Literature on Bhutan in LTWA

*
Lobsang Shastri
BACKGROUND
For centuries, monks from the outlying areas of Tibet and neighbouring Buddhist
countries and region came to the renowned monasteries of central Tibet for
furthering their knowledge of Buddhist philosophy and other traditional sciences.
After completion of their studies, they returned and played a crucial role in
spreading Tibetan religion and literature in their respective region. However, the
literature written or published from their respective places rarely circulated in
central Tibet and Khams.
Contrary to this, the movement of scholars across Tibet has made a great impact
in spreading literature as well as transmission lineages. For instance during the
12th century, Pha jo brug sgom zhig po who was born in Mdo Khams Bkra shis
sgang in 1179, introduced the Brug pa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism in Bhutan.
1
The first Gnas rnying bla ma Dkon mchog mkhars descendant Bka bzhi rin chen
bsam gtan visited Bhutan, established many monasteries and helped in settling
disputes. His descendent Jam dbyangs rin chen rgyal mtshan, the guru of Red
mda ba and Tsong kha pa helped in establishing monasteries such as Rta ra kha,
Sa dmar rdzing kha, Na zhing ra ma, Phu gdugs, and Skyabs Khra of Gnas rnying
tradition.
2
Ba ra ba Rgyal mtshan dpal bzang (1310-1391) visited Bhutan during the
civil war of Dbus and Gtsang. He made great contribution in spreading Buddhism
and Ba ra Bka brgyud tradition in Bhutan. Grub chen lcags zam pa Thang stong
rgyal po (1385-1464) introduced the Shangs pa bka brgyud tradition of Tibetan
Buddhism in Bhutan.
Phan yul pa Dpal ldan rdo rje, the disciple of Tsong kha pa (1357-1417)
established Shing rta monastery and in 15th century Blo bzang bstan pai sgron
me, the disciple of the First Dalai Lama also established few monasteries in
eastern Bhutan. The monasteries mentioned above however belonged to the Dge
lugs pa school but they could not flourish for long.
* Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Dharamsala, Kangra. HP. India.
This paper was presented during the international conference on Written
Treasures of Bhutan: Mirror of the Past and Bridge to the Future, 27 May-6
June, 2005 organized by the National Library of Bhutan, thimphu, Bhutan.
4 TIBET JOURNAL
In 15th century, Ka thog sprul sku Bsod nams rgyal mtshan (1466-1540)
introduced the Ka thog pa tradition in Bhutan. The famed master of Brug pa Bka
brgyud tradition Rgyal dbang kun dga dpal byor (1428-1476) of Rwa lung stag
tshang kha was active in spreading Buddhist teaching in Bhutan, spending a number
of years in the Bum thang area.
3
Gtsang mkhan chen Jam dbyangs dpal ldan rgya mtsho (1610-1684) a Tibetan
prelate who was a close associate of the First Zhabs drung Ngag dbang rnam
rgyal (1594-1651) also visited Bhutan. His most famous contribution to
Bhutanese studies is the biography of Zhabs drung Ngag dbang rnam rgyal.
4
Grags pa rgya mtsho alias Sangs rgyas grags pa (1646-1719), the famous disciple
of Gtsang mkhan chen was a renowned artist and responsible for the creation of
the first great applique thangka of Punakha, the Gos sku mthong ba chen mo
(mthong ba rang drol), commissioned between 1689-1692. He founded the great
temple of Stag tshang dpal phug and was active at Smad chui nang, the seat of
Gtsang mkhan chen and Spa gro Rin chen spungs. Later he proceeded to Gdung
and Rgya bar nang. He founded the monastery of Rgya bar Gzhan phan byang
chub gling.
5
On the whole, Rgyal ba lha nang pa, Klong chen dri med od zer, Lo ras pa
dbang phyug brtson grus, Ba ra ba rgyal mtshan dpal bzang and Brug pa kun legs
were the founding figures of Bhutan. It is certain that above scholar had played a
vital role in spreading the literary transmission. Some of the writings of above
scholars must have composed in Bhutan. The number of literature written by
them is yet to be examined.
Rwa lung in Central Tibet was well known for the seat of learning for Brug pa
tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Bhutanese scholar lamas across the centuries
visited and studied in this seat of learning. This subject is yet to be explored but
to give few examples: Zhabs drung Ngag dbang rnam rgyal, 9th Rje mkhan po
Shakya Rin chen (1710-1759) and 12th Rje mkhan po Kun dga rgyal mtshan
visited Central Tibet for learning. The 13th Rje mkhan po Yon tan mtha yas (1724-
1784) also visited who was a contemporary of Ka thog Rig dzin tshe dbang nor
bu. He is said to have studied at Bras spung monastery. Mkhan chen pad dkar
byung gnas also visited and studied in Central Tibet.
