Photo 1:
This is an intricately designed and painted wall on the outside of a temple in Thimphu, Bhutan. This exhibits the deep love for art in Bhutan, and how they intertwine it with their overarching religion.
Art
Temple Wall
(https://princessorchid.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/bhutan-011.jpg)
Photo 2:
This image shows all the handcrafted metal works that are sold at markets or bazaars in Bhutan. These metal sculptures and cutlery are a major part of the local economy in Bhutan, allowing families to make their own money through their products.
Economics
Handmade Market
(http://footage.framepool.com/shotimg/qf/282360045-rueda-de-oracion-bhutan-plaza-del-mercado-rueda-pieza-de-vehiculo.jpg)
Photo 3:
This is a great shot of a local school classroom in Bhutan. This shows the clear disparity between our educational facilities compared to our eastern counterparts.
Education
Classroom
(https://bhutancanada.org/bhutancanada/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/OBrien-Catherine-Students.jpg)
Photo 4:
This is a shot of the Royal Supreme Court of Bhutan. This houses all of the major court cases in Bhutan, and also houses a commissary and temple to accommodate visitors and patrons.
Politics
Royal Supreme Court
(http://www.ccba.in/public/assets/img/content/projects/612.jpg)
Photo 5:
This first religion shot is taken outside of the Gangteng Monastery in Wangdue Phodrang district in Bhutan. This is a major temple in Bhutanese Buddhism, and as seen by the architecture, is positioned as more important than all of the other buildings next to it, which underlines the importance of religion in Bhutan.
Belief Systems
Buddhist Monastery
(http://davidlazarphoto.com/amp/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/33-David-Lazar-Bhutanese-Monk-and-Monastery.jpg)
Photo 6:
This is a shot of a man participating in Bhutan’s national sport, archery. Archery is the largest sport in Bhutan, and there are many archery ranges and clubs of archers that get together for tournaments and fun matches.
Social Activities
Archery Practice
(https://triptoes.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/dsc_1429.jpg?w=570&h=378)
Photo 7:
The is the entrance to a Bhutanese temple, which is adorned with a hand rung bell to signify the hours passing and worship times. The detail put into the mandala-like designs on the walls juxtaposed with the line of hand painted lions below again shows the pride in art exhibited in Bhutan.
Art
Temple Entrance
(http://www.bhutantraveladventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/bhutanese-art-and-craft.jpg)
Photo 8:
This shows a large local market, selling meat and veggies. These are all local farmers who bring their product in bulk to sell throughout town. This is the main way one gets produce in Bhutan.
Economics
Local Market
(http://www.heybrian.com/lib/images/travels/bhutan/thimphu_weekend_market.jpg)
Photo 9:
This shows a local schools principal giving a morning assembly meeting to his students. The difference between typical American school assemblies is stark, with the matching robes, attentive posture and all of the students looking directly at the principal.
Education
School Assembly
(http://www1.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Bhutan+Youth+Embrace+Western+Styles+Calls+1_shqqHdDFdl.jpg)
Photo 10:
This is a shot of the president’s house while they are in term. This is the only accommodations given to politicians in Bhutan, which compared to back here in the U.S. shows how small politician influence is out in a religion based country.
Politics
Presidential House
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Presidential_Palace_in_Tallinn,_Estonia.jpg)
Photo 11:
This religion shot is of the Paro Taktsang Temple, positioned in the Paro valley precariously positioned on the side of a mountain. This temple is the apex in terms of importance in Bhutan, with it being built around the spot the Guru Padmasambhava was said to have meditated during his travels in Bhutan. This is another major showing of religion being paramount in Bhutan.
Belief Systems
Ancient Monastery
(https://niceartlife.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/taktshang1.jpg?w=1024)
Photo 12:
This shot is of a potluck meal offered at the Folk Heritage Museum in Bhutan. They have a restaurant inside that serves patrons meals from all local providers and farmers, thus showcasing the local produce. This ties into the emphasis of self providing in Bhutan, illustrating the wide uses for all of the organic produce farmed by locals.
