Over the two weeks that I spent in Bhutan, I was constantly noticing small beautiful details. It seemed like every little thing required a closer look. And then, when you got closer, you would find the incredible craftsmanship that went into whatever you were looking at.
Turns out, that’s all by design. Bhutan has 13 traditional arts that imbue a sense of beauty into everything. There’s even a vocational school dedicated solely to teaching these 13 arts, ensuring their practice is carried on.
The 13 Traditional Arts
The 13 traditional arts cut across mediums and functionality. Some, like thag-zo (cloth weaving), tsha-zo (bamboo weaving) or shing-zo (carpentry) have very practical uses. Others, like jim-zo (sculpting) or lha-zo (painting) have less of a functional aspect to them. Nevertheless, they are all regarded equally.
I thought I would share some photos of all the different implementations of the arts that I saw while in Bhutan, for you to also appreciate the artwork and craftsmanship that goes into even seemingly everyday things.
Here’s a quick list of the different arts for you to look up more about:
- thag-zo (cloth weaving)
- tsha-zo (bamboo weaving)
- shag-zo (wood turning)
- lha-zo (painting)
- shing-zo (carpentry)
- do-zo (masonry)
- par-zo (carving)
- jim-zo (sculpting)
- lug-zo (metal casting)
- gar-zo (blacksmithing)
- troe-zo (silversmithing)
- de-zo (papermaking)
- tshem-zo (emboridery)
Which art form do you find the most inspiring?