Literature on Bhutanese Studies
The Library of Tibetan Works and Archive (LTWA) was conceived of and founded
by His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama on11th June 1970 and is one of the finest
examples of His Holiness the Dalai Lamas efforts to preserve and disseminate
the Tibetan cultural heritage. LTWA is the most important repository for Tibetan
LITERATURE ON BHUTAN IN LTWA 5
manuscript and is an international center for the study of Tibetan culture. It has
no doubt acquired a worldwide reputation as a centre for Tibetology and Buddhist-
Himalayan studies. It houses more than 80,000 manuscript/books (title wise)
and more than 10,000 books on Tibetan and Trans-Himalayan studies in English
and European languages.
Manuscripts of major and minor works belongings to all four traditions of
Tibetan Buddhism, with the pre-Buddhist or Bon constitute the core collection.
Five different editions of the Bka gyur and Bstan gyur (Buddhist Tripika)
Narthang, Peking, Derge, Lhasa and Cone (in microfilm) are to be found in the
Librarys collection. Rarest of all, is a handwritten set of Bka gyur from Phugdrak
monastery (17th cen)
7
in west Tibet. This is the only Bka gyur of its kind in the
world. To name only a few, there are 16 volumes of handwritten manuscript of
Bum from the monastery of Phugdrak, 16 volumes of handwritten manuscripts
of Bum commissioned by Tsagtra, chieftain of eastern Kongpo during the 15th
century (approximately), and a handwritten manuscript of Gnyal zhing jam dpal
rdo rjes Mngon rtogs gyi grel bshad a commentary on prajnaparamita teaching,
claimed to be written in 13th century and which is listed in Akhu ching Shes rab
rgya mtshos (1803-1875) rare text list.8 These are just a few examples of
numerous rare works of great scholastic value received and preserved by LTWA.
Also of interest to historians, anthropologist and scholars of other disciplines,
the archival section of the LTWA now holds more than eight hundred documents
of a legal and social nature dating back to the 12th centuries A.D. This collection
contains government proclamations, official edicts, marriage and land contracts,
letters of notable individuals, revenue transactions, court cases and so forth.
Library of Tibetan Works & Archives, although under much financial
constraints, not only engage in acquisition of literature on Tibetan studies but
also Himalayan and Trans-Himalayan literature which is closely interconnected.
The library has made an endeavour to acquire books on Bhutan, Nepal and Indian
Himalayan regions. Regarding literature on Bhutanese studies, the library has
the following collections: The collected gter ma discoveries of Padma gling pa
(1450-1521) in 7 volumes. This is a reproduction of a rare manuscript from
Manang that was published by Ngawang Topgyal.
8
The library has not been able to
acquire the pothi form of Gter ston Padma ling pas gter ma texts. The Collected
writings of Rje Shakya rin chen (1710-1759), 5th Zhabs drung Jigs med nor bu,
9
13th Rje mkhan po Yon tan mtha yas (1724-1784) and Dge bshes brag phug Dge
dun rin chen are also in its possession.
6 TIBET JOURNAL
The library also has two photocopies of Gdung rabs nges gsal sgron me,
10
one
of the most important sources on the history of Bhutan. One copy was acquired
sometime in 1980s and the other one in September 1990. The photocopy was
made from northeastern region of India. The manuscript has 50 folios and is in
dbu can script. It was authored by Bande Wagindra of the Byar clan, considered
the descendent of the nephew of Lha sras gtsang ma known as Kha gling gi rgyal
rigs lha btsun Ngag dbang phun tshogs.
11
LTWA also holds the same Gdung rabs
which has been reprinted from TAR in 1988 titled as Rje bangs rnams kyi rigs
rus kyi byung khungs gsal bai sgron me zhes bya ba.
12
It has Brug dkar po by
Slob dpon gnag mdog,
13
the History of Bhutan by Slob dpon padma tshe dbang
14
and one of the important lineage account -Brug gi smyos rabs by Bla ma gsang
sngags.
15
The library has the Brug edition of Lhoi chos byung
16
, the life of Zabs drung
Rinpoche Ngag dbang rnam rgyal (1594-1651) along with supplements to the
history of Brug pa bka brgyud pa tradition, written in 1731-59, and Sgrub sde
nges don zung jug grub pai dga tshal edition of Religious History of Bhutan by
Dge bshes brag phug pa Dge dun rin chen.