Social Activities
Potluck Tasting
(http://www.silkroadgourmet.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Bhutanese-Food-Facebook3-450x300.jpg)
Photo 13:
This is a traditional handcrafted and painted prayer wheel, that is situated inside the Trongsa Dzong fortress. These prayer wheels are common place for places with monasteries or temples attached, and they are stationary praise sculptors to the gods.
Art
Prayer Wheel
(http://www.bhutanculturalatlas.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/07_PaintingTrongsa-dzong-800x532.jpg)
Photo 14:
This is a shot of a local farmer attending a farmers market in Bhutan. Farmers like this make their living through these farmers markets, due to the sheer amount of foot traffic and the demand for varied types of produce.
Economics
Local Farmer
(http://cdn.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000oUc_lySxASc/s/850/850/20060329-bhutan-0617.jpg)
Photo 15:
This photo shows a school volleyball team practicing after school hours. Not many American sports are popular in Bhutan, with the exemption of American football, but volleyball is a major sport. Team sports is a major part of elementary schools in Bhutan, with the camaraderie used as a teaching point.
Education
School Volleyball
(http://www.raonline.ch/images/bt/pic4/bt_edusports1206.jpg)
Photo 16:
This is a picture of the Trongsa Dzong Fortress, in the center of the town of Trongsa. This used to be a major stronghold for Bhutanese forces during conflicts, but now it has evolved into a judicial building, along with a great architectural reminder of the relatively recent conflicts in the past.
Politics
Trongsa Dzong Fortress
(http://www.localbhutantravel.bt/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/td.jpg)
Photo 17:
This is a shot from the ceiling inside of a major temple in Thimphu, the biggest city in Bhutan. The sheer size of the altar to the Buddha denotes the deep connection with religion in Bhutan, with the intricacies of the room really showing that dedication.
Belief Systems
Inside Temple
(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/04/15/article-urn:publicid:ap.org:6d4a685a31744fed93ccd8c80b382302-3x3xJf8qEp7439795a58659b6188-215_634x422.jpg)
Photo 18:
This last shot is of a street theatre performance in the center of Thimphu. Performers will set up large plays and performance art pieces to present to crowds during regular days. This exhibits the emphasis of art within the Bhutanese culture, while showing the social aspects to the community with the large crowd of spectators.
Social Activities
Street Theatre
(http://genuinejourneys.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/BHUTAN-Street-theatre-in-Thimphu.jpg)
Bhutan Demographic Statistics:
1.) People and Society
25-54 yrs old - 42.39% of the overall population.
2.) People and Society
0.0% per 1000 persons are migrants.
3.) People and Society
64.9% of all children 15 and older are literate.
4.) Economy
Labor force: 57% agriculture, 22% services, 21% industry.
5.) Energy
76% total population with energy.
6.) Communications
39.8% of residents have internet access.
Gapminder Analysis:
Figure 1 and 2. The dichotomy of increasing literacy within Bhutan compared to India and China, as portrayed by Gapminder.com
With the first set of Gapminder screenshots, I wanted to focus on the youth literacy within Bhutan, when compared to it's neighbors China and India. I feel like youth literacy is the most important statistic when it comes to any country, especially a small and reclusive one like Bhutan. Bhutan's literacy percentage statistics were not available until 2005, but those starting statistics are almost even to where India registered in 2005, even with India's population being 166 times larger. This denotes a good and sturdy educational platform in a country with substantially less resources than India and China. When compared to China, both India and Bhutan are dwarfed in literacy, which is a result of China's massive emphasis on education of youths, which usually limits if not fully takes away any children's time for fun or sports. What I like about Bhutan staying on par with a huge country like India is that it shows their dedication to truly educating their youth. They have a fraction of the resources available to them compared to India, and yet they stick neck and neck with them, which shows a devotion and understanding that the youth is the next generation who will be advancing the country to further and greater heights.
