The History of Bhutan
In recent years, the remote kingdom of Bhutan has increasingly attracted the attention of the world. In 2008, it emerged as the world’s youngest democracy and in the same year crowned the world’s youngest monarch. This was followed by the new King’s colourful wedding in 2011. Today, it continues to enchant the rest of the world with its policy of Gross National Happiness and has become a very popular destination for travel. But, despite its growing popularity and the rising scholarly interest in the country, Bhutan remains one of the most poorly studied places on earth. Karma Phuntsho’s The History of Bhutan is the first-ever attempt to cover the entire history of Bhutan in some detail in English, combining both traditional perspectives and modern academic analysis. Written by a leading expert on the country, the book tells the story of Bhutan in a narrative style interspersed with some analytical and topical discussion, and numerous citations and translations from earlier writings. It is primarily a historical account, but it also includes substantive discussions of Bhutan’s geography, culture and society to give the readers an incisive introduction to the country.
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Common terms and phrases
5th Dalai Lama appointed Assam Barawa became Bhutanese Bogle border British Buddhist Bumthang centre century chieftains Chogley Namgyal chöje Chökyi Chöling conflict Cooch Behar cultural Dalai Lama death deities Desi Druk Rabgay Drukdra Drukgom Drukpa duars dung Dzongkha dzongpön eastern Gyalpo Gyatsho hierarch historians India Jangchub Je Khenpo Jigme Drakpa Jigme Namgyal Jigme Norbu Jigme Wangchuk Kagyu Khenpo King Jigme King Ugyen Wangchuk Kuenga Gyaltshen later Lhakhang Lhapa Lhasa Migyur Tenpa Mipham Wangpo mission monastery monastic monks Nārāya Nepal Ngawang Gyaltshen Nyingma Padmasambhava Paro Paro pönlop Pekar Pema Lingpa Phuntsho political Punakha dzong Ralung region religious Rinchen rituals ruler Sakya Sangag Sangay sent Sherab Sikkim Sonam spiritual Tashi Tashichödzong temple Tenzin Rabgay tertöns Thimphu Thinley Tibet Tibetan Tobgay Tongsa pönlop took tradition troops Trulku Tsangpa Tshering Tsondru Ugyen Wangchuk valleys Wangdi Wangdiphodrang western Bhutan Yeshe Zhabdrung incarnation Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal Zhidar