Mebartsho (The Burning Lake) in 4 Bumthang is a famous event. He not only discovered formative religious texts and artifacts but also composed dances and created arts which have become important components of Bhutan’s cultural heritage. The arrival of Shabdrung Rimpochey (Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal) began the most dynamic era in the history of Bhutan. Shabdrung Rimpochey has become known as the unifier of Bhutan as a nation state. Not only did he unite the warring fiefdoms that made up Bhutan, but also worked to create a distinctly Bhutanese culture, which was separate from Tibetan culture. Shabdrung Rimpochey established the dual system of government--the temporal and theocratic--with Je Khenpo (chief abbot) as the religious head and the temporal leader known as the Desi. The Shabdrung's dual system of government, ruled by 54 Desis and 60 Je Khenpos, steered Bhutan from 1651 until the birth of the Wangchuck dynasty and establishment of hereditary Monarchy in 1907. Monarchy By the second half of the 19th century the greatest authority in the land lay in the hands of quasi-independent, nonhereditary baronies. The same period saw the powerful British seeking to incorporate Tibet within their sphere of influence. This was a development that posed a threat to Bhutan but was overcome by the political acumen of Penlop Ugyen Wangchuck, a dynamic leader who successfully played the role of mediator between British India and Tibet. The inspired maneuver helped in furthering his authority within Bhutan against a background that was characterized by widespread desire for political stability and internal peace, and, in 1907, an assembly of the clergy, the government, and the people unanimously elected the first hereditary monarch of Bhutan, with the title of Druk Gyalpo (Precious King of the Thunder dragon) Ugyen Wangchuck displayed extraordinary qualities as a leader and statesmen. He was a deeply devout and religious man and imbued with a genuine desire to improve the condition of his people. He possessed remarkable administrative and diplomatic skills. With his outstanding qualities of leadership and statesmanship, he was undoubtedly Bhutan’s man of destiny. By uniting the country and establishing a central authority, he brought peace and stability to the country and laid the foundation for the emergence of modern Bhutan. He was succeeded by Jigme Wangchuck, during whose reign (1926-52) the nation continued to enjoy peace and stability. The reign of the 3rd monarch King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (1952-72) was marked by the progressive opening of the country to the outside world. In 1962 Bhutan joined the Colombo Plan 5 and in 1971 Bhutan became a member of the United Nations. Restructuring of the country’s social, economic and political institutions was also carried out under his leadership. The fourth king, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, always stressed the need for great participation of the people in the nation building process, and as a result, decentralized the administration and established District Development Committees in all eighteen districts of the kingdom. As Bhutan is a small country with a small population, the fourth king gave topmost priority to building a small, compact and efficient government with a system of administration that is not dependent on individuals or personalities. Due importance was also given to the promotion of the high values of the country’s rich social and cultural heritage. At the same time, under the leadership of His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, Bhutan rapidly established good bilateral relations with many countries both within and outside its region. Over the years, Bhutan has achieved significant success in enhancing its image in the community of nations through the balanced and pragmatic positions it has consistently adopted as an active member of numerous multilateral organizations. The fourth king of Bhutan’s reign witnessed the dawn of a new era in Bhutan, an era marked by great political stability, all-round economic progress and development that sought to harmoniously blend the best of the old and new. On 17 December 2005, (at the age of 50), His Majesty announced his intention to abdicate in 2008, leaving the throne to his son. During the last year of his reign, he sent every household in the land a new draft constitution that allowed for his impeachment. In a royal edict issued on 14 December 2006, the king announced that he would begin handing over power to his eldest son Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck immediately. He had ordered a parliamentary election to be held in 2008. 6 His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk the Fifth King of Bhutan After completing his higher secondary studies from Yangchenphu Higher secondary school, Bhutan, His Majesty studied abroad at Phillips Academy (Andover, Massachusetts), Cushing Academy and Wheaton College in Massachusetts, United States, before graduating from Magdalen College, University of Oxford, United Kingdom, where he completed the Foreign Service Program and a Master of Philosophy in Politics. His Majesty has been conferred a number of honorary degrees, including one by the University of New Brunswick, Canada. He has travelled abroad officially representing Bhutan on several occasions and has an active role in numerous cultural, educational and economic organizations. His Majesty was officially crowned on November 6, 2008, in the month of the male earth rat, at Tashichhoe dzong in Thimphu. The coronation ceremony comprised an ancient and colourful ritual, attended by many foreign dignitaries, including the President of India.
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