Figure 3 and 4: The rise of income per person within Bhutan as compared to India and China, as portrayed by Gapminder.com
With my second Gapminder comparison, I wanted to tackle the economy in Bhutan when it comes to personal income per person. This is important in a small country like Bhutan because with their limited resources industrially they truly need as many workers as they can get, which equates to each worker getting a good living wage due to the need of their services. This is all relative to other economies who work off of bigger budgets and GDP's, but at first glance at the two photos you can see that Bhutan again is on par with India. India boasts such a large and diverse economy within importing and exporting, same as China that they are bound to gain income per person each year based on the demand for work and sheer amount of jobs available. A country like Bhutan though is not as progressive when it comes to their economy, and they don’t have a growing base of businesses importing goods and exporting goods, which hinders a growth within the overarching economy of Bhutan. The economy of Bhutan is a mostly internal one, with everyone supporting and sustaining each other through trades and labor, which is good for a small country to be able to do, but the stark realization comes within the second photo. Bhutan's income per person has steadily grown with India while their population has stayed almost static, which shows a prospering economy. India and China have both experienced a large population growth from 1975, which has impacted their income per person positively, spiking the overall numbers to accompany the growing population and the needs of that new crop of people. Bhutan has been able to sustain a population that works for them as a country, while growing the economy and subsequently the communities by giving regular residents a true share of the wealth. This is an envious position for a country to be in, big or small, because they have a continuously growing income rate coupled with a growing tourism industry which means that the overarching community of Bhutan will be reaping the benefits of tourism stimulating their economy while still having a thriving and beneficial economy as a whole.
Additional Resources:
The first additional resource I want to share with you is a brilliant article from The Guardian, which is a newspaper along with internet verticals based out of Manchester, England. The article is centered around the culture of Bhutan and their attempts to keep their culture static and in place for the ages to come. It is a great read and holds a ton of information on Bhutan’s culture that are seldom found elsewhere, while providing an interesting narrative.
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/aug/26/bhutan-preserves-culture-development-accelerates
The second additional resource I have about Bhutan comes straight from the subject itself, Bhutan’s government has a great page dedicated to their culture and how Bhutan is different from all other Western countries. This page is an incredibly valuable resource because they have sections and separate pages for every part of their culture to be defined better and in their own words. The page is very in depth and provides a great starting point when researching their culture.
http://www.tourism.gov.bt/about-bhutan/culture
The first additional resource I want to share with you is a brilliant article from The Guardian, which is a newspaper along with internet verticals based out of Manchester, England. The article is centered around the culture of Bhutan and their attempts to keep their culture static and in place for the ages to come. It is a great read and holds a ton of information on Bhutan’s culture that are seldom found elsewhere, while providing an interesting narrative.
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/aug/26/bhutan-preserves-culture-development-accelerates
The second additional resource I have about Bhutan comes straight from the subject itself, Bhutan’s government has a great page dedicated to their culture and how Bhutan is different from all other Western countries. This page is an incredibly valuable resource because they have sections and separate pages for every part of their culture to be defined better and in their own words. The page is very in depth and provides a great starting point when researching their culture.
http://www.tourism.gov.bt/about-bhutan/culture
This map I have to present is a map of the breakdown of Gross National Happiness (or GNH) throughout the globe. With the dark blue denoting the happiest countries, you clearly see a decent amount in the left hand side of the map, while the right hand side might be lacking in pep and smiles. A clear standout in the right-hand eastern side of the map, is Bhutan, the small blue piece within the green and orange mesh that is greater Asia. Bhutan is rated as the 8th overall country when it comes to GNH, and it is clearly shown here, with the only country that is close in location to its level being Australia. This shows the clear emphasis in overall joy and happiness within Bhutan, and it’s obvious they care more about the well being of their citizens than attaching themselves to clichéd standards of the greater eastern world.