17
The collection of LTWA also includes the Biography of Bstan dzin chos rgyal
(1700-1767), 10th rje mkhan po of Bhutan
18
, biography of first Zhabs drung
Rinpoche of Bhutan, Ngag dbang rnam rgyal alias Ngag dbang bdud joms rdo rje
(1594-1651)20, biography of Zhabs drung written by Gtsang mkhan chen jam
dbyangs dpal ldan rgya mtsho- c.1800 Punakha blocks preserved in the Beling
monastery in Lahual,
20
the gter ma biography of Pha jo brug sgom zhig po (1162-
1251),
21
blockprint, 44 folios, 1580?, and the biography of 18th Rje mkhan po
Jam dbyangs rgyal mtshan (1743-1802), written by third thugs sprul Jigs med
grags pa (1791-1830).
22
The biography of the 7th Rje mkhan po Ngag dbang phrin las (1671-1746),
the autobiography of the 12th Rje mkhan po Shes rab rgyal mtshan (1772-1847),
the biography of the 31st Rje mkhan po Yon tan rgyal mtshan (91804-1870).
23
The life of 2nd Rje mkhan po Bsod nams od zer (1613-1689), the life of 2nd
Rgyal sras sprul sku Kun dga rgyal mtshan (1689-1713) and the life of Bya chu
dkar mo bla ma Ngag dbang pad dkar.
24
The biography of Sgang steng sprul sku Bstan dzin legs pai don grub (1645-
1726?) and the biography of Mtshams brag bla ma Ngag dbang brug pa (1682-1748).
25
Though not born in Bhutan, one of the best known smyon pa tradition Brug
smyon kun dga leg pas (1455-1529) activities are very closely associated with
Bhutan. Four copies of his autobiography and spiritual songs of Brug pa Kun
LITERATURE ON BHUTAN IN LTWA 7
dga legs pa, one of 1892 Gnyal driu lhai edition,
26
another reproduced from Varanasi
in 2 volumes,
27
and one Tibetan block print edition
28
are preserved in the library.
Miscellaneous literature on Bhutan such as Brug gzhung cham gyi bshad pa
by Drag sho nag phel, Brug gi glu, Brug gi mi rig pa can padma tshe dbang bsri
dang sum dar bsri gnyis kyi blo.
There are 78 English titles on Bhutan in the foreign reference section of LTWA
and plus has of course acquired Brug a journal of Bhutan studies.
Old Document related to Bhutan
Prior to 2005, this library has not acquired any document related to Bhutan. In
2005 January 12th, this library acquired photocopies of 8 documents related to
the first Bhutanese King O rgyan dbang phyug (regn.1907-1926).
These are not original but photocopies acquired through Prof. Parshotam
Mehra, Chandigarh. All documents were sent or issued by the first King of Bhutan,
U rgyan dbang phyug to Colonel Younghusband. Eight documents are all in cursive
script. Written beautifully by hand in Uchen or Zongkha script, it seems that all
the letters were written by a single individual.
Two documents are without date, two were written in 1904, one in 1905, 1912,
1922 and 1924.
Of the two documents with no date, one mentions the Kings visit to Tibet with
Younghusband apparently in the year before the letter was written. The year of
the kings visit to Tibet is not available. However it was most probably in 1905.
And because of his help to Younghusband, he was able to have an audience with
the Prince and Viceroy of great Britain at Calcutta.
29
One letter seems to be
issued in 1908 (?), which mentions Younghusband being granted the same title of
the King.
30
One written in 1912 mention arrival of Captain Nobel to take photograph in
Bhutan.
31
One written in 1922, mentions the king was rewarded with the K.C.S.I. title by
Bill Saheb (Sir Charles Bell ?) on behalf of British government.
32
Among the eight letters, three are selected for my study this time.
I 1904 letter
The letter was send to the holder of five Shri, administrator of southern world,
friend British governor/commander Colonel Younghusband by Dharma king of
Bhutan, the holder of five Shri from Bumthang Dechen Palace, Bhutan, in the
Wood Dragon (1904) Year on the 22nd day of the 2nd month.
8 TIBET JOURNAL
This letter mentions the Younghusbands expedition to Tibet. The King received
the full account of Younghusbands expedition. Thimphu district appraised the
matter clearly to Younghusband. As for negotiation, the Tibetans asked the British
to return to Yatung. Instead the expedition marched to Guru where battle was
fought and British soldier defeated the Tibetan soldier. He mentions not only
having good relations with British but also with Tibet. The king expressed his
concern of the suffering of ordinary Tibetans to Younghusband. He suggested
that instead of the minor officials, the senior officer would understand the
situation much better. In this matter, he had written to the Dalai Lama and was
awaiting a response. Regarding this matter, he had written that he would dispatch
his man. Kings role and sympathy to common Tibetan people is mentioned clearly
in this letter.
