Japan Consortium for International Cooperationin Cultural Heritage2009 International Cooperation Survey

Survey Report on the Protection of Cultural Heritage
in the Kingdom of Bhutan

March 2011
Japan Consortium for International Cooperationin Cultural Heritage

Contents
Introduction
1

Forward2

Preface5（1）Purpose and members of the Survey

6（2）Reasons for survey in Bhutan

7（3）Cultural Heritage in Bhutan

1.Overview of theSurvey① Uniqueness of Bhutan from the Viewpoint ofCultural Heritage② Types of Cultural Heritage in Bhutan
10（4）Survey Method

12（1） Temples

16（2） Dzongs

28（3） Other Structures

28（4） A Bhutanese Festival (Intangible Cultural Heritage)

37（1） Summary of Field Survey

45（2） Potential for Cooperation in the Field of Cultural Heritage

2.Overview of the
Cultural Heritages
Sites Visited

3.Discussion

Protection
49（3） Conclusion

53（1） List of Interviewees

54（2） Record of Action

59（3） Notes from Interviews

76（4） Survey Photos

4.Survey Records

Introduction
Forward
The present report is the result of a survey conducted in Bhutan by the Japan Consortium forInternational Cooperation in Cultural Heritage (hereinafter referred to as “the JCIC”) as part ofits research on partner countries for international cooperation.
The surveys, which are among the primary activities of the JCIC, are for the purpose ofcollecting basic data in order to determine potential fields of cooperation, and their feasibility,in partner countries, thus contributing to the promotion of international cooperation. From its
establishment in June 2006, until the year 2011, the JCIC has conducted such cooperation surveys
in Laos, Mongolia, Yemen (survey of damage from flooding in the Hadramawt area), Armenia,
and the Nan Madol Ruins of the Federated States of Micronesia. Some of the international
cooperation projects implemented by Japan have been based on information obtained throughthese surveys.
The Bhutan survey was conducted through the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs of
Bhutan, various institutions such as museums and libraries, as well as international organizations
involved in cooperation with Bhutan. The interviews focused on measures and policies related
to the preservation of cultural heritage. In addition, a field survey was carried out regarding thecurrent state of preservation of the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of dzongs (fortress-likebuildings that serve as centers of government) and temples. This report summarizes the results
obtained from these surveys.
In Bhutan, cultural traditions continue to thrive even today. Turning away from unregulated
modernization, the country bases its policies on sustainable living culture rather than economic
indicators as a measure of the wealth of its citizens. Therefore, the concepts and methods ofmodern cultural property preservation, born in a context of rapid change and loss of heritage,cannot be directly applied to Bhutan. Rethinking the questions of what is culture, and what is
cultural heritage, we need to carefully consider what kind of cooperation would be appropriate
for this country. The process of understanding and learning from Bhutan may allow us to reflect
anew on the contemporary society in which we live.

Shinichi Shimizu
Director, Japan Centre for International Cooperation in Conservation
National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo

1

Preface
This is a report on a field survey of the state of cultural heritage conservation in the Kingdomof Bhutan, carried out within the framework of research by the Consortium for International
Cooperation in Cultural Heritage.
The survey consisted mainly of field trips and interviews, and this report is based on thefindings. The authors of this report are Yoshiro IMAEDA, who wrote the sections "Uniqueness of
Bhutan from the Viewpoint of Cultural Heritage", and "Festivals of Bhutan (Intangible Cultural
Heritage)"; Masahiko TOMODA, author of the sections: "Overview of Cultural Heritage Sites
Visited", and "Discussion"; the remaining sections were written by Tomomi HARAMOTO, of
the Consortium for International Cooperation in Cultural Heritage. Ms. Haramoto also edited themanuscript.

2

1. Overview of the Survey

1. Overview of the Survey(1) Purpose of the Survey; List of Members
The Japan Consortium for International Cooperation in Cultural heritage (JCIC) is conducting
surveys of partner countries for the purpose of promoting international cooperation on cultural
heritage with Japan. Surveys include emergency surveys for cooperation on cultural heritage
affected by disaster, and general surveys of the current state of protection of cultural heritage.
This report is a general survey conducted in 2009, in order to understand cultural heritage
protection in the Kingdom of Bhutan (hereinafter Bhutan), the current state of international
cooperation, and what the country requires.
<Survey Members>
Yoshiro IMAEDA (Research Director, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (National Center for Scientific
Research, France))
Masahiko TOMODA (Director, Conservation Design Section, Japan Center for International Cooperation inConservation, National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo)
Tomomi HARAMOTO (Research Fellow, Japan Consortium for International Cooperation in Cultural Heritage)<Map-1> Location of Bhutan.

5<Map-2> Places visited in this survey.

(2) Reasons for survey in Bhutan
Bhutan is a devoutly Buddhist country, in which even today, Buddhist teachings continue toexert a strong influence on every aspect of the daily lives of its people. Modernization is not be
confused with westernization in this country: Bhutan is known for modernizing in its own way,while protecting traditional culture. For example, education in etiquette is considered mandatory,
as is the wearing of traditional clothes in formal settings Furthermore, the law requires
compliance with traditional building styles not only for public facilities but also for private
dwellings. In this way, traditional culture continues to be protected even today.
① Cultural heritage protection since 2002
In Bhutan, the protection of traditional culture is largely attributable to the national isolationist
policy that endured for many years. Immediately after revision of the policy in 1992, Japan began
cooperation on restoration work for Bhutan's historical buildings through the Agency for Cultural
Affairs' Asia and Pacific region cooperative project for the preservation of cultural buildings.
The project continued for 10 years, until 2002. At the end of the project, legal measures werebeginning to be put in place, and it was reported that the government of Bhutan was showing a
positive attitude towards the protection of cultural heritage.(1)After the completion of this project,however, there was little information available about the progress of cultural heritage protectionin Bhutan in the context of increasing globalization and pressure to modernize.
② Potential for cooperation to repair damages caused by the 2009 earthquake
An earthquake struck Bhutan in 2009, damaging many of the buildings that had been
constructed by traditional methods. In response, the UNESCO New Delhi office began toinvestigate how to support the restoration of cultural heritage, and set up a preliminary survey.

(1) Report of the Cooperation Project on the Conservation of Historic Buildings in Bhutan within the frame workof the ACA Cooperation Project for the Conservation of Historic Buildings in the Asia Pacific Region 1992-2002,
Architecture and Other Structures Division, Cultural Properties Department, Agency for Cultural Affairs (ACA),
Government of Japan.

6

The JCIC was asked to look into the possibility of cooperation from Japan. In order to conduct
the study, the JCIC needed to collect data, and to understand the current state of cultural heritage
protection in Bhutan.
③ Needs related to movable assets and intangible cultural heritage, and potential forcooperation
Previously, Japan was mainly involved in cooperation and research on immovable heritage, so
there was a need for a comprehensive collection of information regarding movable heritage andintangible cultural heritage protection.
For the above three reasons, Bhutan was chosen for the partner country survey in 2009.

(3) Cultural Heritage in Bhutan①Uniqueness of Bhutan from the Viewpoint of Cultural Heritage
First of all, there is a need to acknowledge that the concept of cultural heritage common to therest of the world may not exist or be applicable in Bhutan.
Cultural heritage is that which was produced in the past and still exists in the present. In
that sense, there is a great deal of cultural heritage in Bhutan. The people of Bhutan are proudof their cultural heritage and feel happy to live in this country. However, for the Bhutanese,
cultural heritage means the spiritual heritage of Buddhism that has been passed down by monks,
in their teachings and blessings. Tangible heritage, such as dzongs, temples, stupas, statues
and paintings of Buddha, and intangible heritage, such as the cham (masked dance) and tsechu(annual religious festivals) are all merely symbolic representations of the teaching of Buddha.
As such, they have only secondary meaning. Furthermore, Buddhism is fundamentally based on
the concept of impermanence. As Buddhists, the Bhutanese do not see their world as constantand motionless, but as something constantly changing and ephemeral. From this point of view,placing value on physical symbols is seen as an illusory attachment. The Bhutanese therefore
place little value on the tangible and visible, and see no intrinsic value in or pressing reason forpreserving an object simply because of its age. Little importance is placed on preservation of old
things, and even when a damaged object is repaired, restoration to the original condition is not apriority.
One can notice a similar attitude among Tibetan refugees who practice Mahayana Buddhism.
Although they lost not only their tangible heritage, but also their country itself, and had to startover again from nothing, in a foreign country, they were not overcome by this tragic setback;rather, they thrived spiritually and have maintained their Buddhist tradition for over half acentury already. What these people value is not the physical symbols of their heritage, but theexistence of the lamas, the embodiment of their spiritual tradition. As long as lamas continue
existing, the tradition of Buddhism will not perish.

7

This is the fundamental thinking of the Bhutanese as believers in the Buddhist faith.
Secondly, let us look at the current situation in Bhutan.
Normally, when speaking of cultural heritage, it is recognized that the traditional techniques
employed in the creation of cultural heritage have already deteriorated or vanished, and can nolonger be produced or recreated. There is an implicit recognition that the heritage is valuable, andshould be restored, preserved, and maintained, because it cannot be reproduced.
The situation in Bhutan, however, is radically different. Bhutan embarked on the pathof modernization much later than other Asian countries; its traditional practices therefore
remain strong, and traditional techniques are alive and well. As a result, the Bhutanese do not
feel a pressing need to restore and preserve artifacts from the past. This is illustrated by two
construction projects carried out under Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the fourth Dragon King of
Bhutan, who reigned from 1972 to 2006. During his reign, two of the most sacred and important
structures in Bhutan were severely damaged by fire: the Taktsang Monastery, closely associatedwith the founder of Buddhism in Bhutan, Guru Rimpoche (8th century), who is revered as thesecond Buddha; and the Punakha Dzong established by Zhabdrung Ngwang Namgyal (15941651), the founder of Bhutan. By that time, Bhutan had already experienced several decades ofmodernization, and modern construction methods from other countries had been introduced andadopted. However, the fourth King of Bhutan summoned traditional stonecutters, carpenters,
painters, and Buddhist statue sculptors, and urged them to build even more fabulous buildings
and dzongs. The king himself supervised the progress of the construction and the remodeling ofbuildings, which were more like newly built structures than restorations. The results, it was clear
to everyone, were outstanding. The new Taktsang Monastery and Punakha Dzong are even more
beautiful than the originals, and are a source of pride to the Bhutanese.
It has been a few years since Bhutan introduced a new political framework following thecoronation of the fifth King, but the attitude and situation with regard to tradition have notchanged. Tradition for the Bhutanese is identity itself, and the source of their spiritual power.
Any modernization that would damage this identity and spiritual power would be pointless; but
modernization that will protect and promote it is essential. Rather than looking to the past, theBhutanese are striving to build an even firmer tradition for their future.
That is the current situation in Bhutan and the Bhutanese view of their own tradition.
The Bhutanese are unlikely to change their Buddhist identity in the future.
However, tradition is a different matter. Modernization has been underway for more thanseveral decades. The country is facing an unprecedented wave of globalization, and it isundeniable that such rapid change will bring with it the risk of transforming or destroying
tradition. Because the population is so small (700,000), the situation is all the more severe.
Under such circumstances, the Bhutanese attitude toward tradition and their future may appear toobservers as overconfident, and lacking in caution.
External involvement, in the form of international cooperation, in the preservation of
Bhutanese cultural heritage, presupposes a clear understanding of how the Bhutanese view theirown cultural heritage in the context of Buddhist tradition. Only then can one begin to explain and8promote the concept of “cultural heritage” as the international heritage of humanity. Ultimately,
the Bhutanese themselves must decide what action to take as members of international society.
Then, if they request financial, technical, or human resources assistance or partnership, we should
be prepared to respond. That is the best, and the only effective, sustainable policy.

9② Types of Cultural Heritage in Bhutan
As noted above, the generally accepted concept of cultural heritage is difficult to apply to
Bhutan. However, for the sake of clarity, we will use the usual categories of cultural heritage inthis survey.
The tangible cultural heritage of Bhutan includes structures such as the fortress-like buildings,
or dzongs (which serve as administrative centers and monasteries); the religious buildings, or
lhakhang (temples); gompa (monasteries); chortem (pagodas); and old houses. In Bhutan, the law
requires that new construction also follow traditional architectural form and design. Furthermore,these buildings, old and new, are still being used for their original functions.
Movable heritage includes Buddhist objects such as statues and pictures, scriptures and prayer
wheels, and masks and costumes used in religious ceremonies, as well as folk cultural properties
such as traditional artwork and tools used in daily life. Whether new or old, Buddhist statues,
artwork and scriptures are objects of religious faith, and therefore many of them are not stored inmuseums but kept at temples. Many traditional tools are in common use even today.
Well-known examples of intangible cultural heritage include the Tibetan Buddhist tshechu
festival and religious ceremonies such as the masked dance known as cham that is performed
during this festival. In addition, traditional techniques for textiles, bamboo craft, wood turning,gold and silver metalwork, carving, casting, paper making and woodcraft are carried on andprotected as part of the intangible heritage. Other examples are the national sports of datse(bow) and khul (Bhutanese darts), folk music and instruments, kira and gho folk costumes etc..
Although there are many oral fables, the majority of these have yet to be recorded, and are indanger of disappearing due to modernization.

