CHAPTER I

Bhutanese culture through Media analytical skills

Lesson Review and Chapter Questions

Traditional media refers to those media that existed before the use and development of modern
media like internet, newspaper, magazine, radio, books and television and broadcast services.
OR Traditional media can be defined as media which work as part of our culture and act as
vehicles of transmitting news and information.

Activity: List down some examples of Traditional media in Bhutan.

Topic- Traditional media

Oral transmission: the most conventional form of communication in ancient Bhutan. [Medium
of speech or ear to ear transmission].
EXAMPLES:
Songs and lozays [ballad]
Tsangmo [quatrain]
Leg shad [aphorisms]
Gapshig [riddles]
Pe tam [sayings/proverbs]

GROUP ACTIVITY
Historical record during the time of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel and form of communicating
medium used by people. [10 minutes].

Some examples of traditional media:

1. Rooster was often called the nature’s ‘time keeper’.
2. Flowering of peach trees foretold the coming of spring.
3. Too many pests in the fields communicated natural calamities.
4. Timely rain forecasted a bountiful harvest.
Traditional media embedded in our culture and traditional.
 Religion Activities as media.
 Culture as media.
 Monuments and artifacts as media.
 Statues, paintings and wall murals as media.
 Art and crafts as media.
 Folklore and folk practices.
 Local and national celebrations as media.
Our old tradition and culture has a significant messages to the people of Bhutan. It is in our
hand to critically value the messages and pass down to our youth. With this strong media
message Bhutan can survived and can compete the rapid advancement of modern media.

Activity: Importance of Bhutan’s traditional media.

Topic- Religious Activities

Religion is a particular system of faith and worship. It was the earliest form of media in
Bhutan. Religious activities convey messages to the audience.
Examples: Recitation of kanjur (105 volumes of ‘the word of the Buddha’).
Purpose of such conduct: to alleviate suffering of all the sentient beings.
Bring peace and harmony in the world.
Activity: When gaylong (monks) and gomchens (lay monks) recited the religious scripture in
the temple, people from nearby villages gathered in the lhakhang. Why?
LESSON DEVELOPMENT
To cultivate virtues like compassion, sympathy and charity and avoid bad habits like hatred,
jealousy and greed.
(Wang- blessing and empowerment and lung- oral transmission.)
Question: Give one example of preaching on detachment and altruism.
Rituals as form of media in ancient Bhutan.
1. When someone is seriously sick in the family, a gomchen from a village perform a
puja (ritual). He will then plant a white coloured flag in front of the house. (what it
communicates): whoever passersby have to maintain silence and avoid barging into
the house.
2. The ritual of ja sur and ma sur was conducted to appease ghost and hungry spirits. – it
communicates: spirits are being appeased or the soul of the diseased has been made an
odour offerings.
3. Offering sung- (purification ritual) - is burning of incense or juniper leaves. Sung
cleanest our bodily impurities.
Question: Why sung rituals is conducted before the rays of the sun? (House should be
purified by the sung ritual before Guru Rinpoche- who is believed to be riding on the rays
of the sun and bless the house.)
Can you name some of the rituals that are practiced in your village today? What messages
do they convey?

Topic- Culture
Culture can be define as a set of shared beliefs, conventions, language, customs, traditions and
the social behavior of a particular country over a particular period of time.
Activity: Culture and tradition is central to Bhutanese way of life.
Chhams – (sacred mask dances)- are integral part of Bhutanese culture which transmit news
and information and spread values among the Bhutanese.
Examples:
1. The dance of stag and hounds- narrates the story of a non-Buddhist hunter who
converse to Buddhism in 11th century during saint Milerapa’s time. (It communicates
importance of forgiveness, non-violence and compassion).
2. Acho Phento- conveys the message of loyalty, fidelity and discipline.
3. Prayer flags- prayer flags are laden with symbolism.
Activities:
Significance of erecting prayer flag.
- Used as antidote to sickness.
- Shield against misfortune.
- Bring good luck.
- Add longevity to life.
- Spread teachings of Buddha.
Saga Dawa (4th month according to the lunar calendar) - which Buddha was conceived, born,
tamed demons, got enlightened, and attended parinirvana.)
Dawa Dangpa Losar- (traditional New Year) - inform people about the New Year
celebrations.
Cite more examples on culture and tradition as media in Bhutan.

