Page 18 - Bhutan Destination Guide - Alluring Asia

Lug zo Par zo The period in history between the Par zo or carving is another traditional art that has been perfected by Stone Age and Iron Age is known the Bhutanese. The major carvings are carried out on stone, wood and as the Bronze Age because bronze slate. The traditional designs crafted on these materials create some was commonly used to cast distinctive art works. PAGE 3-7 containers such as cups, urns, and Population | Time | Visas History | Religion vases. People also shaped bronze Since Bhutan has been blessed with an abundant variety of wood, into battle-axes, helmets, knives, woodcarving is seen in a variety of forms. The wooden masks that PAGE 8 shields, and swords. They also feature during the annual religious festivals are all carved out of Language made it into ornaments, and wood besides the many traditional motifs that are engraved on the PAGE 9 sometime even into primitive Bhutanese houses and on Dzongs. Besides, a unique wood carving Climate stoves. Bronze was developed that draws attraction are the phalluses of various sizes and shapes about 3500 BC by the ancient that are hung on the four corners of the Bhutanese houses and stuck PAGE 10 The Land Sumerians in the Tigris-Euphrates onto the main entrance of the door ways. These carved wooden valley. Historians are unsure of phalluses are also displayed by the Acharyas- the clowns during the PAGE 11 how this alloy was discovered, but religious festivals as a sign to bless the spectators and drive away the The People | What to Pack | they believe that bronze may have evils and misfortunes. PAGE 12 first been made accidentally when Currency | Credit Cards rocks, rich in copper and tin, were Another important art that is being practiced is the art of slate Changing Money | Tipping used to build campfire rings. As fire Insurance carving. The master craftsman is known as Do Nag Lopen and the heated these stone, the metals may material used is the slate found in abundance in both western and PAGE 13 have melted and mixed, forming Eastern Bhutan. While slate carving is not as diverse as stone and Etiquette | Safety & theft bronze. This theory is supported by wood work, yet one can come across many religious scriptures, the fact that bronze was not mantras and images of deities being carved onto slates besides the PAGE 14 Communications | Media developed in North America, religious figures. Slate works are fund mostly in religious places such where natural tin and copper ores as Dzongs, temples and chortens. PAGE 15 are rarely found in the same rocks. Shopping | Customs Bronze appeared in both Egypt and Another important craft that has survived in Bhutan is the stone Bartering China around 2000 B.C. The earliest carving. While it is certainly less evident, yet the water driven PAGE 16 bronze castings were made in sand, grinding mills are classic examples of stone works. The huge grinding Food & Drinks and this method is still used today, mills are still used by people in the far flung villages of Bhutan. One even for casting bells. However, PAGE 17-21 can also come across hollowed – out stones used for pounding grains Culture & The Arts | Religion clay and stone moulds were and troughs for feeding cattle and horses. developed later on. Clay is usually used nowadays for making bells. Bronze casting in Bhutan was introduced only in the 17th century and was mainly spread through the visiting Newari artisans that came from Nepal. The Newars of Nepal were first invited by Zhabdrung Nawang Namgyal to cast bronze statues and religious items such as bells and water offering bowls. It was through these artisans that the art was introduced and today, a lot of Bhutanese people are into bronze casting.