(4) Survey Method
To carry out a comprehensive study the current condition of protection of cultural heritagein Bhutan, interviews were undertaken with the individuals and organizations involved in theprotection and conservation of the aforementioned cultural heritage centering on the Bhutan
Internal Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs, Department of Culture. The museums andlibraries that house the cultural heritage to be protected and their storage rooms and temples
were visited. In addition, interviews were carried out with representatives from internationalorganizations and United Nations agencies engaged in international efforts in Bhutan. (A list ofinterviewees and records of the interviews are noted in the 4 survey records)

10

2． Overview of the Cultural Heritage
Sites Visited2. Overview of the Cultural Heritages Sites Visited(1) Temples
Gelug, the most powerful sect of Tibetan Buddhism, is known for constructing everywhere
great monasteries that sometimes house thousands of monks. In Bhutan, however, except
for dzongs, there are almost no such large-scale monasteries. Taktsang Monastery, which isconsecrated to Padmasambhava, the guru who introduced Buddhism to Bhutan, is strikingly
positioned on the side of a cliff. Still, even at this most widely venerated site, the respective
buildings therein are not very large. Most of the temples are not monasteries meant to housemonks (gompas), but rather temples meant as worship sites (lhakhangs) and made up ofcomparatively fewer buildings around a main hall where a statue of Buddha is enshrined.
■Kichu LhakhangThis small temple, modestly located in the rustic Paro Valley, is said to be one of the 108
temples that the 7th-century unifier of Tibet, King Songtsen Gampo, built in order to subdue agiant demoness. As the oldest temple in Bhutan, it is considered sacred ground. The single-story
main hall with its three tiers of hipped roofs enshrines a statue of Sakyamuni, as well as a statueof the thousand-armed Avalokitesvara. A gallery surrounds the central sanctuary with a spacefor worship at the front; however, the building in its current form is not the same as the original
structure, with at least the gallery and worship space considered to be later additions. The
topmost roof, with its gold finishing, is thought to represent a “heavenly canopy” over the deity
within, while the two lower hipped roofs with corrugated iron tiles are estimated to date back not
so far. The slightly larger building at the front side of the main hall was built in the same style by
the Queen Mother of Bhutan in 1968; a giant statue of Padmasambhava is enshrined within. A
slate-tiled lean-to structure runs along the periphery of these main buildings, with prayer wheels
placed in a series of niches. Devotees worship by walking in a prescribed manner from niche toniche, chanting mantras as they turn the prayer wheels.
■Changangkha Lhakhang
Perched on the ridge of a western hill overlooking the city of Thimphu and its environs,
Changangkha Lhakhang is Thimphu’s guardian temple, and is said to have been constructed in
the 15th century. The path leading to the temple slopes upward, then circles the main hall with
its three tiers of hipped roofs, as though taking a roundabout route from behind, before heading
for the front of the building and arriving at the hall entrance on the left. There is a large prayer
wheel in front of the entrance; from here one enters the worship space, a lean-to structure witha slanting roof built in front of the main hall. People enter from the side because the front of thetemple’s nave has only a window; this is the same composition as that of Kyichu Lhakhang’s
main hall. A statue of the eleven-faced Avalokitesvara is enshrined within. Another gable-roofed

12

Photo 1-1-1
A distant view of the Taktshang monastery.

Photo 1-2-1
Kyichu Lhakhang gate and main hall.

Photo 1-2-2
Main Hall (left) and Padmasambhava hall.

Photo 1-2-3
Buddhist monks walking clockwise aroundtemple periphery.

Photo 1-3-1
View of Changankha Lhakhang (from the west).

Photo 1-3-2
East face exterior.

13

hall stands opposite the main hall, with a central courtyard between the two.
■Jangtsa Dumtseg Lhakhang
Although Bhutan has both the typical Tibetan style stupas (chorten) and Nepalese style stupaswith eyes on all four sides, square stupas with roofs are more often seen. While similar stupas
are found in other places such as Qinghai, those built in this style have come to be known as
Bhutanese stupas. Stupas can be found on temple grounds as well as along roadsides, either
singly or several in a row.
Built on the left bank of the Paro River in the north of Paro town, Jangtsa Dumtseg Lhakhang
is a gigantic stupa with a chapel inside. It is constructed in such a way that devotees may worshipby walking in a prescribed manner along the nave at its periphery. It is said to have been erectedin the first half of the 15th century by a Tibetan monk famous for building iron suspension
bridges throughout Bhutan. Although we were only able to see the first-floor nave this time, theinterior is divided into three stories with the Buddhist statuary and murals growing more esotericas one ascends. It can be likened to a smaller version of the chorten found not far away at Pelkor
Chöde in Gyangzê, Tibet. The interior walls are covered with Buddhist murals said to date backto the 18th century.

14

Photo 1-3-3
Prayer wheel on main hall outside wall.

Photo 1-3-4
Main hall east face.

Photo 1-3-5
Front facade of main hall.

Photo 1-3-6
Shrine facing main hall.

Photo 1-4
Chorten at Chuzomu.

Photo 1-5
Duntze Lhakhang.

15

(2) Dzongs■Druk Gyal Dzong
Located on the northern edge of the Paro Valley, along a former major trade route to Tibet,
Druk Gyal Dzong is generally believed to have been constructed by Shabdrung Ngawang
Namgyal, founder of Bhutan, both to commemorate a victory against the Tibetan forces
and to prepare for another invasion. In 1951, it was destroyed by fire. Built on a rocky hill
overlooking the Paro River, the temple is approached by a narrow path surrounded by stonepiled walls, twisting and turning on its way to the gate at the southern end. The path passes by
three cylindrical towers as it continues to the riverbank, and is said to have been used as a routeto transport water and supplies in times of war. The main portion of this dzong consists of three
sections built on an area where the mountain peaks had been worn down. The buildings run from
north to south, with the northernmost and highest section holding a four-story utse, the equivalentof a donjon. We know from the ruins that all three sections were once surrounded by multistory
buildings with high stone exterior walls and a corresponding wooden gallery on the side facing
the central courtyard, but today only the lower part of the stone structures remains, and the entire
site has significantly deteriorated.
Beginning in 2000, the Paro Distrct government initiated minimal measures to preserve thesecond gate and the utse. They are restoring some of the fixtures and the surrounding masonry,
and adding a temporary corrugated metal roof, but the current conservation policy seems
to be strongly geared toward measures that minimize intervention while preventing further
deterioration, such as supporting what remains of the floor with temporary pillars. Some call forthe complete restoration of this historic monument, but funding restraints mean that maintaining
the current level of restoration measures is also considered as an option.
It is a scenic spot with the snowy Himalayas to the north, and families often picnic on the
grounds.
.
■Simtokha Dzong
Construction on Simtokha Dzong, the first dzong built by Shabdrung, began in 1629 and ended
in 1631. It was built as a strategic Drukpa outpost in western Bhutan, where the critical eastwest route across Bhutan meets the Thimphu Valley. Though the Shabdrung moved in for a shortperiod soon after its completion before taking up residence in the newly constructed Punaka
Dzong, it saw much longer use as a fortress and as a storehouse for grain collected as taxes. The
dzong was deserted once the government stopped dispatching prefects (dzongpön) in 1953.
There are records of additional construction work being conducted in the second half of the
17th century, as can be seen in some of the obviously remodeled sections, including where thecentral courtyard connects to the surrounding buildings.
A classical studies school established in 1961 was moved to Simtokha Dzong that same year,
by order of the third King of Bhutan; the dzong continued to house the school until 1997. At

16

Photo 2-1-1
Overall view of Drukgyal Dzong.

Photo 2-1-2
Steps in front of the citadel gate.

Photo 2-1-3
Outermost gate.

Photo 2-1-4
Interior of the gate.

Photo 2-1-5
View of Utse from within the second courtyyard.

Photo 2-1-6
People picnicking in the ruins.

17present, it serves as a primary education center for monks. The slate tile roof was replaced witha corrugated metal one in 1966, and during this period the interiors of the surrounding buildings
were remodeled to create many living areas.
In 1970, the north end of the outer bailey was washed away in a torrential downpour and was
rebuilt. In 2003, Thimphu District began restoration work focused on updating the roof trusses.
While the exact time period is unclear, the dzong’s main entrance was moved to the shorter south
end sometime after 1910, and the former entrance was sealed shut for many years. From 2005
to 2008, aid from the Indian government funded restoration work to reopen the original entrance
directly below the Shabdrung’s room on the east side. Furthermore, the roofs whose shape had
been altered in the 2003 repairs were restored to their original shape, using old photographs asreference. At the same time, a number of smaller chapels were remodeled, along with the monks’
living quarters, including those of the Je Khenpo.
Even after having gone through so many transformations, Simtokha Dzong is known forhaving more ancient, original elements than any other dzong in Bhutan. The central utse, inparticular, has undergone little remodeling over the years, and it is said that the murals andBuddhist statues, including the main statue of a seated Sakyamuni, have by and large retained
their original condition. However, some argue that the conservation work carried out to preserve
the murals during the most recent restoration efforts may not have been appropriate.
■Paro Dzong
Paro Dzong is situated on a ridge in the east of Paro town, looking down on the far bank of
the Paro River. It is said that a 15th-century monastery once stood here, which the Shabdrung
remodeled, expanded, and called Rinpung Dzong. The Shabdrung arrived in Paro in 1646,
and soon began constructing a dzong. He established the Drukpa ruling system that integrated
government and religion; Paro Dzong is an especially large example of the kinds of strongholds
built under that system. Rinpung Dzong was destroyed by fire in 1907 and was rebuilt in its
current form, and still functions as both the district government office and as a monastic center.
While there are many dzongs with irregular layouts due to the uneven terrain, Paro Dzong has
a distinctive oblong shape. With the high-rising utse at its center, the dzong’s exterior gives animpression of centripetal stability.
The route leading to the dzong begins as a bridge across the Paro River. There are gabled stone
foundations on both banks from which thick, squared timbers protrude, acting as brackets to
support the wooden bridge itself. Another distinguishing characteristic is the roof over its central
walkway. After crossing the bridge, you ascend a stone walkway with the dzong above and to theleft. You then arrive at the square in front of the entrance at the dzong’s eastern end, facing themountain. This square with its tall banner pillars is separated from the dzong itself; the only way
across is via a wooden bridge. Following the sharply angled path inside the gate, you emerge
into the stone-paved central courtyard. The entryway walls, with murals of the Four Heavenly
Kings and depictions of the circle of transmigration, clearly show the facility’s essential characteras a Buddhist monastery. The central courtyard is enclosed by a two- to three-story wooden

18

Photo 2-2-1
Simtokha Dzong, view from south.

Photo 2-2-2
Restored east gate.

Photo 2-2-3
An original member on top of pillar.

Photo 2-2-4
A passage in the courtyard.

Photo 2-2-5
Sculptured stone slab at the base of Utse.

Photo 2-2-6
Reconstructed roof structure on top of Utse.

19gallery, with the rooms beyond serving as district government offices. The wooden gallery andoverhanging windows feature decorative carved and painted borders, providing a contrast to theexterior made predominantly of solid stone walls.
The five-tiered utse stands alone, roughly in the middle of the central courtyard, with the main
entrance on the southern wall. From this point, the courtyard level drops significantly on the west
side; this section has stronger religious overtones, and includes the monks’ living space. The
large lecture hall (kunre), located on its south side, is the only section open to the public.
Meanwhile, Ta Dzong stands on the ridgeline approximately another 500 meters beyond
Rinpung Dzong. It is said to have been constructed in 1649 by Tenzin Drugda, the first to holdthe post (appointed by the Shabdrung) of penlop (governor) of Paro. This regional fortress served
as a watchtower, and was built out of a need to reinforce the dzong’s defenses against invasions
from Tibet. A similar tower was built in Trongsa, after which the towers began appearing at
dzongs throughout the country. As military necessity for such structures diminished, however,most deteriorated or were demolished, and today only the two in Paro and Trongsa are still ingood condition; both are currently in use as national museums. In 1966, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck,
the third King of Bhutan, ordered the renovation of the dilapidated Ta Dzong in Paro. Two years
later, it opened as a national museum that houses and displays collections of historical artifacts.
It is a rather large structure, even for a watchtower, at some 40 meters from base to apex, andits cylindrical interior, consisting of two semicircular sections, is seven stories high. The main
entrance is on the fourth story along the side facing the mountain, and connects to the outside via
a wooden bridge. Tradition holds that there was once a drawbridge here.
■Wangdue Phodrang Dzong
Wangdue Phodrang Dzong is strategically located where the east-west route from Thimphu
to Trongsa meets the route connecting Punakha to the south. The dzong and the old town standat the summit of a long, narrow ridge emerging at the river junction. It is said to have been
constructed in 1638, one year after Punakha Dzong. The entrance is on the north side, followedby the first section, where administrative offices surround a central courtyard. This part ofthe building ends in front of the entrance to the second section, with an area running eastwest beneath the courtyard level. This feature is said to have allowed the building to serve asa checkpoint, forcing all those coming from both Thimphu and Trongsa to pass through. The
second section houses the monks’ living quarters; the structure feels more oppressive than the
more open first section due to its narrowness and the third-story corridor protruding ahead as you
climb up. This impression is even stronger at the most inward point, where there is a one-story
difference in level to accommodate a towering four-story utse. The third courtyard, which has alecture hall at its southern end, is located on the south side of the utse.
The highly varied structure of Wangdue Phodrang Dzong makes the most of the terrain, andthe architectural spaces there, while not magnificent, are certainly attractive. Also, while manydzong roofs have already been retiled with metal, here the original shingles with stones on the top
remain, allowing visitors to appreciate the structure’s historical aspects. On the other hand, both

20

Photo 2-3-1
Covered bridge at the entrance to Paro Dzong.

