Sharchop

Cradled in the folds of the Himalayas, Bhutan has relied on its geographic isolation to protect itself from outside cultural influences. A sparsely populated country bordered by India to the south and China to the north, Bhutan has long maintained a policy of strict isolationism, both culturally and economically, with the goal of preserving its cultural heritage and independence. Only in the last decades of the 20th century were foreigners allowed to visit the country, and only then in limited numbers. In this way, Bhutan has successfully preserved many aspects of a cu ...

Including:

• Culture of Bhutan - Religion
• Culture of Bhutan - National dress code
• Culture of Bhutan - Men and women in society
• Culture of Bhutan - Bhutanese names
• Culture of Bhutan - Religious festivals
• Culture of Bhutan - The monastery
• Culture of Bhutan - Radio and television

Read more here: » Culture of Bhutan: Encyclopedia - Culture of Bhutan

Monks join the monastery at six to nine years of age and are immediately placed under the discipleship of a headmaster. They learn to read chhokey, the language of the ancient sacred texts, as well as Dzongkha and English. Eventually they will chose between two possible paths: to study theology and Buddhist theory, or take the more common path of becoming proficient in the rituals and personal practice of the faith. The daily life of the monk is austere, particularly if they are stationed at one of the monasteries located high up in t ...

See also:

Culture of Bhutan, Culture of Bhutan - Religion, Culture of Bhutan - National dress code, Culture of Bhutan - Men and women in society, Culture of Bhutan - Bhutanese names, Culture of Bhutan - Religious festivals, Culture of Bhutan - The monastery, Culture of Bhutan - Radio and television

Read more here: » Culture of Bhutan: Encyclopedia II - Culture of Bhutan - The monastery

Once a year a dzong or important village may hold a religious festival, or tsechhu. Villagers from the surrounding district come for several days of religious observances and visiting while making offerings to the lama or monastery. The central activity is a fixed set of religious mask dances, or cham, held in a large courtyard. Each individual dance takes up to several hours to complete and the entire set may last two to four days. Observation of the dances directly blesses the audience and also serves to transmit principles o ...

See also:

Culture of Bhutan, Culture of Bhutan - Religion, Culture of Bhutan - National dress code, Culture of Bhutan - Men and women in society, Culture of Bhutan - Bhutanese names, Culture of Bhutan - Religious festivals, Culture of Bhutan - The monastery, Culture of Bhutan - Radio and television

Read more here: » Culture of Bhutan: Encyclopedia II - Culture of Bhutan - Religious festivals

Bhutanese women have traditionally had more rights than women of surrounding cultures, the most prominent being the presumptive right of land ownership. The property of each extended Bhutanese family is controlled by an anchor mother who is assisted by the other women of the family in running affairs. As she becomes unable to manage the property, the position of anchor mother passes on to a sister, daughter or niece. Men and women work together in the fields, and both may own small shops or businesses. Men take a full pa ...

See also:

Culture of Bhutan, Culture of Bhutan - Religion, Culture of Bhutan - National dress code, Culture of Bhutan - Men and women in society, Culture of Bhutan - Bhutanese names, Culture of Bhutan - Religious festivals, Culture of Bhutan - The monastery, Culture of Bhutan - Radio and television

Read more here: » Culture of Bhutan: Encyclopedia II - Culture of Bhutan - Men and women in society

All Bhutanese citizens are required to observe the national dress code, known as Driglam Namzha, while in public during daylight hours. The rule is enforced more rigorously in some districts (dzongkhag) than others. Men wear a heavy knee-length robe tied with a belt, called a gho, folded in such a way to form a pocket in front of the stomach. Woman wear colorful blouses over which they fold and clasp a large rectangular cloth called a kira, thereby creating an ankle-length dress. A short silk jacket, or toegoSee also:

Culture of Bhutan, Culture of Bhutan - Religion, Culture of Bhutan - National dress code, Culture of Bhutan - Men and women in society, Culture of Bhutan - Bhutanese names, Culture of Bhutan - Religious festivals, Culture of Bhutan - The monastery, Culture of Bhutan - Radio and television

Read more here: » Culture of Bhutan: Encyclopedia II - Culture of Bhutan - National dress code