The Basement Geographer. (2010, September 23). Retrieved September 26, 2016, from http://basementgeographer.com/bhutan-and-the-concept-of-gross-national-happiness/
The Basement Geographer. (2010, September 23). Retrieved September 26, 2016, from http://basementgeographer.com/bhutan-and-the-concept-of-gross-national-happiness/
Religion in Bhutan
The origins of Buddhism within Bhutan go all the way back to 7th century AD, when Bhutan was still a very enclosed country with a very small settlement of farmers. This all changed when King Sindhu Raja, a disgraced and dethroned former Indian monarch who took his sentence of exile all the way to Bhutan in an attempt to reclaim some kind of throne. The small settlement he found in Bhutan suddenly had him at the helm, and within his newly created society he installed Buddhism as the country’s religion after he installed a new governmental regime within his newly acquired country. This was the first wave of Buddhism to hit Bhutan, and it grew to become truly the country’s religion when Bhutan was enlightened by a visit by Guru Rinpoche, a Buddhist saint who was traveling to Bhutan to have an audience with a king to attempt to cure the ailed king, who was supposedly possessed. Guru Rinpoche was successful, and after a few more travels settled in Bhutan and proceeded to open multiple monasteries and teach Buddhism.
Bhutan is one of a very small list of countries that have adopted a national religion into the 21st century. Bhutan and Buddhism are inseparable, due to the deep roots of the religion into the beginnings of Bhutan as a country. Bhutan is approximately 75% Buddhist nowadays (Bhutan.com, Religion) which in such a small country is a very large percentage. This simple fact denotes the importance of religion as an overarching guideline to all of Bhutan's evolutions and advances as a country and as a culture. When looking at religion in Bhutan through a microscope, one would see the devout followers of Buddhism filling temples on a daily basis to worship, festivals celebrating the turning seasons every 4 months rife with handed down celebratory dances through generations and generations who have done the same celebrations and practiced the same philosophies. Bhutan is incredibly proud of their deep rooted culture and their want to keep things relatively the same when it comes to government, society and religion, such steadiness within a country is a product of a steady backbone which in Bhutan's case has been their beliefs.
There are several notable Buddhist temples within the borders of Bhutan, with one being one of the most well known and recognizable buddhist temples in the world. I think we should logically start with the aforementioned temple, which is named Paro Taktsang, or commonly referred to as the Tiger's Nest. Built on the side of a mountain, Paro Taktsang is a masterful visual, it looking like it has just grown naturally out of the mountainside, with clouds surrounding it giving it an Olympian feel without the 12 omnipotent deities surrounding it. Paro Taktsang is sacred ground due to the location it is in, the temple being constructed at the site of Taktsang Senge Samdup cave which is the cave in which the aforementioned Guru Rinpoche was storied to have meditated for a period of 3 years, 3 months, 3 weeks, 3days and 3 hours during his first visit to the secluded country. Rinpoche was the leading figure behind the surge of Buddhism within Bhutan, thus this majestic temple was constructed in 1692 as a dedication to him. This has transformed from a regular temple into a cultural touchstone, which is almost synonymous with the country of Bhutan, where meditation sessions are held, monks live, and visitors can come and see the spot of Rinpoche's unbelievable meditation feat. While there are many temples and sacred sites within Bhutan, the most important and the most ingrained into Bhutanese culture and history remains the Tiger's Nest.
Bhutan's government and the countries adopted religion, Buddhism, can be traced back to the beginning settlements of Bhutan, and are intertwined for the rest of history. Originally, Bhutan was taken from a small amount of settlements that were not unified, to a more connected country due to King Sindhu Raja, who implemented Buddhism as the national religion. This was kept in place throughout time until 2007, where Bhutan's government signed into effect a freedom of religion act, but still the overarching religion stays Buddhist. As I referenced earlier, 75% of Bhutanese citizens identify as Buddhist, which shows the deep connection between Buddhism and Bhutan as a country. During the 1610's Bhutan was still comprised of many different fiefdoms which were warring most of the time. This was changed when Ngawang Namgyal arrived in Bhutan, another Buddhist lama who visited Bhutan on a pilgrimage(History of Bhutan, Lonely Planet). Namgyal was able to convince the warring mini fiefdoms to band together under one roof and created what we know now as modern day Bhutan, a sovereign state without a million different kings who ruled their own small patches of land. Namgyal brought with him his Buddhist teachings, and made Buddhism the backbone of Bhutanese culture, and galvanized the country as a whole under the umbrella of Buddhism and reformed their government to consolidate power, and established the country as a Buddhist sovereign state. Buddhism has always been in the DNA of Bhutan, but after this visit from Namgyal, it evolved into a full connection of church and state, or temple and state I should say.
