COUNTRY BACKGROUND - Gross National Happiness Commission

Culture and Religion
Dratshangs and Rabdeys and to restore their traditional relevance in a period of social change.
10.5 The number of monks supported by the state is estimated to be about 4,000. This figure excludes monks
who are in private monastic organizations. The monks are normally admitted into the monasteries voluntarily at the
age of 7 or 8 and remain part of the monk body through out their lives, progressing through the monastic hierarchy
and education system. The Dratshangs or Rabdeys, Shaydras, Drubdras and other private institutions of similar
nature are important centres of learning. Subjects taught in these institutions may include indigenous medicine,
philosophy, literature, rituals, metaphysics, grammar, meditation techniques, poetry, drama, painting, embroidery
etc. It has been estimated that there are at least 2,000 monasteries in the country.
Special Commission for Cultural AffairsSpecial Commission for Cultural Affairs
10.6 The Special Commission for Cultural Affairs was established in May 23, 1986, with 29 members. The
Secretariat for the Special Commission for Cultural Affairs has 34 staff, who are responsible for technical and
administrative support to: the Royal Academy of Performing Arts (Dance troupe) with 77 members; the School of
Traditional Arts which consists of 18 teaching staff and 60 students; the Drama Division of Royal Academy of
Performing Arts which consists of 5 people; the National Library with a staf
f strength of 46 people; the Bronze Casting Unit which consists of 23 people; the National Museum with a Director,
a curator and 14 other staff and the Division for Cultural Properties which employs about 16 people. Because of
limited staff, the Division for Cultural Properties works in conjunction with Dzongkhag Administrations, the Royal
Bhutan Police and Royal Bhutan Customs in issuing transit permits for the movements of art objects and in
controlling the traffic of antiques.
Arts and AntiquitiesArts and Antiquities
10.7 The most important objects among antiques and art objects are Chortens (stupas), wall paintings, statues
(made of gold, silver, ivory, silver brass, bronze, bone, terracotta, rhino-horns, stucco, wood etc), thangkhas (scroll
paintings), xylographic blocks, manuscripts, rare books, carvings, artifacts used during rituals and textiles. Such
objects can be found in community temples, private collections and government monasteries. The Royal
Government is concerned that the movement of art objects, which are part of Bhutan's heritage, needs to be
controlled. Priceless art objects could be lost to Bhutan, and there are therefore strict restrictions on the sale of
antique objects to foreigners. At the same time, copies of these objects are taken to exhibitions in other countries to
provide an insight into Bhutanese artefacts to the outside world.
National MuseumNational Museum
10.8 The National Museum at Paro was established in 1968 to display a selection of Bhutan's art objects. For the
last 24 years, the Museum has acquired over several thousand objects of arts of both organic and inorganic
materials. Out of its collection - about 60 percent - is on display in the seven floors of the Museum. Among the
objects on display are bronze and copper utensils, arms and ammunition of Bhutan, bamboo and cane products,
carpentry tools, pottery, jewellery, thangkhas, ritual objects, images, icons, philatelic etc.
Written MaterialsWritten Materials
10.9 Important religious texts have been collected in the National Library, Thimphu, for reference purposes and
to ensure the preservation of these valuable documents. Apart from some administrative archives and chronicles,
there are few documents on wholly secular themes. However, such subjects as architecture, astrology, medicine etc.
are found as part of religious texts. Although the National Library has been able to build up a wide collection, most
of the valuable religious texts and other documents are found in private collections, dzongs and monasteries. The
extent of original written heritage that exists in the country is thus unknown. Such texts are considered sacred in
themselves and private collectors may not reveal their possession of sacred manuscripts and scriptures. Other
documents such as poems, verses, land-records, writs (Kasho), permits etc which do not lend themselves to safekeeping,
are at risk of being lost permanently.
Dance and DramaDance and Drama
10.10 Dance and drama have always played an important role in explaining difficult religious and social concepts
to the population, mainly through the annual Tsechhus performed throughout the country. These dances are
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