This collection contains essays on various genres of oral traditions in Bhutan, as well as other cultural subjects. Each text is linked to relevant places and subjects, such that users can explore the rich tapestry of Bhutanese culture through different media.
Texts in this collection
The list below includes texts from this Collection’s Subcollections.
An introduction to torma, or ritual cakes, including lists of their various types and functions.
An overview of trashi songs, sung at the closing of events to cultivate auspiciousness.
A summary of Treldha Tshechu, one of the festivals held in Bhutan that celebrates Padmasambhava's miraculous birth.
An introduction to the functions and constituent parts of thruechu, a mix of water and various substances used for purification throughout Bhutan and the Himalayas.
A translation of verses chanted during thruesol (ablution), as well as the methods and functions of these visualizations.
An introduction describing the traditional domain of Tshanglakha, also known as Sharchopikha.
An overview of the tsangmo poetic genre, which can be used to express love and friendship as well as critisicm and distaste.
A summary of the Three Roots of Himalayan Buddhism, constituted of the guru, the yidam and the dakini, from the Bhutanese perspective.
An introduction to tshechu, festivals held on the tenth day of every lunar month that are dedicated to celebrating the life events of Guru Rinpoche.
A view on the roles of cypress in conceptions of Bhutanese history and religion.
The process and functions of longevity rituals known as tshewang.
A translation of the Seven Line Supplication Prayer to Guru Rinpoche and an outline of its functions and purposes.
A summary of thugdam, one's personal practices, and how thugdam can lead one to enlightenment during the process of corporeal death.
A summary of the types and functions of Vajrayana Buddhist empowerments known as wang.
This essay was published as a contribution under the title "Yakchod: The Grand Festival of Ura Village" in the volume Splendours of Our Heritage: Festivals of Bumthang Dzongkhag. Illustrated version. Thimphu: National Library and Archives of Bhutan, 2018, p. 208-220. ISBN: 978-99936-17-31-0
In the text-only version, the contribution appears on p.207-220. ISBN: 978-99936-17-32-7.
An endangered annual ceremony performed in Ura, Bumthang dedicated to the gods of livestock that is thought to originate in pre-Buddhist times.
A description of how to play yam, one of Bhutan's most popular dice games.
A summary of the benefits of cultivating joy from the Bhutanese Buddhist perspective.
A brief overview of the history and rationale for daily water offerings as practiced throughout the Himalayas, including a discussion of the proper methods and materials to conduct them.