Modern day Bhutan is less of a totally closed off mystical country like it was perceived as in earlier years, it has developed into a sovereign state that is more concerned with its gross national happiness rather than gross national debt. This is not a far cry from what Bhutan always has been, but it's rich culture is now on display more than ever, and people are able to get a good glimpse of the country itself. Since 2007, Bhutan has gotten a bit more diverse religiously, but the overwhelming population is still Buddhist like their ancestors before them. The new religious freedom really does not change the culture that has been molded around the backbone of Buddhism, and as Bhutan becomes more accustom to the outside world they are learning how to balance that culture and religion, and bring new things into the country without offsetting the structures that have been in place for so long. Bhutan will always have religion by it's side, and it is etched into the DNA of the culture of Bhutan. While religion might not be the largest influence on modern day Bhutanese culture, it is the very fabric that Bhutanese culture is made out of.
Bhutan is one of a very small list of countries that have adopted a national religion into the 21st century. Bhutan and Buddhism are inseparable, due to the deep roots of the religion into the beginnings of Bhutan as a country. Bhutan is approximately 75% Buddhist nowadays (Bhutan.com, Religion) which in such a small country is a very large percentage. This simple fact denotes the importance of religion as an overarching guideline to all of Bhutan's evolutions and advances as a country and as a culture. When looking at religion in Bhutan through a microscope, one would see the devout followers of Buddhism filling temples on a daily basis to worship, festivals celebrating the turning seasons every 4 months rife with handed down celebratory dances through generations and generations who have done the same celebrations and practiced the same philosophies. Bhutan is incredibly proud of their deep rooted culture and their want to keep things relatively the same when it comes to government, society and religion, such steadiness within a country is a product of a steady backbone which in Bhutan's case has been their beliefs.
There are several notable Buddhist temples within the borders of Bhutan, with one being one of the most well known and recognizable buddhist temples in the world. I think we should logically start with the aforementioned temple, which is named Paro Taktsang, or commonly referred to as the Tiger's Nest. Built on the side of a mountain, Paro Taktsang is a masterful visual, it looking like it has just grown naturally out of the mountainside, with clouds surrounding it giving it an Olympian feel without the 12 omnipotent deities surrounding it. Paro Taktsang is sacred ground due to the location it is in, the temple being constructed at the site of Taktsang Senge Samdup cave which is the cave in which the aforementioned Guru Rinpoche was storied to have meditated for a period of 3 years, 3 months, 3 weeks, 3days and 3 hours during his first visit to the secluded country. Rinpoche was the leading figure behind the surge of Buddhism within Bhutan, thus this majestic temple was constructed in 1692 as a dedication to him. This has transformed from a regular temple into a cultural touchstone, which is almost synonymous with the country of Bhutan, where meditation sessions are held, monks live, and visitors can come and see the spot of Rinpoche's unbelievable meditation feat. While there are many temples and sacred sites within Bhutan, the most important and the most ingrained into Bhutanese culture and history remains the Tiger's Nest.
Bhutan's government and the countries adopted religion, Buddhism, can be traced back to the beginning settlements of Bhutan, and are intertwined for the rest of history. Originally, Bhutan was taken from a small amount of settlements that were not unified, to a more connected country due to King Sindhu Raja, who implemented Buddhism as the national religion. This was kept in place throughout time until 2007, where Bhutan's government signed into effect a freedom of religion act, but still the overarching religion stays Buddhist. As I referenced earlier, 75% of Bhutanese citizens identify as Buddhist, which shows the deep connection between Buddhism and Bhutan as a country. During the 1610's Bhutan was still comprised of many different fiefdoms which were warring most of the time. This was changed when Ngawang Namgyal arrived in Bhutan, another Buddhist lama who visited Bhutan on a pilgrimage(History of Bhutan, Lonely Planet). Namgyal was able to convince the warring mini fiefdoms to band together under one roof and created what we know now as modern day Bhutan, a sovereign state without a million different kings who ruled their own small patches of land. Namgyal brought with him his Buddhist teachings, and made Buddhism the backbone of Bhutanese culture, and galvanized the country as a whole under the umbrella of Buddhism and reformed their government to consolidate power, and established the country as a Buddhist sovereign state. Buddhism has always been in the DNA of Bhutan, but after this visit from Namgyal, it evolved into a full connection of church and state, or temple and state I should say.
