craftnews by Neelam AS: Crafts from Lonely Land: Bhutan Thirteen crafts; Thirteen Chapters-I

Crafts from Bhutan

Thirteen crafts; Thirteen Chapters

I pay reverence to all the organizations in Bhutan, working for revival and fortification Bhutanese crafts.

Bhutan Art and craft is known and represented as “Zorig Chusum”.

Zo means “to make”, rig means “Science”, Chusum means “Thirteen” and therefore called; “Zorig Chusum”.

It is easily understood as,

1.Dezo; paper making craft

2.Dozo; Stone work

3.Garzo; Blacksmithing

4.Jinzo; Clay Arts

5.Ihazo;Painting

6.Lugzo;Bronze casting

7.Parzo; Wood and slate craving

8.Shagzo;Woodtruning

9.Shingzo;Woodworking

10.Thagzo ;Weaving

11. Trozo ; Silver and goldsmith

12.Tshazo ; Cane and Bamboo work

13.Tshemazo;Needlework

Painting, sculpture, carving, calligraphy, paper making, casting, and embroidery are considered auspicious and prestigious art as it connects directly with religious facet of life. Many Monks and Lamas themselves are great artist and have involved in these seven arts. It is considered as highly praiseworthy action and blessings.

In each chapter, one art form will be detailed to understand its importance, intricacy, value and The Bhutani aspect.

First Art : Ihazo (Painting)

This art is invariably religion centric and artist makes it without inscribing their name on it. It is traditional Art practiced only by men. These painting strictly follow iconographic rules of Buddhism. It is mostly done on cloths/fabrics for murals, banners. Mineral pigments are mainly used.

Since 1980, synthetic colours are used while prettifying outside walls and woodwork of buildings and houses.

The iconographic rules of Buddhism, are the images of symbolize nature are found in many texts. The most common symbols which are used in Ihazo, are the stupas, The Dharma wheel, The Bodhi Tree, The lotus flower, The pillars of Ashoka, Noble eightfold path, The teaching of Buddhadharma, The Bodhi tree, The potential of mind, The nirvana, The trishul, The Vajra, The three jewels, The swastika, and the empty throne.

The Dharma wheel is traditionally represented with eight spokes.This was the concept of Monarch of wheel or chakravatin. It began to be used in Buddha context on the pillars of Ashoka. The Dharma wheel referred to the historical process of teaching buddhadharma. The eight spokes referred to eightfold path. The lotus referring to the quality of compassion and is the notion of the inherent pure potential of mind. The Bodhi Tree has uniquely shaped leaves and lotus flower. The Bodhi tree represents the spot where Buddha has reached nirvana, a state of liberation.

Other symbols as well used in Ihazo are the monks begging bowl and trishul. The Vajra diamond rod and a symbolization of the three jewels, “The Buddha, The Dharma, and The sangha”. The lion, rider less horse represents enunciation and deers representing discipline, are few more symbols visible in iconography. Lion Roar in the suttas referred to their power and nobility.

The swastika in India was used by Buddhists and Hindus to represent good fortune. The first hint of a human representation in Buddhists symbolism appear with Buddha footprint.
The five colours in buddha art is representative of the process of the purification and empowering of sense organs. This occurs during meditation.
White colour is for eyes, Blue for ears, yellow for nose, red for the tongue, and green for head.
The five colours are the "Panch-varna". These colours are symbolised in "Chandamaharosana" as Black for killing the anger, white denotes rest and thinking, yellow for restraining and nourishing, red for suppression, and green for exorcism.

The elaboration of colours may change but the number remains five. The five transcendental Buddha, and each represented by one colour.
Vairochana - White bodied ; Ratnasmabhava - yellow bodied; Akshobhya-Blue Bodied; Amitabha- Red Bodied; Amoghasiddhi- Green Bodied;

It is also relevant to see that by meditation on the individual colours, following metamorphosis can be achieved and so depicted in paintings.
White transforms the delusion of ignorance into the wisdom of reality
Yellow transforms pride into wisdom of sameness
Blue transforms anger into mirror like wisdom
Red transforms the delusion of attachment into the wisdom of discernment
Green transforms jealousy into the wisdom of accomplishment