Topic- Monuments
Monuments and artifacts act as media in Bhutan. It has many messages and hidden
sacredness. It is very unique and people were unaware of its meaning. However, it is one of
our unique tradition and has to impart in-depth meaning and significances to our young
generation.
1. Temples – Temples in Bhutan are a unique structure and has many information to be
pass on. The physical structure itself is unique and has very secret things. The
inception of such buildings was popular during the reign of Lama Gyalwa Lhanangpa
(1164-1224). Q. State the significance of dzongs in Bhutan.
2. Choeten (Stupa) - considered to the oldest Bhuddhist religious monuments. Q. reasons
of building decorative choetens this days.
3. Lhakhangs – another secret place where people donot smoke or commit sinful.
4. Wall paintings like tshering nam druk, etc.
 5. Public messages were also disseminated through stone inscriptions. Eg. Zhabdrung
writtern law code. Mani dangrim- this convey the themes of mindfulness, compassion,
devotion and community spirit.
Analyze
1. What messages could this culture convey to a foreigner?
2. Messages from prayer flags, religious artifacts, wall murals etc..
Notes: Tshering Namdrug – or the six types of long life is believed to promote well-being
and longevity as symbolized by six companions – old man, deer, stork, rock, waterfall, and
tree.

Topic- painting

Introduce the importance of wall painting and wall murals.

Brief history of Bhutanese born terteon Pema Lingpa, who discover treasures and more
significantly from the meybur tsho (the burning lake) with the butter lamp on one hand and
the treasure on the other hand.

1. The stories of Dema (tara) statue. (When the dzong was engulfed by the fire and
people started making preparations to transport the statue to Paro dzong, the statue
said, “My place is here”. That is why the statue is known as ‘Dema Sung gyon,
meaning, The Dema who speaks.’)
2. Phunpa Punzhi- the four harmonious friend – traditional Bhutanese wall painting and
it symbolize harmony and unity in a family. It also represent moral value like respect,
love and harmony.
3. Wheel of Dharma – represent Bhuddha’s first teaching after the enlightenment.
Q. Phunpa Punzhi also compared to the philosophy of Gross National Happiness.

Differences between wheel of Dharma and wheel of life.

Why do you think the painting of Sipai khorlo painted inside village lhakhang?
Described the wheel of Dharma in your own words.

Group Work
1. Thunpa punzhi
2. Wheel of life
3. Wheel of Dharma
4. Terteon Pema Lingpa

Topic- arts and crafts

Introducing thirteen arts and crafts to students. Translating all thirteen arts and crafts into
Dzongkha version.
Question. List down arts and craft available in your locality.
Zorig chosum which means thirteen arts and crafts is one old artefacts which clearly display
our unique culture and tradition. It was first introduced by Bhutanese tertoen Pema Lingpa
and later instituted and arts and crafts school during 15th century by Zhabdrung Ngawang
Namgyel. Thirteen arts and crafts includes;
Shing zo (eoodwork), Dho zo (stonework), Par zo (carving), Lha zo (casting), Shag zo (wood
turning), Gar zo (blacksmith), Troe zo (ornament making), Tsha zo (bamboo work), De zo
(paper making), Tshem zo (tailoring, embroidery and applique).
Class work
1. Make a list of the products available in your locality.
2. Are they making money from the products they produced?
3. Is raw materials available in their locality?

Values: From arts and crafts skills students can lead independent life. They can even
compare their home made goods and services with other manufacture products. Students will
learn that this are all hand on experience. They get skills and with the skill they make living.
Old tradition and culture: Thirteen arts and crafts are our unique traditions. This products
reflect our olden days and how our forefathers lead their life.

Topic- celebrations

1. What is conventional media?

2. List down the forms of media in olden days.
Local and national celebrations act as a media in Bhutan. When we decode our local beliefs we
learn many things about our old traditions. How unique it is and also how our olden people
unite to make such festivals more interesting and enjoyable. It is piece of entertainment but
convey messages and information to our young generation.

1. Celebration of Dawa Chunepai Losar- traditional day of offering celebrated on the first
day of the twelfth month according to lunar calendar.
2. Nynlo- (Winter Solstice) – which falls in December. Wishing for prosperity, good
health, peace and happiness in the year.
3. Tshechus- (religious festivals) - served as a popular media for Bhutan.
Examples:
 Teacher’s Day
 His Majesty’s Birth Day
 Gross National Happiness Day.
Questions:
1. Why do you think tshechu is celebrated on the 10th day of a month?
2. What values and messages does a tshechu convey?
3. Why do you think almost everyone wears special dress and ornaments during a tshechu?

Activities:
  Bhutan’s first newspaper kuensel in 1967.
 Radio (Bhutan Broadcasting Services) in 1973.
 Internet and television in the year 1999.

Topic- CML deconstruction

CML- Deconstruction Skills.

Used CML’s deconstruction Skills to learn about our tradition and culture.

Key Words Deconstruction: CML’s 5 Key questions

Authorship Who created this message?
Format What creative techniques are used to attract my attention?
Audience How might different people understand this message?
Content What values, life styles and point of view are represented in or
omitted from the message?
Purpose Why is this message being sent?

Activity 1.
Prepare interview questions on the topic erecting prayer flag in Bhutan. (Group Activity)
Activity 2.
‘The Inquiry Process’ – Discussion and some handouts.
4 phase of inquiry – based learning
1. Interaction
2. Clarification
3. Questioning
4. Design

Closure Development:
 Question and answer sessions.
 Review chapter 1.
 Assign homework questions.
 Review board exam questions.