History
Bhutan’s early history parallels Buddhism’s spread in the Himalayas and is steeped in Buddhist tradition and mythology. Much of the country’s distant past remains obscure, as most books and historic documents were destroyed in consecutive fires at the national printing works and at Punakha Dzong in 1828 and1832. Although knowledge of prehistoric Bhutan has yet to emerge through archaeological study, stone tools and weapons, remnants of large stone structures, and megaliths that may have been used for boundary markers or rituals provide evidence of civilization as early as 2000 B.C.
Variations of the Sanskrit words Bhota-ant (end of Bhot/Tibet) or Bhu-uttan (meaning highlands) have been suggested by historians as origins of the name Bhutan, which came into common foreign use in the late nineteenth century. The traditional name of the country since the seventeenth century has been Drukyul- -country of the Drukpa, the Dragon People, or the Land of the Thunder Dragon.
Some of the early inhabitants of Bhutan practiced the shamanistic Bon religion, which emphasized worship of nature and the existence of good and evil spirits. It is believed that the Bon religion was introduced to Bhutan in the 6th century. Buddhism was probably introduced to Bhutan as early as the 2nd century, although historians say the first Buddhist temples were built only in the 7th century. Guru Rimpoche, founder of Tantric Buddhism, plays a great historical and religious role as Bhutan’s national patron saint. The Guru is also known as the “Second Buddha” as he is believed to be the reincarnation of the historical Buddha. It was in the 8th century that Guru Rinpoche made his legendry trip to Bhutan on a tigress’s back. During one of his early visits to central Bhutan, the Guru appeared in eight different forms, performed magic dances, subdued eight classes of demons, and restored the health of the king in Bumthang before moving on to Tibet. Upon his return from Tibet, he set up his headquarters in Bumthang, hid Ter “sacred religious treasures”, and mediated and left the imprint of his body on rocks all over the country. Many of Bhutan’s most celebrated ancestors, including the present-day Royal family, were descendants of Nyingma School of Buddhism founded by Guru Rinpoche. Pema Lingpa, one of the most famous Nyingma Bhutanese saints discovered many Ter, hidden by Guru Rinpoche, and founded many monasteries.
From 11th to 14th century, following a period in which Buddhism was in decline in Tibet, many important saints and religious leaders from Tibet visited Bhutan. They wandered from one place to another establishing monasteries and, through their magical powers, subdued demons and evil forces that threatened villages and destroyed temples.
During the 17th century Shabdrung Nawang Namgyal unified the country and brought Bhutan under one rule. Shabdrung, the leader of the Drukpa Kagyu monastery in Tibet, came to Bhutan in 1616. He established the present system of interwined religious and secular government. After a series of victories over Tibetan invaders, he built a network of impregnable dzongs, a system that helped bring local lords under centralized control and strengthened the country against Tibetan invasions. To keep Bhutan from disintegrating, Shabdrung's death in 1651 was kept a carefully guarded secret for fifty-four years.
The theocracy of Shabdrung ended in 1907 when the Tongsa Penlop (regional ruler) Ugyen Wangchuk, was elected the first king of Bhutan by an assembly of representatives of the monastic community, government and the people. From his power base in central Bhutan, Penlop Ugyen Wangchuck had defeated his political enemies and united the country following several civil wars and rebellions in 1882-85.
On 2nd June, 1974, at 17, the present King, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuk, became the youngest Monarch in the world. Living in a simple log cabin overlooking Thimphu Valley, His Majesty has been the master architect behind the dramatic social and economic development in Bhutan. He has provided the leadership and philosophy required to ensure that the process of modernization remained anchored in the values and beliefs that the Bhutanese have held for centuries. His Majesty has made it possible for Bhutan to follow a distinctively Bhutanese path of development. Proclaiming that the ultimate purpose of government is to promote the happiness of the people, His Majesty said that “Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product”, and has given happiness precedence over economic prosperity. This unique concept of Bhutan’s development is increasingly attracting the attention of the world and it’s success is arguably Bhutan’s greatest export. In June 1998, at the 76th session of the National Assembly, His Majesty shocked the people by putting forward a package of reforms through which he voluntarily devolved his powers to a body elected by people’s representatives. Overwhelmed by the gesture, people wept openly when His Majesty’s decision in the form of a royal edict of Kasho was read at the National Assembly.
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