Photo 2-3-2Overall view of Dzong from the east.

Photo 2-3-3Main entrance of the east face of Dzong.

Photo 2-3-4
Courtyard and Utse.

Photo 2-3-5
Looking up at Ta Dzong from Paro Dzong.

Photo 2-4-1
Overall view of Wangdi Phodrang Dzong(from northwest).

21the stone structure and wooden sections show deterioration due to age and are now undergoing
repairs. It remains to be seen how Wangdue Phodrang Dzong can retain value as a historicalbuilding while fulfilling the functions of an active dzong.
■Punakha Dzong
Punakha was Bhutan’s winter capital until the mid-20th century, and even today it is customary
for the Je Khenpo and his council of monks to leave Thimphu and spend their winters here. It
is thus appropriate that Punakha Dzong is such a giant structure. The dzong is located on level
terrain where the two rivers Phochhu and Mochhu meet, and it retains its fortress-like character.
The Shabdrung began construction in 1637, but the floods and fires that followed resulted in
repeated cycles of destruction and rebuilding.
In 1986, a fire believed to have been caused by a short circuit destroyed the southwest portionof the dzong, including the Je Khenpo’s chamber. This led to plans for large-scale renovations,and the Bhutanese government launched a restoration project that included rehabilitating thelarge lecture hall (kunre) and the Machen Lhakhang, the inner chamber where the Shabdrung’s
body is preserved. Further flooding in 1994 washed away the ancient chapel on the dzong’s northside, causing extensive damage. The bridge (bazam) that connected the state road to the rightbank of the Mochhu was washed away and replaced with a suspension bridge; with German aid,
the temporary bridge was replaced with the same type of traditional roofed wooden bridge that
had been there before. It was completed only recently, in 2008.
Crossing this bridge, you arrive at the north side of the dzong; a steep wooden staircase
slightly to the east of center leads to the upper entrance. At about three stories up as seen fromoutside, the entrance opens onto courtyard level with a white stupa and a bodhi tree, while on thesouth side there is a wide stone-paved courtyard (dochey). This first courtyard is surrounded on
three sides by a two-story wooden gallery; the remaining side, to the south, features a huge fivestory utse. The utse’s entrance is on the south, facing a second, narrower courtyard that holds ahall dedicated to the dharmapala; walk beyond this and you will emerge in the third courtyard.
Of the three halls that surround this courtyard, the two-story north-facing hall to the south isa large lecture hall (kunre), while the three-story east-facing building to the west is the Marchen
Lhakhang. Both buildings were recently reconstructed, and when compared with “before”
photographs, they now have larger façades and more decorative exteriors. In other words, it
is clear that the intention was not to adhere to the old design, nor to return the buildings totheir original form, but rather to use the renovation as an opportunity to make them both more
splendid. For example, the three-tiered hipped roof was previously seen in Punakha Dzong only
on its utse, but during the remodeling process, the same roof style was applied to both halls
mentioned above. This has made the exterior of Punakha Dzong more majestic, but one cannot
deny that the utse on the opposite side has lost some of its presence in the process.
The two sides behind the kunre in the southeast corner of the dzong form an outward-facing
gallery; walking along this corridor toward the hall’s west side takes you to staircase leading
down to a narrow garden two stories below. This garden and the buildings on its west side serve22

Photo 2-4-2First courtyard.

Photo 2-4-3
Second courtyard and Utse.

Photo 2-4-4
Third courtyard.

Photo 2-4-5
Single roof with stones on top.

Photo 2-4-6
Carpentry workshop for restoration of the Dzong.

Photo 2-5-1-1
Conﬂuence of two rivers and Punakha Dzong.

23

chiefly as the monks’ living quarters, and they are built on an especially large scale at Punakha
Dzong, where upward of 1,500 monks are said to live. It features a double row of buildings
around a central courtyard, and there is another entrance at the north end.
We visited during the Dromche religious festival, while a masked performance called cham
was taking place in the first courtyard.

■Trashichho Dzong
Some distance north of Thimphu stands Trashichho Dzong, the seat of government, alongwith the central government offices. The origins of Trashichho Dzong can be traced to before theShabdrung, but it is said that construction at its current site began at the end of the 18th century.
It is unusual for a Bhutanese dzong in that it was built on level terrain, perhaps reflecting its
function as more of an administrative facility than a fortress.
Occupying a rectangular space measuring 200 meters north-south by 100 meters east-west, themajority of the outer buildings were renovated in the 1960s. The building in the southeast cornerhouses the offices of the king, while the building along the northeast side is the Je Khenpo’sthrone room. The dzong is entered from the east via one of two entrances: one for dignitaries andone for general use.
The structures found at Trashichho Dzong include an utse, a dukhang, and Lhakhang Sarpa to
the northeast of the utse. This chapel alone dates back to before the 1960s; though it is the oldest
portion of the dzong, it was still built at the end of the 19th century.

24

Photo 2-5-1-2
Recently reconstructed covered bridge.

Photo 2-5-1-3
Interior of the bridge.

Photo 2-5-2
Looking up at Dzong entrance on the north side.

Photo 2-5-3
South facade of protective divinity's shrine.

Photo 2-5-4
Reconstracted Machen Lhakhang.

Photo 2-5-5
Monk's living quarters in the west side.

25

Photo 2-5-6
Mask dance (Cham) performed in the Punakha
Dzong courtyard.

Photo 2-5-7
Cham in the courtyard to the south of Utse.

Photo 2-5-8
Same as Photo 2-5-6.

Photo 2-6-1
East face of Trashichho Dzong.

Photo 2-6-2
The entrance.

26

(3) Other structures(detailed on the summary page)■The capital city of Thimphu
Although there are no skyscrapers, urbanization is continuing steadily in Thimphu. The
scenery is unique thanks to the traditional design codes regulating new construction. A twostory house has long stood on the corner of the central intersection; we hear there are plans topreserve this structure. The southern suburbs are developing as well, bringing with them manycity planning challenges.
■The National Library & Archives
Though this building is primarily a library, it can also be considered a type of religious
institution. The majority of the books in its collection are sutras, including many valuable works
such as the Old Narthang Kangyur. In 2008, the archives were added with aid from the Danish
International Development Agency (DANIDA).
■The Textile Museum
This facility, which opened in 2001, both preserves old traditions and encourages new industry.
They also repair ancient objects from the temples.
■The Folk Heritage Museum
This museum, which opened in 2001, is an old farmhouse that has been turned into a showcase
for visitors from abroad.
■The National Museum
The National Museum, which opened in 1968, is located in the 18th-century Ta Dzong,
originally built as a defense tower for Paro Dzong. A new building is currently under construction
next to it.
The following is a description of a festival representative of intangible cultural heritage in
Bhutan.

(4) A Bhutanese festival (Intangible Cultural Heritage)
There are many examples of intangible cultural heritage in Bhutan if we include festivals inthis category.
The largest festival in Bhutan is Tsechu (literally “Tenth Day”), which is held on or around the10th day of a month in the Bhutanese calendar in each of the 20 prefectures of the country and at
various temples. It runs for one to five days. Tsechu celebrates Padmasambhava (meaning “Lotus
Born” in Sanskrit, commonly referred to as Guru Rinpoche (“Precious Teacher”), the great Indian28

Photo 3-1-1
A street in Thimphu.

Photo 3-1-2
Intersection at center of Thimphu city.

Photo 3-1-3
Anold townhouse at the corner.

Photo 3-1-4
A building under construction.

Photo 3-1-5
South suburb of the city under development.

Photo 3-2-1
National library and Archives oﬃce.

29

monk who introduced Tantric Buddhism to Bhutan and the Himalayan area in the 8th century.
What festival-goers enjoy most are the cham, or masked dances. The highlight of the festival
is the early-morning unfurling of the thongdrol, a huge scroll with appliqués and embroidery
depicting Buddhas, bodhisattvas and saints. It is believed that the mere sight of the unfurledthongdrol liberates the viewer from the world of suffering. Both of these events are visualexpressions of the teachings of Buddha; but people also enjoy them as entertainment. Further,
Tsechu is the biggest event of the year, providing an opportunity for interaction among people,
and playing a significant social role in strengthening ties and cooperation in local communities.
Although this is how the Tsechu is commonly understood, we should not forget that it
is essentially a Buddhist ritual. The object of Buddhist faith is the Buddha, or bodhisattva,
which does not have visible form. However, in order to allow the believers to pray and receive
blessings, the bodhisattvas must be visualized. Thus, it is necessary to summon them andmake them visible in sacred objects through set rituals. In Bhutanese Buddhism, this process isextremely long, sometimes lasting up to one month. Before the festival can begin, monks must
devote themselves to these rituals. As a result of the ritual, the spirits of the bodhisattvas come toreside in sacred objects such as masks and thongdrol; the period during which the bodhisattvas
are present is the Tsechu festival, when the people can view the gods while they make offerings
and receive blessings. Once the festival is over, the bodhisattvas are requested to return to their
original state, without visible form, in a departure ritual. These rituals have equivalents in theJapanese Shinto ceremonies “kôshin-no-gi (descent of the god)”, in which the god is summoned,and ‘shôshin-no-gi (ascension of the god)”, which corresponds to the departure ritual.
However, Bhutanese Buddhists simply say prayers of gratitude and worship to the bodhisattvas
without knowing the meaning behind the rituals. Similarly, few Japanese who participate in
Shinto rituals know that there is a similar mechanism of inviting and sending off the gods. Like
the Bhutanese Buddhists, they clap their hands in respect at the shrine, without thinking muchabout the meaning behind the act. Both Bhutanese Buddhists and the Japanese Shinto believers
have maintained their religious rituals as intangible cultural properties.
.

30

Photo 3-2-2Alter in the main library.

Photo 3-2-3
Example of stored Buddhist scriptures.

Photo 3-2-4
Buddhist scriptures block engraving work.

Photo 3-2-5Conservation work to the scriptures.

Photo 3-3-1
Texitile museum exterior (left building).

Photo 3-3-2
The entrance.

31

Photo 3-3-3Conservation studio.

Photo 3-3-4
Storage.

Photo 3-3-5
Inventory of object in collection.

Photo 3-3-6
A weaver using thrianglar loom.

Photo 3-4-1
Sign above gate to falk heritage museum.

Photo 3-4-2
Looking up at the main building.

32

Photo 3-4-3
Frontyard.

Photo 3-4-4Oﬃce building.

Photo 3-5-1
Main gate of the national museum.

Photo 3-5-2
Main building exterior (from the northeast).

Photo 3-5-3
Ditte (south side).

Photo 3-5-4
new building exterior.

33

Photo 3-5-5
Old oﬃce building.

Photo 3-5-6
Interior of the conservation laboratory.

34

3． Discussion

3. Considerations from the Survey(1) Field Survey Summary
Administration for the Protection of Cultural Heritage
Cultural heritage protection in Bhutan is administered by the Department of Culture (DoC) in
the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs (MOHCA). The Department of Culture is responsible
for the planning and execution of cultural policies in Bhutan, through its nine organizations(1),which include the following: three divisions (the Division of Conservation of Heritage Sites,
the Division for Cultural Properties, and the Driglam Sections); four museums (the National
Museums of Paro and Trongsa, the Textile Museum, and the Folk Heritage Museum); and twoother institutions (the National Library and Archives, and the Royal Academy of Performing
Arts (PARA)). In addition, the Royal University of Bhutan, the National Handicrafts Emporium,
and the Center for Bhutan Studies are certified by the government as cultural activity centers. A
distinctive point of cultural policy is that Buddhist temples, both central and regional, are also
considered as official cultural centers. Bhutan is still governed by a system combining secularauthority, under the royal family, and religious authority, led by the Je Khenpo. Because wideranging aspects of Bhutanese culture are deeply rooted in Buddhism, protection and transmissionof traditional culture would be impossible without the involvement of religious organizations.
In this field survey, we first attempted to clarify the concept of cultural heritage in Bhutan, thecharacteristics of heritage administration, and the nation’s awareness of cultural heritage.
Gross National Happiness (GNH) is a term coined by Bhutan’s fourth King, Jigme Singye
Wangchuck, and well known throughout the world as the basis of Bhutan’s unique development
policy. The DoC was established to promote this policy, with an emphasis on the protection,conservation and transmission of the country’s unique traditional culture. According to theprovisions for culture stipulated in Article 4 of the 2008 Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan,
the state shall endeavor to preserve, protect and promote both tangible and intangible cultural
heritage, strengthen and facilitate the ongoing progress of traditional values and institutions,conserve and encourage research on local arts, customs, knowledge and culture. In addition,
Parliament may enact such legislation as may be necessary to advance the cultural enrichment of
Bhutanese society.
However, a basic law for the protection of cultural heritage in Bhutan is not as yet fully
developed. According to the DoC, the existing regulations and laws concerning cultural heritage
are as follows:
・The Movable Cultural Properties Act of Bhutan, 2005
This act requires registration of valuable cultural heritage possessed by Buddhist organizations,the national government, local governments, or individuals, that is 100 years old and over,(1)

The National Museum and the Trongsa Museum are combined in one agency.

