The 13 Traditional Arts of Bhutan

Posted on by Christine

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.

Look at the woodworking and craftsmanship.
Embroidery at the temple.
The traditional gho the man is wearing is made from traditionally woven cloth.
The woman’s traditional outfit is called a kira, and is made from traditionally woven cloth.
This is a detail of the airport.
Paintings at the temples.
Incredible construction.
Papermaking.
Weaving.
I love the painting on the buildings, especially around the windows.
Carved wooden masks used in traditional festivals and dances.
Sculpture.
Sculpture depicting the “Four Friends” story.

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?