The Handicrafts of Bhutan symbolizes the identity of the country and its uniqueness in craftsmanship. It also depicts generations of distinctive traditional and cultural practices of Bhutanese people. Practice and promotion of arts and crafts in Bhutan existed as early as Zhabdrung’s time, i.e., the 16th century, through support and patronage from various experts. Although painting, sculpturing, and calligraphy skills were limited to monks, the knowledge soon reached and spread to villages.

Although, there is no organized undertaking in the rural areas, where majority of the population lives, the practice of the locally manufacturing woven fabrics, wooden masks, cane and bamboo products, wooden bowls and cups, handmade paper, etc. are undertaken during the winter season when the farmers have less farm works. Such practice has enabled particular craftsmanship to pass down from generation to generation among the farmers.

The Handicrafts of Bhutan can be divided broadly into 13 categories of arts and crafts known as the ‘Zorig Chusum’ – the thirteen sciences of arts and crafts. (Zo – to make, rig – science, chusum – thirteen). These skills represent the tradition, culture and history of Bhutan. These thirteen arts and crafts are:

      1.  Weaving (Thagzo)

      2.  Cane and Bamboo crafts (Tsharzo)

      3.  Woodworks (Shingzo)

      4.  Painting (Lhazo)

      5.  Stonework (Dozo)

      6.  Clay Crafts (Jinzo)

      7.  Bronze Casting (Lugzo)

      8.  Wood, Slate and Stone Carving (Parzo)

      9.  Wood Turning (Shagzo)

      10.  Black-Smithy (Garzo)

      11.  Silver and Gold Smithy (Dhezo)

      12.  Tailoring and Embroidery (Tshemzo)

      13.  Paper Making (Dezo)

The most prominent Arts and Crafts are discussed below in brief

Weaving Textiles

Weaving is an ancient art in Bhutan. Taking root in a rural and rustic setting, a uniquely rich tradition of weaving has evolved over time. With skills handed down from generation to generation, mother to daughter, from family to family, weaving in Bhutan is today an art form that is representative of the very heart and soul of the country. Fabrics fashioned in the looms, a veritable feast of magical colors and intricate designs and patterns, are symbolic of the Bhutanese society.

In Bhutan, three main types of looms are used - weaving pedal loom, back-strap loom and card loom. Cotton, silk, wool and yak hair are used to weave fabrics on back strap looms for different types of uses such as men’s dress (Gho), women’s dress (Kira), shoulder cloth, ceremonial cloths, bags, etc., of a great variety of intricate patterns.

Wood Work

Having an extensive forest cover with an unusual degree of bio-diversity due to the geographical and climatic ranges, wooden items in the form of plates, cups, bowls and other utility items are used in rural areas for daily use. Wooden masks are used during festivals to perform mask dances and Chhodroms are traditionally used as a table in sitting rooms and alters.

Cane and Bamboo Crafts

Articles from cane and bamboo include varied types of hats, Bangchu (traditionally used as rice plate), square baskets known as Boekhur used to put yarns and for serving dry snacks, cylindrical water and liquor containers (Palang), waist baskets (Lakchung) originally used for serving food, store food and picnic/trekking baskets known as Zem.

Painting

Traditional paintings like Thanka, Mandala, Eight Auspicious Signs, Statues, Stupas and other paintings depicting various religious aspects are carried out by numbers of skilled painters throughout the country. Besides paintings, intricate murals in Dzongs and monasteries, the external wooden portions of the monasteries, temples and houses bear elegant paintings.

Silver and Gold Smithy

There are lots of Bhutanese who are gifted in gold and silver works producing very intricately carved ornaments as well as other exquisite metal products like silver Barthra and Chaka (used as containers to carry betel nut and leaves), silver Trimey (lime container, which is an ingredient of betel nut known as Doma). Silver Koma and Japtha are also some silver work which is used as women’s brooch to hold two ends of Kira (women’s dress) on the shoulders.

Embroidery and Tailoring

Embroidery is normally done on refined silk on woolen materials to produce sophisticated table clothes, wall hangings, handbags, cushions covers and also silk on brocade to produce Thankas, neckties and traditional Bhutanese shoes.

Paper Making

There are numbers of well established traditional paper manufacturing small businesses in the kingdom. They are made from Daphne barks. It is first reduced to a pulp and its products come in two qualities - Tshaesho and Raysho, the former being superior and are being made on a bamboo mat or a screen and it is thick and normally dried on walls. Raysho is comparably thin and is made on canvas clothes, screens and sheets dried on frames in the sun.