37

associated with famous religious persons, or created by famous craftsmen. The law regulates
management, transfer, and sale of such property.
・The Religious Organizations Act of Bhutan, 2007
This act stipulates the registration, obligations and rights of religious organizations in Bhutan.
・The 1999 Legal Deposit Act, 2007
This act requires that a copy of all new works published in Bhutan, in any language or media,
shall be sent to the National Library and Archives.
It may be thought unusual to consider laws concerning religious organizations as laws related
to cultural heritage. However, there is a shared awareness among the Bhutanese that religion (hereBuddhism) and culture are inseparable.
The Bhutanese are preparing for the establishment of a new law, already drafted, regarding
registered cultural heritage. The Movable Cultural Properties Act was established first for several
reasons, most importantly the need to rectify poor management that had resulted in the loss aswell as the illegal buying and selling of cultural property. It also reflects the practical realitythat arriving at a consensus of opinion on the definition of and effective conservation methods
for movable cultural property is relatively easy. The law prohibits the restoration or alterationof registered cultural heritage without approval, and stipulates that restoration shall be carriedout by certified specialists under the supervision of the DoC. Because Buddhist statues andpaintings are rarely altered after their completion, it is thought that the conservation of such
cultural heritage in its original form should not, in principle, be problematic. Buildings such as
dzongs and lhakhangs, on the other hand, are often remodeled in response to changing needs orfor religious reasons. It is clear from such examples that discussion is required during the processof legislating the protection of immovable cultural heritage, as such legislation may even affectreligious activities.
The Bhutanese consider the value of temples not in terms of their physical age or form, but
in terms of their spiritual value. For this reason it is difficult for them to completely accept themodern concepts of cultural heritage protection as developed in Europe. Bhutan ratified theConvention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 2001;
however, they have not, to date, registered any heritage, nor have they created any temporary
lists. Dzongs in each area are the most likely candidates for listing. However, these buildings
are not only important religious properties, but also serve as administrative facilities, which
complicates the making of a list. Take, for example, the situation with Punakha Dzong and
Taktshang Monastery, which were restored with modifications to their original structures toaccommodate current needs after being damaged as a result of natural disaster. While many feelthe restoration produced a more beautiful structure than the original, the modifications could
affect its listing as cultural heritage. Preventing modifications, however, would interfere with theneeds of the religious community, which the Bhutanese perceive as undermining the benefits oflisting.
Taking this into consideration, we must understand that while we can provide advice to the38

Bhutanese about laws, regulations, and provisions, the Bhutanese themselves have the rightto make decisions regarding the content of such provisions for their national policy. Bhutan’s
unique attitude toward cultural heritage protection means that, in some essential matters, legal
systems from other countries cannot serve as a useful reference in Bhutan. Thus, assistance with
developing laws for cultural heritage protection will be different from assistance in other fields.
With this in mind, the DoC identified the following three challenges for the administration ofcultural property protection: the illegal export of cultural properties; cultural property protection
and religious activities; and the lack of a complete inventory of intangible heritage. The first two,
while not entirely unique to Bhutan, require extremely careful consideration in a country where
religious activity forms the core of the culture.
DoC cultural officers assigned to each of Bhutan’s 20 prefectures play an important role in theadministration of cultural property protection. Officers dispatched from the national government
must supervise actual conservation, but currently there are not nearly enough people to handle
the amount of work to be done. Furthermore, the qualified personnel that do exist do not have thetime or opportunity to work on long-term issues, including the development of legal systems.
Conservation of Immovable Cultural Heritage
The Division for Conservation of Heritage Sites (DCHS) handles the conservation of
immovable cultural heritage. The former name was the Division for the Conservation ofArchitectural Heritage Sites; however, as they also handle sacred sites at which no buildings
exist, the name was changed to the Division for the Conservation of Heritage Sites. The target ofconservation is unchanged, focusing mainly buildings, including the construction of new dzong
with traditional techniques, and the conservation of old buildings. The old buildings here aremainly religious structures, such as dzongs and lhakhangs. Old houses and townscapes are notincluded as targets of cultural heritage administration.
The primary concern for the DCHS in this survey is the earthquake resistance of traditionalbuildings, after seeing the damage incurred in the earthquake that hit eastern Bhutan in
September 2009. In response to the significant damage to private residences, the Standards
and Quality Control Authority (SQCA) considered expanded application of the structural
standards currently limited to two major cities. However, there was deep concern at the SQCA
that extensive application may interfere with the preservation of the traditional landscape of thevillage and the transmission of traditional techniques. In addition, due to the lack of infrastructure
in many villages, some of which still do not have developed roads, the use of modern materials
and techniques is not feasible, even if they are made obligatory, which may result in the failureof this measure for safety improvement. In order to both preserve the value of cultural heritageand improve its safety, the DCHS is planning to 1) evaluate the earthquake resistance of eachtraditional building, 2) reinforce existing buildings with available techniques and materials,
and 3) incorporate these measures into building standards for new construction. In order to doso, there is a need for more basic research on traditional construction, and a need to establish
evaluation methods for the earthquake resistance of masonry walls. At the same time, because the39earthquake resistance of traditional construction methods largely depends on the quality of initialconstruction, there is an emphasis on learning from the best examples of construction, and theimportance of improved skills for engineers and construction professionals.
According to hearings during the survey, after discussions among the relevant departments anddivisions, it is very likely that the flexible and nonbinding aspect of the SQCA building standards
guidelines will be maintained. The DCHS has only a few specialists involved in structural
technology throughout Bhutan, making it impossible for the Bhutanese to evaluate earthquake
resistance or the reinforcement measures needed for traditional buildings. Nonetheless, theBhutanese have a strong desire to deal with the challenges of cultural heritage protection
themselves. Although the DCHS realizes that its specialists lack sufficient training, it is reluctant
to rely on teams led by international specialists. Thus, the Bhutanese hope for support in the formof research and structural analyses by overseas specialists, and support for skills-development, ina process that respects the wishes of Bhutan.
Education on the history of architecture, or conservation and restoration of old buildings is notavailable in Bhutan, and research on such matters has only been conducted by the DoC. We also
understand that there is a problem with the dispatch of personnel for overseas study or long-term
training due to limited human resources.
Japan has dispatched several Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers for the restoration ofdzongs, and other work, and former volunteer Junko Mukai is working at the DCHS under directcontract with the government. Ms. Mukai and another individual participated in training for theconservation and restoration of buildings held at ACCU Nara. In addition, two former students
who took classes as a part of a cooperative project hosted by the Agency for Cultural Affairs areworking at the DCHS.
The DCHS is scheduled to have a new Division of Archaeology from this year. Initially, they
will begin operating with one individual who has just earned a doctorate in Britain. It may takea number of years to establish a complete system; however, there is great need for technicalsupport in a wide range of areas.
An architectural design code that mandates the adoption of traditional design applies to generalbuildings under the administration of the Department of Urban Development and Engineering
Services (DUDES) in the Ministry of Works and Human Settlement, and the design of publicbuildings is overseen by the design division within each ministry. Urbanization is advancing in
Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan, and many mid-size buildings are being constructed. There
are significant issues for building and city planning, including the development of infrastructure,
structural safety and the preservation of townscapes. New development and the shifting of urban
districts can be seen regionally in areas such as Paro and Wangdi Phodrang. However, we must
consider whether maintaining the appearance of traditional design can effectively contribute to
the development and transmission of culture.
Movable cultural heritage
TThe Division for Cultural Properties (DCP) handles the management, supervision, and40

conservation and restoration of movable cultural heritage registered in accordance with the
Movable Cultural Properties Act. While we did not have contact with DCP personnel during
this survey, we understand that there are several conservation specialists who have received
training in Lucknow, India, at ICOM, and the Honolulu Academy of Arts. The major target ofconservation work is tangkas (silk paintings with Buddhist embroidery); however, there are also
some individuals who received training in the conservation of copper products. The state ofconservation facilities has not been surveyed.
Temples carry out tangka conservation and providing training for monks. It is believedthat these projects are conducted in cooperation with the National Textile Museum and otherinstitutions, but we don’t have detailed information. The conservation of mural paintings in
temples is also handled by the DCP, which has a laboratory for this work. The Archaeological
Survey of India (ASI) has been providing onsite training during actual operations, including
cleaning and repair, for several years; however, there is some dissatisfaction with the skill leveland quality of results.
Facilities (Museums, etc.)<National Textile Museum>This museum was established for the development and transmission of traditional techniques
as well as for their conservation. One of its major activities is organizing textile festivals
and contests for the promotion of traditional industry. The museum exhibits ritual and ethnic
costumes, provides demonstrations, and offers textiles for sale.
Training in repair, cleaning, and storage was provided with support from the Getty
Conservation Institute (GCI) in the U.S. beginning in 2003; however, that project finished in
2007, and Bhutan is currently looking into other training programs. Research and documentationof production methods are recognized as essential. However, a system for this has not yet beendeveloped, so it remains an important challenge for the future.
Among the museums we visited during this survey, the National Textile Museum was themost carefully designed for conservation and transmission of skills, in spite of its limited size
and the small number of employees. Facilities have been under construction in preparation forthe opening of the Royal Textile Academy scheduled in four years. With the establishment of thisnew academy, the National Textile Museum will close. With sufficient financial aid from private
corporations in northern Europe, the Royal Textile Academy can develop into an extremely largeorganization. While there may be a number of medium- and long-term issues to be addressed,
such as how and to what extent they should play their role in conservation, and how they should
improve their technical skills, support is considered to be less urgent than for other culturalproperty-related institutions, as long as the project is completed as planned.
<Folk Heritage Museum>An existing farmhouse is used to house the museum, which is a relatively small facility with
only one curator and one researcher. Although traditional farm buildings have been rapidly

41disappearing in Thimphu, you can see similar buildings in the suburbs, and the tools on display
are not significantly different from those in common use today. Therefore, it is difficult toimagine any reason for the Bhutanese themselves to visit. The museum was built for the purposeof showing the Bhutanese lifestyle to visitors from abroad, and it continues to fill this function.
They are currently remodeling an annex to use as a restaurant serving regional dishes as anextension of this facility.
The exhibited objects placed casually in and around the buildings are not specifically protected
for conservation; and because their value as historical or rare objects is limited, they are replacedwith other objects as they deteriorate. Perhaps because most of the objects exhibited are wooden
or earthenware, no conservation specialists have been assigned to the museum; however, thedirector is planning to establish a conservation laboratory in the future.
The researcher assigned to the museum was in India when we visited, which prevented us
from obtaining detailed information on their research activities. The museum has had someinteraction with Japanese museums and specialists regarding various exhibitions; however, theseconnections are not formally organized.
According to information we received after our visit, the land adjoining the administrationbuilding has been donated by the royal family, and there are plans to build a new administrativebuilding. Construction of the traditional restaurant has been completed and they are now seeking
private sector management. However, a suitable candidate has not yet been found, and they do
not know when the restaurant will open.
The real value of a museum such as this will be put to the test when Bhutanese society faces
rapid change in the future. To that end, it is necessary to begin now to improve the museum
system incrementally. Most importantly, such facilities must function fully as centers for culturalactivities and social education, not merely as tourist attractions. This museum is very similar toregional history and folk museums located throughout Japan. Currently, however, the museum
system is not well developed and, as a result, is not ready to accept support. Therefore, it is still
difficult for us to provide effective support for the museum.
< National Library & Archives of Bhutan>
This library is extremely different from those we are accustomed to. The main library houses
Buddhist scriptures and transmission of their content is the main priority. The Division ofCultural Research located next to the National Library is also concerned mainly with Buddhist
philosophy. Thus, the library is also a religious facility, which is evident from the presence of a
Buddhist statue within the facility.
In 2008, the Division of Archives was newly established with support from Denmark’s
DANIDA. Publications deposited in accordance with the Legal Deposit Act are currently stored
at the National Library and Archives. However, the number of books is surprisingly small, whichraises the question of whether this act is being enforced. There is also a need to collect more
overseas publications related to Bhutan.
There are plans to add a new wing to the library and to build three regional libraries. The