Modern day Bhutan is less of a totally closed off mystical country like it was perceived as in earlier years, it has developed into a sovereign state that is more concerned with its gross national happiness rather than gross national debt. This is not a far cry from what Bhutan always has been, but it's rich culture is now on display more than ever, and people are able to get a good glimpse of the country itself. Since 2007, Bhutan has gotten a bit more diverse religiously, but the overwhelming population is still Buddhist like their ancestors before them. The new religious freedom really does not change the culture that has been molded around the backbone of Buddhism, and as Bhutan becomes more accustom to the outside world they are learning how to balance that culture and religion, and bring new things into the country without offsetting the structures that have been in place for so long. Bhutan will always have religion by it's side, and it is etched into the DNA of the culture of Bhutan. While religion might not be the largest influence on modern day Bhutanese culture, it is the very fabric that Bhutanese culture is made out of.
This picture is a map that denotes the prevailing religions within each different country on earth. The codex on the bottom of the picture is detailed with it's listing of religions, and the map seems to be rather on point when it comes to the religions within each country. As one can see, Bhutan is part of a small sector of four countries that practice Mahayana Buddhism, and they can be seen directly to the east of the bright green Hindu listed countries. Bhutan maintaining its strong connection to Buddhism is amazing given the diversity of the prevailing religions that surround Bhutan and that have migrated all across the globe.
Religious Distribution. (n.d.). Retrieved October 18, 2016, from https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Prevailing_world_religions_
Religious Distribution. (n.d.). Retrieved October 18, 2016, from https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Prevailing_world_religions_
This picture is a simple pie chart breakdown of the religious distribution within Bhutan. As referenced before, the predominant religious affiliation within Bhutan is Buddhist, ringing in at a little under 75% of all citizens. As seen here, Hindu has a strong base of citizens with aa 25% share of the religious affiliations within Bhutan, which is understandable given the migration of many people from Hindu practicing countries over slightly east into Bhutan. The presence of Christianity is chalked up to missionaries and religious workers who have taken up residence within Bhutan. Bhutan is a very set in it's ways country when it comes to religion, which is good because it has helped develop the rich culture of Bhutan.
Bhutan. (n.d.). Retrieved October 18, 2016, from https://media1.britannica.com/eb-media/36/183936-004-0DDDC384.jpg
Bhutan. (n.d.). Retrieved October 18, 2016, from https://media1.britannica.com/eb-media/36/183936-004-0DDDC384.jpg
This picture depicts a massive cloth sheet, embroidered with the design of the Guru Rinpoche on it. This is for the celebration of Tsechus, a Bhutanese festival based around their Buddhist roots. These cloth portraits are sacred, and are thought to carry the ability to bless the individuals who are looking at it. These festivals still happen annually in Bhutanese towns, showing the still strong grip religion has on Bhutanese culture.
Religion in Bhutan and Festivals | Tsechus. (n.d.). Retrieved October 18, 2016, from http://www.bhutanrebirth.com/Pages/religion-of-bhutan.htm
Religion in Bhutan and Festivals | Tsechus. (n.d.). Retrieved October 18, 2016, from http://www.bhutanrebirth.com/Pages/religion-of-bhutan.htm
This picture shows a beautifully constructed temple within Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. This temple is one of a great many within Bhutan, but as you can see with this photo, there is no shortage of people going to worship or to get a teaching from one of many of the monks who live inside the monastery. The details and design put into this temple really denotes the importance of religion within Bhutanese culture, these temples are so revered that they are to be the most beautiful structures within the country, which shows a great connection with the overarching religion.