42

government is currently discussing financial assistance from India.
Problems are being faced with conservation of written documents, such as the Buddhist
scriptures stored at the main building of the library. For example, the staff working on scriptures
damaged by insects and age lack the equipment and ability to conduct the material analyses
necessary to determine the most appropriate methods for restoration. In addition, the toxicity of
the agent used with fumigation equipment that has been operating since the opening of the libraryhas become a concern, and upgrading should be considered. This equipment is used not only at
the National Library, but is also lent out for conservation work at the National Textile Museum.
Because the documents housed at temples cannot normally be removed from the premises,
they are usually stored on microfilm. The microfilm equipment is, unfortunately, of a relatively
old type and support has been requested for newer and more portable equipment. Because
deterioration is an issue with microfilm, however, it seems that digital archiving should be
discussed as a potentially more appropriate method of recording documents. The library has
already asked for cooperation, including grants in aid for cultural property from Japan, and they
are awaiting a reply.
In regard to restoration techniques, we explained the ICCROM training for the storing of
paper-based documents provided by the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties,
Tokyo. The individual responsible for conservation showed deep interest in participation;
however, the library does not have sufficient funds to dispatch the individual. Only one personfrom Bhutan has participated in the training, an artist who participated privately; there are no
publicly employed restoration specialists that have participated in the seminars.
<National Museum>
The National Museum is housed in a building called Ta dzong, which served as a defensive
structure for Paro Dzong. It was remodeled and is now used as the main building of the museum.
The building is interesting, but there are quite a few problems with its use as an exhibition
facility, and it is not well suited for conservation activities or as a viewing environment. A newbuilding is almost complete, however, and the Division of Management and Exhibitions will betransferred there.
Many of the objects exhibited at the museum are thangkas; however, the environment cannot
be controlled, so conservation conditions are far from ideal. We were unable to tour the storage
facilities where half of the museum’s collection is held, but there are concerns about the storage
environment. The management of stored objects is based on hand-written lists, and there has been
no movement toward the creation of a database. A division for conservation exists; however, it
does not have sufficient equipment or materials, and is understaffed, which hampers conservation
efforts. One of the individuals responsible for conservation has participated in museology training
provided by the National Museum of Ethnology under contract with JICA, but this individual has
not participated in seminars on conservation science.
Meanwhile, a colloquium that has been held by the National Museum since 1996 has received
aid for publications from the Japan Foundation. With this aid, a survey on the history of dzongs43was carried out in each region, and the director of the museum has asked that continued research
be conducted on temples and Buddhist stupas. It is certainly true that research is one of theimportant functions of museums; however, we had the impression that the National Museum
lacked balance in their management of stored objects. We reported our concern about the current
status of exhibitions and conservation directly to the Director, but he did not show much interest.
The potential for cooperation in technical transfer and human resource cultivation is relatively
high; however, this potential may be difficult to realize if the museum does not request aid.
Unfortunately, we could not visit the Trongsa Ta Dzong Museum; however, it was also openedin 2008 after remodeling made possible with support from Australia.

44(2) Potential for cooperation in the field of cultural heritage
protection① Concept of cultural heritage and awareness among government and people
What is the cultural heritage that Bhutan is trying to protect? Do we mean the same thingby cultural heritage? It is not easy to answer these questions; however, it is true that there aremany elements that cannot be understood in terms of the conventional notion of authenticity.
The Bhutanese attempt to protect and pass down spiritual and intangible values, without which,they believe, there is no point in preserving tangible things. Therefore, they place priority on theintangible even when dealing with tangible heritage. Of course, the spiritual values we refer tohere are deeply connected to Buddhism.
The emphasis on the Buddhist aspect of cultural heritage, however, means a lower awarenessof the potential value of and need to protect aspects of culture not directly associated with it. The
Movable Cultural Properties Act clearly includes tools used for daily life, items that are not forreligious use, as cultural properties; however, actual conservation is limited to only a few articles
housed in museums. Similarly, private housing, townscapes, and cultural landscapes are currently
not included under cultural property administration. Unlike public properties such as dzongs
and lhakhangs, a basic law stipulating the conservation of these things has not been established.
In response to the damage caused by the earthquake in 2009, the DCHS has started working onearthquake resistance measures for private houses that are considered cultural heritage; however,
it is also important to have a legal basis for the expression of opinions and direction to otherdivisions and departments.
We should leave the Bhutanese to determine the relation of sacred and secular, to what degree
the cultural property administration should control the management of temples, and how theyshould balance the need for conservation of historical structures with the need to respect the
freedom of religious activity. We should cooperate with the Bhutanese by providing information
relevant to their decision-making, and provide advice and effective procedures to promoteconsensus of opinion.

②Current status of the protection of cultural heritage
The DoC exerts almost exclusive control over research and protection of cultural heritage.
Local governments do handle arrangements for specialists and funding for actual restoration;
however, the national government has technical control. Therefore, the DoC is the window forcooperation from overseas. There are some private organizations involved in cultural activities,
but their capacity is limited. Routine management and conservation of cultural properties,
including movable properties, is left largely to monks. Therefore, the government carries out
training for monks to improve the level of management. For disaster prevention, firefighting
equipment has been mandated due to the frequency of fires; however, the level is still far fromsatisfactory. They have just begun working on earthquake resistance measures.

45

We did not have a chance to see the actual conservation and restoration of buildings; therefore,
we are unable to provide a description. However, according to a survey conducted by the Agency
for Cultural Affairs of Japan, conservation and transmission of traditional techniques, including
woodwork and coloration, is an issue that requires attention. There is a proposal to add building
woodwork to the “13 Bhutanese Traditional Arts,” representative traditional techniques coveredby conservation promotion measures. However, this has not yet been adopted. India has carriedout several investigations of archaeological sites, and there is currently only one investigation by
HELVETAS, a private support organization from Switzerland. The DoC is planning to establish
an archaeological division this year.
The head of the DoC pointed out that the establishment of measures to combat the illegal
export of cultural properties is an urgent issue. The Movable Cultural Property Act prohibits thetransfer of articles designated as cultural property to non-nationals; however, it seems difficult tocompletely stop the flow of stolen articles to outside the country, especially via overland routes.
It is necessary to identify such articles through the improvement of inventories, and to takemeasures to prevent the loss of such properties.
UNESCO sponsored a project to create a List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Bhutan
through the Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the Preservation and the Promotion of Intangible
Cultural Heritage. As a result, the Mask Dance of the Drums from Drametse was finally listed
in 2008 in accordance with the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Currently, intangible heritage is managed by several organizations, depending on content, such as
the Royal Academy of Performing Arts, Driglam Namzhag, and Department of Cultural Property,
meaning that there is no unified system for its protection. Although we did not include it in thissurvey, the Head of the DoC pointed out that the creation of the inventory of intangible heritageis a priority for Bhutan.
This survey showed that Bhutan has a strong desire to maintain control over policy-making
and decisions regarding the procedures for protection of cultural heritage, even while recognizing
the necessity for outside support. Although Bhutan’s system has weaknesses, it appears that they
are basically not willing to accept a large-scale restoration project with overseas funding andhuman resources.
③Current status of international cooperation in the relevant fields
Bhutan is an extremely small country located between two large neighbors, China and India,
which places it in an extremely sensitive position diplomatically. This is why Bhutan has longrestricted the entry of people from abroad. Bhutan still has not established diplomatic relations,such as with the permanent members of the United Nations, and India and Bangladesh are theonly countries with embassies in Bhutan. The country providing the greatest support to Bhutan
is India; however, feelings toward Japan are positive, and it is considered as the next mostimportant friendly nation.
Bhutan has accepted extremely small amounts of international support in cultural areas. Thereis no active cultural support from either the UN or support institutions in individual countries.

46

They have not established diplomatic relations with major countries in Europe or the U.S.;
however, there are many small countries such as Denmark and Austria that are providing support
along with Japan. Most activities are limited to projects that require relatively small budgets,
such as funding assistance and the dispatch of specialists for restoration and human resource
training. Since Bhutan does not have a specific economic growth model for the developmentof tourism using cultural heritage, as seen in many developing countries, international support
for cultural heritage in Bhutan does not take the form of a “masterplan for support of tourism
measures”. However, there is an experimental plan to develop tourism in one prefecture in theeast, which is worth noting as signs of a movement to develop this industry, although its capacity
and the impact on traditional culture must be carefully watched.
Meanwhile, since the conservation and restoration cooperation project by the Agency for
Cultural Affairs of Japan, which ended in 2002, Japan has not provided any large-scale support
for cultural heritage in Bhutan beyond the above-mentioned List of Intangible Cultural Heritagein Bhutan project by the Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the Preservation and the Promotion of
Intangible Cultural Heritage. Smaller-scale support from Japan includes support for publication
projects through the Fund for International Exchange, a human resource development program
carried out by the ACCU, and the dispatch of construction specialists by the Japan Overseas
Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV). Beyond these cooperative dispatches, there is no ODA funding
assistance or technical cooperation whatsoever. There are several reasons for this. First, it isdifficult to evaluate the need for culture-related cooperation because JICA is the only institution
accepting requests in Japan, and the dispatch of personnel for extended periods of time fortechnical training in Japan is difficult for Bhutan due to a lack of human resources at Bhutaneseinstitutions. However, Japan is also not eager to provide cultural support whose effect is hard tomeasure in concrete terms, such as economic growth or the standard of living of the nation, andBhutan is also careful about accepting overseas cultural support.
④Need and potential for international cooperation on cultural heritage protectionin Bhutan
Based on the results of our survey, we consider the following areas to have potential forcooperation from Japan.
( ⅰ ) Development of a cultural heritage protection system( ⅱ ) Making an inventory of cultural heritage and its location( ⅲ ) Education on cultural heritage( ⅳ ) Human resource development related to cultural heritage( ⅴ )Conservation techniques regarding movable cultural properties other than structures( ⅵ ) Techniques regarding the conservation of traditional buildings( ⅶ ) Restoration of damaged cultural heritage
In regard to ( ⅰ ), while the system is not yet sufficiently established, the government of
Bhutan acknowledges the need for legislation to form such a system. At the same time, it isunderstood that the process of establishing a legal system for cultural heritage protection suitable47

to this nation with its unique concept of cultural heritage is not easy. In particular, the problem of
the value of tangible heritage based on consideration of its intangible aspect has been the focus ofinternational discussion, as something that has been missing from cultural property conservation
to date. This should be taken as an opportunity not just to support Bhutan, but to make aninternational contribution in a broader sense, by holding seminars and other activities where
specialists can deepen their dialogue, taking this as a case study.
Items ( ⅱ ) and ( ⅲ ) will lead to an increase in the effectiveness of cultural heritage
conservation through the identification of targets and the promotion of understanding throughout
the nation. In regard to ( ⅱ ) tangible heritage has already become an object of protectionin Bhutan and methodologies seem to be established. However, digital archiving, which
requires equipment and the development of human resources, is an issue to be addressed.
The identification of archaeological ruins also needs to be considered. Creation of a list ofintangible heritage, and its documentation, has been delayed due to the lack of human resources.
Meanwhile, awareness of the importance of ( ⅲ ) seemed to be high in Bhutan, which places apriority on the transmission of traditional culture. However, as the Bhutanese Prime Minister
pointed out, a growing number of people within the population do not understand clearly what
their traditional culture is, and it is increasingly important to promote the participation of citizens,
especially the younger generation, in cultural activities. In such grass-roots activities, however,international cooperation can provide little assistance within the country.
Items ( ⅳ ) to ( ⅵ ) are related to technical transfer and the development of human resources,
which entail a wide range of difficulties. Considering the lack of specialists and the need for
efficiency in technical transfer, it is desirable that cooperative technical transfer take placethrough the long-term dispatch of specialists. However, it is also necessary to combine a wide
range of transfer methods, such as on-site workshops and the inviting of specialists to attend
training programs in specific fields and themes. As we have repeatedly pointed out, Bhutan
has a firm conservation and restoration policy; however, it is believed that Japanese survey
methods, scientific analysis, as well as restoration and recording techniques can be widelyadopted. There are issues with the level of Bhutanese conservation science for movable culturalproperties in terms of both equipment and human resources, and assistance in these areas seems
urgent. There are several divisions and departments, including museums and libraries, handlingcommon material such as documents and textiles. They are all under the DoC; therefore, theyshould consider more efficient technical transfer, including the sharing of equipment andhuman resources.

Apart from modern technologies, it is important for the sustainability ofcultural heritage protection to understand the degree to which traditional techniques have beentransmitted. However, we were unable to investigate this issue. In order to apply Japaneseknowledge and experience to methods of transmitting traditional techniques, it is necessary to
carry out basic surveys to identify the current status and best method of transmitting techniquesin Bhutan.
Unlike the other items, item ( ⅶ ) is an urgent issue requiring an immediate response even in
short term projects. It is important to note that traditional architectural techniques for private48

houses and landscape conservation, which are not covered by cultural heritage protection,
came up in relation to earthquake resistance measures. Japan has already provided assistancein earthquake disaster prevention planning in South Asia, including Bhutan. If, in the future,
we cooperate to increase safety measures, its relation to the above-mentioned cultural heritage
protection must also be considered. Cultural property administration aims to increase earthquake
resistance through the extension of traditional techniques and, according to this survey, thedispatch of structural technique specialists to evaluate the earthquake resistance of stonebuildings is the only item that Bhutan specifically requires support for. Although stone buildings
may not be the field in which Japan has the most expertise, we should consider assistanceutilizing the most advanced Japanese techniques for comprehensive measures to protect culturalproperty from earthquakes, including computer-generated structural analysis techniques andpreventive measures.