Fjeldstad, A. H. (n.d.). Religion, media inseparable in Bhutan | The Media Project. Retrieved October 18, 2016, from http://themediaproject.org/article/religion-sensitive-and-complex-bhutan?page=full
Fjeldstad, A. H. (n.d.). Religion, media inseparable in Bhutan | The Media Project. Retrieved October 18, 2016, from http://themediaproject.org/article/religion-sensitive-and-complex-bhutan?page=full
Bhutanese Cuisine: Ema Datshi
![Picture](/uploads/6/1/6/3/61631567/img-39351.jpg)
Food is a very important aspect of Bhutanese culture, with it being looked at as another way of communication. I am a steadfast believer in the romanticism of food, and Bhutan’s cuisine shows a true love of their food, and their ingredients. Chefs in Bhutan pride themselves on the differing tastes they can form with rather ordinary ingredients, with each dish being a statement to the consuming public of their dedication to producing great food. A staple in the Buddhist faith is the principal of cooking head to toe, in other words using every available part of an animal that is killed, and this is seen throughout Bhutanese cooking. Bhutan has a high yield of crops, but their meat production is comparatively small, so they resort to making use of every piece of an animal they can, and create very good meals with them. The main staple of Bhutanese cooking is rice, with a large majority of meals being based in rice, but the other big staple in Bhutanese cooking is heat. Bhutanese food is naturally incredibly spicy, with different types of chili’s being used in every day cooking, and even tea. In my research upon Bhutanese food culture I have read several times that if food is not spicy enough some Bhutanese people will not eat it, which shows the deep connection between the heat and Bhutan. In a typical meal, one would expect to see a large amount of rice, flavored with different chili’s and herbs, with a few different sides of meat and vegetables to be mixed in with the rice. These meals are incredibly simple, and easy to put together which is a direct effect of their crop production, they get straight to the point with their food and it always has a good kick. The food that is consumed across Bhutan is all grown within their borders, with the expansive croplands and their animal farming done within family farms to provide a cyclical economy when it comes to produce. This is an important facet of the Bhutanese economy, with their produce accounting for a large amount of their job sector, with individual families owning their own farms all across the mountain ranges. Bhutan is one of the only countries that really does not have to worry about diffusion, with them being one of the only sovereign states left in the world. Their culture is protected by the government, which has only allowed television in over the last 15 years, so there is a real sustained culture within their food that will never be diluted. The most well-known food in Bhutan is called Ema Datshi, which is the National Dish of Bhutan. It is an incredibly easy to make soup dish, based around chili’s and cheese, which is known for its deep and powerful tastes. The lineage of Ema Datshi goes back to Buddhist monks traveling through Tibet into Bhutan, where they brought this simplistic recipe to the masses and utilized the local cattle to produce the cheese needed. The recipe only takes 30-40 minutes to prep and cook through, with the ingredients being very simple and attainable. This kind of dish is eaten during any meal of the day, and is seen as a communal meal, the recipe I provide below is meant to serve 6 people in total. The recipe below comes from a Bhutanese chef, Loden Jigme, who is known for his Ema Datshi:
Ingredients:
1/3 lb – Blue cheese
6 red potatoes – medium
2.5 lb – beef (use a whole cut of meat, not ground)
10 spicy chili’s – type depends on personal taste, the hotter the better
8 cloves garlic
3 tomatoes – medium
10 green onions
2-3 tbs salt
2 tsp Sichuan peppercorn
Prep:
Cooking:
Ingredients:
1/3 lb – Blue cheese
6 red potatoes – medium
2.5 lb – beef (use a whole cut of meat, not ground)
10 spicy chili’s – type depends on personal taste, the hotter the better
8 cloves garlic
3 tomatoes – medium
10 green onions
2-3 tbs salt
2 tsp Sichuan peppercorn
Prep:
- Wash and round the potatoes – make sure rounds are thin – do not add until next section
- Wash and slice chili’s lengthwise
- Wash and slice tomatoes lengthwise
- Peel and smash garlic cloves
- Chop up beef into small pieces
- Wash and slice green onions to only include green part
- Rub the Sichuan peppers in between your palms, do not cut
- Cube and crumble cheese, put into a pile
- Put water into pot, combine all ingredients and cook in pot
Cooking:
- Heat pot on high, stir all ingredients together occasionally
- After 20 minutes of cooking, turn the heat down to medium
- Add sliced and rounded potatoes after 5 minutes at medium heat
- Add a pinch of salt – let it cook at medium
- The dish is done cooking when the potatoes are cooked through – after around 35 minutes
- Spoon out into a dish, serve with rice on the side.