(3) Conclusion
To identify potential areas of cooperation for the protection of cultural heritage in Bhutan, we
conducted interviews at relevant institutions in the capital Thimphu and other cities, collected
information, and visited cultural heritage sites. We identified the current state of cultural heritage
protection and related challenges in Bhutan, and considered how and where Japan could provide
assistance.
We found that Bhutan has a current national policy for the conservation and transmission ofcultural heritage, and gained an understanding of the uniqueness of their concept of heritage aswell as the limitations of their system. Of course we must have a deep understanding of a country
and its culture before we consider cooperation in this field. We are greatly indebted to Yoshiro
Imaeda, a world-famous researcher on Bhutan and Buddhism, who has built a long-standing
relationship of trust with the Bhutanese people, for accompanying us and providing guidance
for this survey. We were also deeply impressed with the importance of carefully considering theuniqueness of this country, and identifying its needs correctly when looking at cooperation in the
future.
Due to time constraints, our stay in Bhutan for this survey was limited to seven days, andwe visited only part of the western region. Although Bhutanese identity as a whole is deeply
rooted in Buddhism, each region is said to have a distinct character based on its geography andclimate. The shortness of our stay prevented us from observing such differences during thissurvey; however, the authorities concerned pointed out the need to consider regional differencesin construction and design when planning earthquake resistance measures for buildings. We wereunable to obtain much information on cultural heritage protection in each region. Along with thecreation of a systematic framework for cultural heritage protection, it is essential to understandthe actual situation surrounding each local government system, and to consider how to cooperatewith local residents and individuals in the religious community, in order to secure effective
results.

49

It has been acknowledged for some time that the more the concept of cultural property
conservation as developed by Western countries is extended internationally, the more its limits
are recognized. In addition to working to increase international understanding of our own
unique concept of cultural property conservation, including the methods of repairing of woodenarchitecture, Japan needs to continue its efforts to develop a broadly applicable concept ofconservation based on cultural diversity. The small country of Bhutan firmly believes that themaintenance of its cultural identity is an essential element in its continuing existence; encounterswith this country give those of us from the outside a chance to objectively reconsider thecommonsense notions we unconsciously depend on.

50

4． Survey Records

4. Survey Records(1) List of Interviewers (All titles are those at the time of visit)
Interview
Date

Name

19 Feb.

Jigme Thinley

16 Feb.

Dorje Chering

In JapaneseAfﬁliation

Job Title

Bhutanese Government Prime Minister
Ministry of Home andHome Minister
Cultural Affairs
Director
Ministry of Home and Division for the

16, 19 Feb.

Nagtsho Dorji
Cultural Affairs

Conservation of Heritage
Sites
Consultant

16, 19, 21 Feb. Junko Mukai

向井純子

Ministry of Home and Division for the
Cultural Affairs

Conservation of Heritage
Sites

National Library and
17 Feb.

Gyonpo Tshering

Director
Archives
National Library and

17 Feb.

Kungsan Delek

Senior Archivist
Archives
National Library and

17 Feb.

Tshering Choki

Staff
Archives
Emeritus Professor (Former

16 Feb.

National Library andCurator at the National

Archives

National Library and Archives,

Mynak Y. Tulka
Grand Lama)
Folk Heritage

17 Feb.

Dorji Wangchuk

Director
Mueseum

17 Feb.

Singye Dorji

Textile Museum

Director

18 Feb.

Khenpo Phuntsok Tashi

National Museum

Director

18 Feb.

Deldi Yangzom

National Museum

Senior Museum Assistant

16 Feb.

Rinzin Penjore

Royal Academy of
Director
Performing Arts
Bhutanese Office ofHerbert S.B.
WHO (Director of UN Representative

16 Feb.
Tennakoon

Regional Coodination)53

16 Feb.

UNESCO New Delhi

千葉茂恵

Moe Chiba

16, 19, 21 Feb. Kanefusa Masuda

Program Specialist
OfficeRitsumeikan

益田兼房

Professor
University

19 Feb.

Prem Neth Masky

17 Feb.

Tomoki Nitta

17 Feb.

Kunihiro Shiraishi

17 Feb.

Emi Doyle

17 Feb.

Naoto Masakane

Tribhuvan University

Professor

仁田知樹

JICA

Resident Representative

白石邦弘

JICA

Project Formulation Advisor

JICA

Project Formulation Advisor

JICA

Volunteer Coordinator

政金直人(2) Record of Interviews
Date

Time

Activity

14 Feb.

10:45 TG641 (Tomoda, Haramoto)

Location

Attendees

TG645 11:00 (Imaeda)
Suvarnabhumi International Airport,
Bangkok
15:50 15:45 (Imaeda) Meeting together at the
15 Feb.

airport7:30 KB123 Via Gaya
10:55 Landing in Paro
13:30 Visit Drukgyal Dzong

Drukgyal Dzong

15:00 Visit Kichu Lhakhang

Kichu Lhakhang

17:00 Departure for Thimphu
16 Feb.

9:00 Various business inside the city
11:15 Visit Changangkha Lhakhang

Changangkha Lhakhang

14:10 National Library and Archives,

National Library and

Ministry of Home and Cultural

Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs, Archives

Affairs, Ritsumeikan UNESCO

Ritsumeikan UNESCO Mission,

Mission, Division of Intangible

Division of Intangible Cultural

Cultural Heritages(NRICPT)

Heritages(NRICPT), Consortium Joint
Session(Until 17:00)

54

17:20 Visit with the Director of UN Regional Ministry of Public Health Herbert S.B. Tennakoon
Coordination(Director of UN Regional
Coodination, Representative of
the Bhutanese Office of WHO)

19:40 Evening Meeting with Mr. Mynak Y.

Home of Rinpoche

Tulka

Mynak R. Tulka (Emeritus
Professor National Library andArchives, Grand Lama)

17 Feb.

9:10 Meeting with the Director of the

Textile Museumn

Singye Dorji (Director of

Textile Museum (Held in conjunction

Textile Museum), Division ofwith the Department of Intangible

Intangible Cultural Heritages

Cultural Heritage (NRICPT))

NRICPT

11:15 Meeting with the Director of the
National Library and Archives,

National Library andGyonpo Tshering (Director

Archivesof the National Library andDirector of the Folk Heritage Museum

Archives), Dorji Wangchuk(Director of the Folk Heritage
Museum), Kungsan Delek(Senior Assinstant at the
National Library and Archives),
Tshering Choki (Staff, National
Library and Srchives)

Visit City Temphu
16:15 Visit to the JICA Bhutan Office

JICA Bhutan Office

Tomoki Nitta (Director), Emi
Doyle (Project Formulation
Advisor), Shiraishi Kunihiko(Project Formulation Advisor),
Masakane Naoto (Volunteer
Coorinator)

18:40 Dinner Meeting

Local Restaurant

JICA Members, UNESCO
Mission.

55

18 Feb.

10:00 Meeting with the Director of the

National Museum(Paro) Kenpo Phuntsok Tashi

National Museum, Paro

(Director,National Museum),
Deldi Yangzom (Senior
Assistant)

13:00 Visit Dumtseg Lhakhang

Dumtseg Lhakhang

14:30 Visit Paro Dzong

Paro Dzong

15:50 Depart from paro(Arriving at the Hotelat 17:15)

17:15 Arrive at Thimpu

18:30 Evening Meeting with the HostingThose associated with the

Misnistry of Home and Cultural

Ministry of Home and Cultural

Affairs

Affairs, and Department
of Intangible Cultural
Heritage(NRICPT)

19 Feb.

9:10 Arrive at the Parliament House inHouse of Parliament

Bhutan9:30 Courtesy Visit with the Prime Minister

Jigme Yoser Thinley (Prime
Minister)

10:20 Meeting with the Second Ritsumeikan- National Library and
UNESCO

Archives

Dorje Chering (HomeMinister), Division for the

Post-Earthquake Mission Team 19 Feb.

Conservation of Heritage

2010

Sites, Disaster Planning
Agency, Building Regulations
Agency, Masuda Kanefusa(Profssor, Ritsumeikan
University) , Dr.Prem Nath
Maske (Professor, Tribhuvan
University).

12:20 Departure from Meeting
Lunch

56

14:40 Visit the Folk Heritage Museum

Folk Heritage Museum

15:10 Visit the Museum of Textiles

Museum of Textiles

16:00 Hearing at Ministry of Home Cultural Ministry of Home andAffairs

Cultural Affairs

Nagtsho Dorji (Director,
Division for the Conservationof Heritage Sites), junko Mukai(Consultant)

17:00 Visit Trashiccho Dzong
20 Feb.

Trashichho Dzong

8:30 Thimpu Departure
9:20 Visit Simtokha Dzong

Simtokha Dzong

10:50 Visit of the Lhakang in Dochula

DochulaLunch
14:00 Visit Wangdue Phodrang Dzong

Wangdue PhdrangDzong

15:15 Arrive at Hotel

21 Feb.

9:00 Punakha Dzong Arrival
Meeting with Ms. Mukai and Professor Punakha Dzong

Junko Mukai ( Consultant),

MurataMasuda Kanefusa(Professor,
Ritsumeikan University)

10:00 Visit of Punakha Damchoe
12:00 Punakha Dzong Arrival
15:50 Passing through Dochula
17:40 Paro Arrival
22 Feb.

11:10 KB126 Via Dhaka
15:50 Arriving at Suvarnabhumi International
23:50 Airport, bangkok
TG642(Tomoda, Haramoto), TG644
11:00(Imaeda)

23 Feb.

7:10 landing in Narita(Tomoda,
Haramonoto)57

(3) Notes① Joint Meeting of the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs,
Ritsumeikan-UNESCO Post-Earthquake Mission, Mission for the
Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage National ResearchInstitute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo (hereinafter NRICPT), Japan
Consortium for International Cooperation in Cultural Heritage
Mission(hereinafter JCIC)
Date and Time: February 16, 2010 14:00
Location: National Library and Archives
Attendees:• Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs - Dorje Chering (Home Minister, Ministry of Homeand Cultural Affairs), Nagtsho Dorji (Director, Division for the Conservation of Heritage
Sites), Junko Mukai (Consultant, Division for the Conservation of Heritage Sites), Dorji
Wangchuk (Curator, Folk Heritage Museum), Gyonpo Tshering (Curator, National Libraryand Archives), Rinzin Penjore (Director, Royal Academy of Performing Arts), and others.
• Ritsumeikan-UNESCO Mission - Kanefusa Masuda (Professor, Ritsumeikan University),
Moe Chiba (UNESCO New Delhi office, Program Specialist)• Mission for the Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage, NRICPT - Satoru Hyoki, (SeniorResearcher, Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage, NRICPT), Naoko Matsuyama(Research fellow, Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage, NRICPT)• JCIC
Content:<Goals of the Various Missions>
Ritsumeikan-UNESCO : Explore possible ways to assist with post-earthquake reconstruction.
Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage, NRICPT: Gather information for establishing
Category 2 Center.
<Overview of the Home Ministry’s Explanation> (For details regarding the Home
Ministry, please refer to the organization chart: )• There are eight sections in the three departments.
• Detailed information on the Cultural Heritage Section could not be collected because its
director was absent on this day.
<Division for the Conservation of Heritage Sites>• This division handles emergency planning for disasters, and the overall operating plan.
• Current projects include restoration work on four dzongs and construction of two new
dzongs.

59• Lack of fundamental research on traditional architecture is a challenge.
• Balancing the value of the heritage with safety concerns is problematic.
• Support is needed regarding assessment of earthquake resistance.
<Regarding the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties>• Currently there are three laws related to cultural properties: the Movable Cultural Property
Act, The Religious Organizations Act, and the Legal Deposit Act.
• There are a number of problems, including those related to the illicit export of culturalproperties, the relation between religious activities and preservation of cultural properties,
and the inadequate inventory of intangible heritage.
<Related Issues>• Documentation is necessary in order to preserve folk performing arts.
• There is the danger that the folk performing arts could be completely transformed if they areconnected with tourism or revenue.
• Following a decision by the King, no entry fees are charged for the temples or dzongs.
• Plans are under consideration to completely open one district in eastern Bhutan to tourism.
• The intangible aspect is extremely important in Bhutan, even for tangible heritage.
• Some argue for registering tangible cultural heritage in Bhutan as UNESCO World Heritage
Sites. However there is concern that registration would have a negative impact, for example,
restricting religious activities.

60

Ministry
Ministry ofof HomeHome andand
CulturalAffairs
Cultural Affairs
Department
Department ofof Culture
CultureDivision for Cultural
Properties

Division forConservation of
Heritage Sites

National Library

Textile Museum

Folk Heritage
Museum・Creation of database and conservation of movable cultural properties.
・Training for those related to the temples regarding those who possess
cultural properties.
・Measures to be taken against the theft or destruction of culturalproperties.
・Issuing of permits to foreign visitors to allow access to the Ihakangs.