References:
Religion in Bhutan. (n.d.). Retrieved October 18, 2016, from http://www.bhutan.com/culture
Fjeldstad, A. H. (n.d.). Religion, media inseparable in Bhutan | The Media Project. Retrieved October 18, 2016, from http://themediaproject.org/article/religion-sensitive-and-complex-bhutan?page=full
Bhutan Religion. (n.d.). Retrieved October 18, 2016, from http://bhutanmysticbliss.com/bhutan-travel/religion-of-bhutan.html
Dorje, D. R. (n.d.). A Brief Historical Background of the Religious ... Retrieved October 18, 2016, from http://buddhism.lib.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-BH/bh117506.htm
History of Bhutan. (n.d.). Retrieved October 18, 2016, from http://www.lonelyplanet.com/bhutan/history
Religion in Bhutan and Festivals | Tsechus. (n.d.). Retrieved October 18, 2016, from http://www.bhutanrebirth.com/Pages/religion-of-bhutan.htm
Religious Distribution. (n.d.). Retrieved October 18, 2016, from https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Prevailing_world_religions_
Bhutan. (n.d.). Retrieved October 18, 2016, from https://media1.britannica.com/eb-media/36/183936-004-0DDDC384.jpg
Food in Bhutan. (n.d.). Retrieved December 02, 2016, from http://www.tourism.gov.bt/about-bhutan/food
Yowangdu. (2016, August 23). Ema Datshi: Recipe for a Beloved Bhutanese Cheese Soup. Retrieved December 01, 2016, from https://www.yowangdu.com/tibetan-food/ema-datshi.html
Ema Datshi. (2010). Retrieved December 01, 2016, from https://riverbankandbadger.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_39351.jpg
Fjeldstad, A. H. (n.d.). Religion, media inseparable in Bhutan | The Media Project. Retrieved October 18, 2016, from http://themediaproject.org/article/religion-sensitive-and-complex-bhutan?page=full
Bhutan Religion. (n.d.). Retrieved October 18, 2016, from http://bhutanmysticbliss.com/bhutan-travel/religion-of-bhutan.html
Dorje, D. R. (n.d.). A Brief Historical Background of the Religious ... Retrieved October 18, 2016, from http://buddhism.lib.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-BH/bh117506.htm
History of Bhutan. (n.d.). Retrieved October 18, 2016, from http://www.lonelyplanet.com/bhutan/history
Religion in Bhutan and Festivals | Tsechus. (n.d.). Retrieved October 18, 2016, from http://www.bhutanrebirth.com/Pages/religion-of-bhutan.htm
Religious Distribution. (n.d.). Retrieved October 18, 2016, from https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Prevailing_world_religions_
Bhutan. (n.d.). Retrieved October 18, 2016, from https://media1.britannica.com/eb-media/36/183936-004-0DDDC384.jpg
Food in Bhutan. (n.d.). Retrieved December 02, 2016, from http://www.tourism.gov.bt/about-bhutan/food
Yowangdu. (2016, August 23). Ema Datshi: Recipe for a Beloved Bhutanese Cheese Soup. Retrieved December 01, 2016, from https://www.yowangdu.com/tibetan-food/ema-datshi.html
Ema Datshi. (2010). Retrieved December 01, 2016, from https://riverbankandbadger.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_39351.jpg