・Conservation of immovable cultural heritages.
・Making inventories.

・Preserve and provide public access to rare books and sutras.

・Exhibit and provide public access to textiles.
・Preserve and promote traditional textile techniques.

・Preserve and exhibit ethnic cultural artifacts.
・Support for research and study.

National Museum

・Collection, preservation and exhibition of cultural properties.
・Hold workshops and training sessions.

Royal Academy of
Performing Arts

・Conserve and promote mask dancing, folk dancing, religious music,
folk music, folk tales, etc.
・Education and training.

Driglam Sections

・Education related to Bhutanese customs and traditions.

Fig. Organization Chart for the Bhutanese Royal Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs,
Department of Culture.

61

② Meeting with the Representative of the Director of
UN Regional Coordination
Date and Time: February 16, 17:20
Location: Ministry of Public HealthAttendees:• Herbert S.B. Tennakoon (Representative, Bhutanese Office of WHO, Director of UN
Regional Coordination)• Moe Chiba (UNESCO New Delhi Office, Program Specialist)• JCIC
Content of the Meeting:• Aid agencies from various countries such as JICA:Japan, SNV:Netherlands,
HELVETAS:Switzerland, CIDA:Canada, DANIDA:Denmark, and international NGOs suchas Save the Children have projects in Bhutan. Austria has pulled out recently.
• Neither UN agencies nor international aid agencies have been much engaged in projects
related to cultural heritage.
•UNDP has been involved in projects related to cultural heritages in some countries, but not in
Bhutan yet.
• With regards to the relationship between Bhutan’s national government and local
governments, decentralization is well advanced. However, while local governments canpropose technicians and funding, the national government has technical control.

③ Meeting with Mr. Mynak Y. Tulka
Date and Time: Fubruary 16, 19:20
Location: Home of Mynak Y. Tulka
Attendees:• Mynak Y. Tulka (Emeritus Professor, National Library and Archives; Former Curator at the
National Museum, Grand Lama)• JCIC
Content of the Meeting:• There are 7 or 8 conservators in the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and, up to now, they haveparticipated in training courses at the National Museum of Ethnology in Japan, Lucknow inIndia, ICOM, and the Honolulu Academy of Art.
•The majority of the objects for preservation are thangkas, and some staff are receiving

62

training in the preservation of this kind of object.
• Bhutan has its own view on the preservation of cultural properties, which is distinct from thatof other countries.
-④ Meeting with the Director of the Textile Museum (held inconjunction with the mission from the Department of Intangible
Cultural Heritage, NRICPT)
Date and Time: February 17, 9:10
Location: The Textile Museum
Attendees:• Singye Dorji (Director, The Textile Museum)• Satoru Hyoki, (Senior Researcher, Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage, NRICPT),
Naoko Matsuyama (Research fellow, Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage, NRICPT)• JCIC
Content of the Meeting:<Overview of the Museum>• Established in 2001. Current president of the museum is the fourth queen of the fourth
Dragon King.
• The missions of the museum are 1) to preserve ancient works of art, and 2) to transmit anddevelop technical skills.
• It was established due to the current situation in which traditional techniques are in danger ofdisappearing because the number of successors is decreasing. The introduction of low-costtextiles from India and the spread of education contribute to this danger.
• There are 13 staff members, including one curator, and five weavers, but no staff doing
research. Furthermore, the Director is not a specialist in textiles.
• Documentation is time-consuming, and for now has been left as an issue to be dealt with in
the future.
• In addition to objects stored in the museum, preservation work is also done on objects owned
by temples and other bodies.
• The museum has organized a training course for 20 monks on the preservation of thangkas
and other items owned by temples.
<State of Cooperation with Various Foreign Countries>• Cooperation on conservation with the J. Paul Getty Trust in America from 2003 to 2007.
2003 - 2006
Independent consultants were dispatched from Washington, and for 3 months of each year,
training was conducted related to preservation (maintenance and repair, cleaning, and storage).

63

2005 and 2007
Specialists were dispatched, workshops were held.
• Currently the museum is looking at possibilities for another workshop.
• The Getty trust also provides other financial support to the museum.
<Activities for Developing and Transmitting Technical Skills>• In order to develop and transmit technical skills, 1) a festival is held every October in which
two weavers are selected from the twenty prefectures to conduct a demonstration and sale;and 2) a weaving competition is held with kira, gho, and innovative or modern categories,
and prize money is offered to the winners.
<The Royal Textile Academy>• The building is currently under construction and it is scheduled to be completed within five
years.
• Established through a donation from the owner of a Swedish pharmaceutical company, theAcademy will operate as an NGO.
−Facility Tour−• The first floor has space for special exhibits. During our visit, ceremonial costumes had beenborrowed from the various regions as part of celebrations for the 100th Anniversary of theMonarchy. The second floor holds the regular exhibit of regional and tribal costumes.
•The museum offers textiles for sale and live demonstrations.
• On the first floor, an introductory DVD on Bhutanese traditional textiles was playing.
<Conservation Room>• In addition to the objects entrusted for use at special exhibitions, repair and maintenancework is conducted upon request.
• During the tour, restoration work was being done on a ceiling cloth from a temple in thecentral region.
• Though the storage room does not have special air conditioning, no major problems haveoccurred under the natural air conditions.
• Gas-filled vinyl packs are used to store objects.

64⑤Meeting with the Director of the National Library andArchives and Director of the Folk Heritage Museum
Date and Time: February 17, 11:15
Location: National Library and Archives
Attendees:
・Dorji Wangchuk (Director, Folk Heritage Museum), Gyonpo Tshering (Director, the National
Library and Archives), Kungsan Delek (Senior Archivist, National Library and Archives),
Tshering Choki (Staff, National Library and Archives),
・JCIC
Content of the meeting:[National Folk Heritage Museum]<Overview of the Museum>• The museum was opened in July 2001, one month after the Textile Museum. A farmhouse
was purchased by the government for use as a museum.
• It was established to serve as a showcase introducing traditional Bhutanese life to foreign
tourists. Currently over 1,100 items are stored.
• The items in the collection were gathered from various regions in Bhutan.
• There are 11 staff members, including the director, an exhibition curator, three assistants incharge of guiding tours, and the remainder of the people are drivers, security staff, landscapegardeners, etc.
• There is one research officer but he is absent because he is currently studying in India.
• Education in museology is not available in Bhutan, so there is no choice but to study abroad.
<Issues>• The booklet of the museum collection was created by a French person.
• The collection is comprised primarily of wooden objects and earthenware objects, but there
are few metal objects. There is no particular damage by insects, etc., but objects made fromyak hair deteriorate in approximately two years.
• In the future, they hope to create a preservation room larger than the present one.
<Other Issues>• Since two years ago, cultural officers assigned to each of Bhutan's 20 prefectures haveplayed an important role in the administration of cultural property protection. Before that, alldirection came from the national government to the regional level, which took time.
• Exchange has taken place with the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum (FAAM).

65• Currently a restaurant that will serve traditional foods is in the preparation stage and isscheduled to open in October of 2010(1)Tour of Facilities (Taken on February 19)• The museum is comprised of three buildings: the main building (a traditional, three-story
structure that used to be a farm house was moved and is utilized as the main building),
an administrative building, a former exhibition building (currently being renovated as a
restaurant offering traditional cuisine.)• The main building consists of three floors; a first floor with a stable, a second floor withstorage areas, and a third floor with a kitchen, living area, and a space for a Buddhist altar. In
the upper section, there is an attic and a workspace for drying crops.
• Tools used in daily life and other objects that are basically related to the function of thesespaces are exhibited.
• There are no written explanations in the exhibition because most of the visitors areaccompanied by a guide. The guides are on staff and are always at the museum.
• The storage room referred to in the director’s explanation was not confirmed.
• Overall, this museum is similar to folklore museums in Japan using old Japanese houses, andno major issues were seen in terms of preservation.
[National Library and Archives]<Overview of the National Library and Archives>• Previously, there was only a library. Archives were added in 2008.
• Currently there are three departments: the library, the archives and cultural research.
• In the cultural research department, there are three researchers, who specialize in fields
related to Buddhist philosophy.
• There is a plan to create a new building and three local branches (eastern region, central
region, southern region); negotiations with the Indian government are ongoing.
• Financial support for the construction of an on-line system is being discussed with the Indian
government.
• The archive facility was built with the support of DANIDA.
• According to the deposit act, all materials published in English and Dzongkha in the country
must be donated.
<Issues>• Digitalization: It is hoped that, in the future, the book collection will be digitalized.
• Conservation of paper: Items that have been written in gold or silver are especially difficult,including the analysis of the composition. In this field, requests for cooperation have been

(1) As confirmed in January of 2011 by Director Dorji Wangchuk, the building has been completed, but therestaurant has not opened yet.

66put forth, including an application for Cultural Grant Assistance from Japan; however, at thispoint, there has been no response.
• Fumigation facility: A fumigator donated by Japan is still in use; however, there are problems
with the toxic potential of the chemicals.
• Putting the materials that are not part of the collection on microfilm: the materials that are
stored at temples and other locations cannot be taken out and therefore it is hoped to record
all of those materials on microfilm. The microfilm equipment cannot be moved from thelibrary so a portable machine is needed.
• Storage at the temples: the storage environment for the materials at the temples is not good.
• Boxes for storing materials: In the past, the boxes for storing materials devised by Professor
Imaeda have been deeply appreciated. Staff would like to be able to put materials fromthe temples and dzongs in these storage boxes when they are returned after conservation
treatment, but supplies are limited.
Tour of the Facilities• In the conservation room, conservation work on the lining of Buddhist texts that had beendamaged by pests was in progress.
• Though the person in charge of storage and preservation very much hopes to receive training
on paper restoration from ICCROM, participation in such training abroad is difficult without
financial support.

⑥ Visit to the JICA Bhutan Office
Date and Time: February 17, 11:15
Location: Bhutan Branch of JICA
Attendees:• JICA Bhutan Office- Tomoki Nitta(Resident Representative), Emi Doyle (Project
Formulation Advisor), Kunihiro Shiraishi (Project Formulation Advisor), Naoto Masakane(Volunteer Coordinator),• JCIC
Content of the visit:<JICA’s Activities related to Cultural Heritages in Bhutan>• There is no project for cultural properties yet, but there are some Japan Overseas Cooperation
Volunteers engaged in cultural activities related to buildings, such as restoration of dzongs.
• Over 50 people are dispatched to Bhutan by JICA.
• Paro prefecture was affected by the cyclone disaster in May, and research is underway oncooperative efforts for reconstruction.
• There is potential for support of tourism in the future.

67

<Cooperation with Japanese organizations other than JICA>•Beside JICA, there is a wide range of organizations cooperating, including the Japan Scienceand Technology Agency (JST), Asian Disaster Reduction Center, and the Japan Silver
Volunteers.
• NGOs have trouble entering Bhutan, so there is no significant activity by NGOs.
<Cooperation with other countries and international agencies>• UN agencies WHO and UNDP have offices and they conduct some activities.
• The main source of support comes from the smaller European countries.
• NGOs from Austria are working on cooperative projects to make the bridge between Taroand Punakha and the Ta Dzong into a museum.
• Thailand is cooperating primarily with IT-related activities.
• EU is cooperating in the field of agriculture with such projects as the RNR (Renewable
Natural Resources).
<Characteristics of Bhutan>•The Bhutanese have a warm and open personality and so they are fundamentally easy to workwith.
• They have a tendency to refrain from stating their opinion in a straightforward manner, so it
is sometimes hard to grasp what they need.
• There is a strong tendency to manage things from the top down.
• Even when their own homes have been damaged by disasters, people want to repair
lhakhangs.
•In Bhutan, cultural heritage does not seem to be recognized yet as “cultural heritage”.
However, values differ with each new generation, and if cultural heritage is not protected, it
will inevitably disappear.
•Although no specialists in urban planning are currently working in the JICA office,
we recognize that Thimphu is expanding at a rapid rate without a master plan and themaintenance of the sewage and waste disposal treatment facilities has not been able to keepup.

⑦ Meeting with the Director of the National Museum,
Paro
Date and Time: February 18, 10:00
Location: National Museum, Paro
Attendees:• Kenpo Phuntsok Tashi (Director), Deldi Yangzom (Senior Museum Assistant),68• JCIC
Content of the meeting:<Overview of the Museum>• Trongsa Dzong (the facility used for the defense of the dzongs) was built 260 years ago, andhas been used as a museum since 1968.
• Since last year, a new building has been under construction and the interior is currently
being decorated. The first floor is to be an exhibition space and the second floor an office. A
museum shop is to be added to the first floor.
•The central building (old building) is being remodeled. An evaluation by DCHS concluded
that there were no problems with the safety of the main body of the building, and thus
directions were given not touch it at all. Therefore the work is simply on the interior decor.
<Cooperation by the Japan Foundation>• Colloquia were held 6 times between 1996 and 2009, with support from the JapanFoundation.
• Tangible cultural heritage was the topic for the first five colloquia, and reports were publishedin English and Dzongkha. Research about all dzongs was completed by the fifth colloquium.
• The sixth colloquium studied intangible cultural heritage and its report will be published in
May of 2010.
<Needs for the future>• Throughout the country, there are 2,006 monasteries and 10,011 stupas, and the hope is tocreate a record of all of them. Foreign support for this project is desired, and DANIDA is
showing interest.
Tour of the Facilities<Exhibitions at the Museum>• The objects on display are mainly thangkas and folk tools, ranging from prehistoric objects tothe folk tools of the modern period. There are approximately 2,000 exhibition items and thiscomprises 50-60 percent of the museum’s collection.
• Archeological artifacts were excavated mainly by the Indian team.
• Natural science exhibits such as stuffed animals and mounted insects are also on display.
• There are also clay products, wooden products, bamboo products, and metal products (brass
and copper).
• The museum is not air-conditioned. As a result, there is concern that the environment is not
good, particularly for thangkas.
• There is almost no interpretative commentary for the exhibitions, probably because themajority of visitors are accompanied by a guide.
• The collection list is written by hand, and they are currently compiling a database of thecollection. However, there is no specialist for building databases in this museum, so

69

technical advice is needed.
<Conservation Department>• It was established in 1989. One room in a building attached to the main building is being
used for the storage department, and there is no plan to move this even after the completionof the new building.
• It is not a satisfactory environment for storage, as it contains only a scale and some chemicals
apparently used as an adhesive.
• There are two conservators. One of them received training in Japan on two occasions. The
second training was on all aspects of museum work for six months at the National Museumof Ethnology. However, she has not received any technical training on conservation science.

⑧ Courtesy Visit with the Prime Minister
Date and Time: February 19, 9:10
Location: Parliament House of Bhutan
Attendees:
Jigme Yoser Thinley (Prime Minister)
JCIC Content of the meeting:• In terms of bilateral relations, Japan is one of the most important countries along with India.
• By the next election, Prime Minister is hoping to set a direction for the protection andtransmission of cultural heritage.
• Transmission of intangible cultural heritage is difficult. With the spread of globalization,
many things, such as music, come into the country from abroad, and the next generation
doesn't understand the value of traditional music.

⑨ Meeting with the Second Ritsumeikan-UNESCO
Post Earthquake Team
Date and Time: February 19, 9:10
Location: House of Parliament
Attendees:• Dorje Chering (Home Minster), Division for the Conservation of Heritage Sites, Disaster
Planning Agency, Building Regulations Agency• Kanefusa Masuda (Professor, Ritsumeikan University), Dr. Prem Nath Maskey (Professor,
Tribhuvan University)70• Masahiko Tomoda (JCIC)
Content of the meeting:<Report from the Disaster Planning Agency> Plan for Post-Earthquake
Reconstruction>• On September 21, 2009, a magnitude 6 earthquake struck Bhutan. A comprehensive national
plan for reconstruction is now being crafted to include both emergency measures and plans
for reconstruction. This will comprise both department-specific reconstruction plans and areconstruction plan for private-sector housing.
• It is estimated that a total of 20 billion Ngultrum in funds will be necessary; however to date,
the amount of assistance offered from abroad is at 2.5 billion Ngultrum.
•A technical working group was established to develop a three-pronged strategy: theformulation of guidelines and standards for reconstruction, training for technicians, andtechnical support.
<The Building Standards Agency> – Plans and Priorities for the Promotion ofReconstruction in Private Sector Housing• An analysis of the damage was conducted. Traditional houses feature a first-story made ofstone and a second-story section made of stone and wood. In general, lack of earthquake
resistance in the first-story is a problem. Consequently, it is essential to strengthen quakeresistance standards, through the use of concrete, and land use plans prohibiting residential
construction in regions where the land is less stable and the risk greater. Currently, theseguidelines are in the process of being formulated.
• Regarding the construction of stone buildings, research is being conducted on the following
five points: 1) making buildings lighter, 2) objectification, 3) structural continuity, 4)
reinforcing strength, and 5) ductility. To address these problems, practical measures arebeing considered, such as the establishment of standards including restrictions on thenumber of doors and windows, and the introduction of wooden or bamboo reinforcement insections of the stone construction.
< Division for the Conservation of Heritage Sites (DCHS)>Report 1• 485 chortens (about 4.85% of the total number) and 281 lhakhangs (14%) were damaged
to some extent by this earthquake. The emergency investigation conducted directly after
the earthquake clarified the need for improvements in the earthquake resistance of existing
structures and increased earthquake resistance for newly constructed buildings.
• The UNESCO Mission visited the affected areas from November 23 to 29, and made thefollowing recommendations:1) There is a need to create guidelines for the reinforcement of existing buildings
2) There is a need to establish earthquake-resistant designs for newly constructed buildings
3) There is a need for technical training

714) There is a need for research on quake-resistance standards
5) There is a need for educational activities regarding disaster preparation for earthquakes.
< Ritsumeikan-UNESCO Mission>• Ritsumeikan-UNESCO Mission was dispatched with the goal of evaluating existing safety
standards with reference to the above recommendations.
• The DCHS will focus on the following four goals. Respecting the special characteristics ofthe traditional methods of construction is a precondition of improvements in safety, and thework undertaken should take into account the limitations of the actual site.
1) Structural analysis of traditional buildings (evaluation of earthquake resistance)2) The establishment of construction codes for newly constructed buildings
3) The establishment of measures for the reinforcement of existing buildings based on thematerials and techniques applicable locally4) The establishment of a disaster mitigation plan
<DCHS>Report 2– The Restoration and Reconstruction of Architectural Heritage• Results from the survey of damage were analyzed to determine the causes of the damage.
It was concluded that while the traditional building methods in themselves were notdeficient in terms of earthquake resistance, the resistance capacity depended on the qualityof construction. For this reason, research on past technology is required. At the same time,training for architects, structural engineers, builders, and construction technicians will also
be important.
<DCHS>Report 3 –Stone Masonry Building Techniques Seen in Classical Architecture• Examination of the masonry in buildings damaged in the eastern region revealed many
problems related to the size and arrangement of the stone material used. However, among
examples of classical architecture, there are many cases of buildings that exhibit a highdegree of structural strength and, in fact, there were also numerous examples of buildingsthat have experienced many earthquakes and withstood them without damage. Consequently,
it is possible to learn from these past examples of walls with a high degree of earthquake
resistance. Therefore, structural reinforcement in such examples is being studied throughactual arrangement of stones.
• Construction experiments are being conducted both on cases in which reinforcement was
performed following the guidelines of the Standards Quality and Control Division, and cases
in which improvements were added.

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⑩ Hearing at the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs
Date and Time:Fubruary 19, 16:00
Location: Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs
Attendees:• Nagtsho Dorji (Director,DCHS) , Junko Mukai (Consultant,DCHS)• JCIC
Content of the meeting:<Personnel Organization for DCHS>• There are 16 individuals on staff (Ms. Mukai is a consultant and so not included)• In the main section, there are currently only 5 individuals; the remaining members of the staff
are away for training or at sites where repairs are being conducted.
Director: While the director specializes in architecture (she studied architecture in India andpreservation in England), she holds an administrative position, and her skills are not put touse with on-the-ground problems.
• Chief Architect: currently he is studying in Australia.
• There are 2 younger architects, 2 civil engineers, and the consultant, Ms. Mukai.
• There are no educational institutions related to historical buildings in the country; andinvestigative research is not conducted except by the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs.
• Of the students from the school of traditional craft techniques who received technical training
in mapping or surveying through the cooperation of the Agency of Cultural Affairs, two are
working as draftsman at DCHS. However, at present, construction drawings are all done by
CAD, and there are no plans to train new draftsmen.
<Operations of the DCHS>•Basically, the role of DCHS is to grant permission and authorization, and actual work takes
place at the regional level. In reality, however, there is a lot of work that regional technicians
cannot handle, so staff members are dispatched directly to large sites.
• In Bhutan, the law requires that buildings be based on traditional designs. The technicians at
central government agencies such as DCHS are in charge of these designs.
•The DCHS is currently repairing four sites (Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, Paro Dzong, Dagana
Dzong and Lhuentse Dzong) and new construction at two sites (Pemagatshel Dzong andThimphu Culture Center).
•In the outlying regions, there are various technicians within the administrative units referred
to as gewog (villages), which are under the prefectural districts (dzongkhag). There areapproximately 20 of these technicians on average in each dzongkhag, and approximately 400
throughout Bhutan. However, the technicians are involved not only with cultural properties,
but with architecture in general.
• While the administration was very busy with the projects under the five-year plan, recovery

73efforts were suddenly required due to the earthquake, leaving the staff overwhelmed withwork. As a result, project planning had to be put on hold.
• The main focus of activity for the DCHS is religious buildings such as the dzongs and thelhakhangs. In the process of earthquake reconstruction, however, concerns were raised about
the possibility that obstacles to the preservation and passing on of traditional techniquesand village landscapes could develop if private housing was not included. For this reason,
the DCHS has raised objections to the structural standards plan based on the SQCA, and isseeking a strategy that will serve both the improvement of safety and the capacity to pass on
traditional culture.
<Response to the Earthquake>• Various proposals were submitted by the Ritsumeikan-UNESCO Mission. While the majorityof problems pointed out were ones that the Bhutan side was also fully aware of, limitationsof the system and other circumstances make it difficult to deal with these issues.
• In Bhutan, there are no structural specialists. For this reason, they are hoping for support for
both reinforcement measures and for the evaluation of earthquake resistance in traditional
structures. Because the Bhutanese lack sufficient training to deal with these areas, support in
the form of research by specialists is recommended.
•While discussions with the SQCA and others are ongoing, there is a tendency for
misunderstanding from the perspective of cultural heritage. For this reason, it is hoped thata visit by a mission from other countries will provide an opportunity to hear opinions from athird-party perspective, and produce some positive effects.
• Cultural heritage is one of the four main pillars of GNH, so DCHS wants to avoid projects
in which all the work is carried out by large teams from foreign countries. On a working
level, the DCHS prefers to get things done using their own resources as much as possible.
However, they also welcome the possibility of working together, and since structural
analysis is only done by the DCHS, this is where a counterpart relationship could develop.
<World Heritage Nomination>• While some upper level members of the government would like to have a World Heritage
Site as part of the country’s identity, there is some concern that registration as a World
Heritage site would lead to restrictions on religious activities.
• There is also a concern that consultants from abroad will create formal documents without
fully understanding the unique culture of Bhutan.
<Training>• Ms. Nagtsho has participated in ACCU group training and is of the opinion that it was anextremely good training program. While she was unaware that individual training is being
offered, she was very interested in the programs. The problem is that they are short on staff
and the current situation makes it difficult to dispatch staff to the training.

74

<Other Issues>• They would like to avoid a situation in which an independently created team from Japan
monopolizes information or cooperation with Bhutan.

75

(4) Photos of the interviews
International Ministry of Home andCultural Aﬀairs Oﬃce, RitsumeikanUNESCO Mission, intangible heritage
assets department, state of the joint
meeting of the consortium.

Same as above.

Interview with the UN Regional
Coodinator.

76

Facility introduction by the director of
the texitile museum.

Interview with the director of thenational library and public records
building and the curator of the folk
heritage museum.

Facility introduction by the curator of
the national library and public records
building.

77

Visit to the JICA Bhutan oﬃce.

In front of the new museum building
after the interview with the directorof the national museum.

Department of Culture building
exterior.

78

Sign of the Dpartment of Culture.

Visit at the Simtokha Dzong.

Courtesy visit with the Prime Minister.

79

Acknowledgments
We would like to extend our sincerest appreciation to the many people who have offered theirgenerous cooperation for the implementation of our survey.
Special thanks to Ms. Moe Chiba at the UNESCO New Delhi Office, who played an
indispensable role in liaising and coordinating meetings with local parties. We could not have
prepared our survey so thoroughly without her support. Our deepest gratitude to H.E. Mr. Jigmi
Thinley, the thirteenth Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bhutan, and everyone in the Bhutanese
Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs, for sparing their precious time to receive us and offer
their cooperation during a busy and difficult period in the aftermath of the earthquake.
With great respect, we also thank Dr. Yoshiro Imaeda of the Centre National de la Recherche
Scientifique and Mr. Masahiko Tomoda of the National Research Center for Cultural Properties,
Tokyo, for their consistent efforts, from the execution of the local survey to the preparation of thisreport, as members of the Bhutan Survey Mission under the Japan Consortium for International
Cooperation in Cultural Heritage.
We would be most happy if our survey results benefit the future conservation of cultural
heritage in Bhutan in any way.
Japan Consortium for International Cooperation in Cultural Heritage

80

Japan Consortium for International Cooperation in Cultural
Heritage2009 Survey for International Cooperation
Survey Report on the Protection of Cultural Heritage in
BhutanPublished: March 2011
Published by: Japan Consortium for International Cooperationin Cultural Heritage
13-43, Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo, 110-8713 JAPAN
Tel. +81-3-3823-4841