33
He sends fruits along with this letter. Fruits include oranges, pears,
apricots, mangoes, potato, garlic, ginger, egg and one sack of rice.
From the letter we can draw conclusion that the first King of Bhutan U rgyan
dbang phyug through his friendly relation with Younghusband has played a key
role in diffusing a major tension and casualties during the Younghusband
expedition. He has also played a mediator role during the dispute between Tibet
and British, and finally he has made his utmost effort in bringing about peaceful
solution. On his skilful service, the Tibetan government granted him a hat and
shoe equal to his rank. However, he accepted only the hat.
34
In this connection we must say that Bhutan, Sikkim and Nepal have shown a
good neighbourly relation and tried to reach an amicable solution to the dispute
between Tibet and British. The account is well documented in Zhwa sgab pas
Srid don rgyal rabs,
35
Slob dpon Nag mdogs Brug dkar po
36
and Slob dpon Padma
tse dbangs Brug gsal bai sgron me.
37
II 1905 letter
This letter was written in 1905. The letter was sent to friend Sir Francis
Younghusband, K.C.S.I., with Salam salutation by the holder of five Shri Thimphu
district magistrate, Bhutan in the year Wood Snake, 5th day of 5th month.
After the expedition, Younghusbands visit to Bihar is mentioned. The King
requested for field gun (bkrob mda) as was promised to him by the British India.
If the same is not possible, he asked for a double-barelled rifle. The visit of Bara
Saheb and other senior Saheb to Bhutan is also mentioned.
38
III 1922 letter
The letter was sent to Colonel Younghusband by U rgyan dbang phyug, the throne
holder of Bhutan in 12th day of the 9th month of the Water Dog year, i.e. 1922.
LITERATURE ON BHUTAN IN LTWA 9
In this letter it mentions that returning from Lhasa, that means should be after
the expedition in 1904, the King thought of meeting Younghusband but he could
not catch him. He heard the news of Younghusbands ill health when he was in
Delhi. Although the King was offered many titles in the past, in 1922 he was
conferred the title of K.C.S.I. by the British government. Bill (Bell ?) Saheb
presented this title to the King on behalf of British India.
39
This was sent from
the fort of Thimphu district.
Most of the letter, in the beginning line finds the word Saheb and in the end
Salam. The interesting point to note from these letters is that a few colonial
words were used frequently. For salutation such as Salam and Saheb, the word
originated from Urdu as the time India was under British Raj or rule. Other
words like Sa dkar gzhung- mixture of Hindi and Tibetan meaning both
government, Ser gzhung rgyal khab chen po for great Britain. The five Shri title
used in the letter is a traditional title originated from India and continued during
the British rule in India.
In Bhutan, though both Krong sa dpon slob and Chos rtse dpon slob
40
is being
used before ascending to the throne of King. However, in some of these eight
letters and in Tibetan literature the King is mentioned as Krong sa dpon slob. All
these eight letters indicate clearly that the King had a very intimate relation with
Colonel Younghusband.
Notes
1. Pha jo brug sgom zhig poi rnam thar thugs rjei chu rgyun, f.1, Mkan po Ye
she cho dar
2. Brug gsal bai sgron me, 89
3. A wa dhu ti pa Rin chen rnam rgyal, Dpal ldan bla ma dam pai mdzad pa rmad
du byung ba ngo mtshar bdud rtsii thigs pa, p. 7-67. In Collected Works of
Rgyal dbang kun dga dpal byor, Vol.1, Thimphu 1976
4. Dpal brug pa rin po che Ngag dbang bstan dzin rnam rgyal gyi rnam par thar
pa rgyas pa chos kyi spin chen poi dbyangs zhes bya ba las ring poi gleng
gzhi bzhugs, Delhi 1974
5. Autobiographies of Gtsang mkhan chen and Grags pa rgya mtsho, Vol. II,
p.357-569, Thimphu 1975
6. This set of handwritten Bka gyur was copied sometimes between 1696-
1706. For more detail see Jampa Samten, A Catalogue of the Phug brag
manuscript Kanjur, LTWA 1992.
10 TIBET JOURNAL
7. The collected Works of Akhu ching Shes rab rgya tsho, vol. 7, p. 406-525,
New Delhi 1974. See also Dr. Lokesh Chandra, Material for a History of
Tibetan Literatue, Part 3, No. 11517, New Delhi 1963.
8. Published by Ngawang Topgay, New Delhi 1977.
9. National Library of Bhutan
10. The title reads as Gangs can bod du rje rgyal gnya khri btsan/ Srong btsan
sgam po khri srong ldeu btsan dang/ Lho phyogs mon du lha sras gtsang ma
zhes/ Rnam par sprul pai skye mchog de rnams kyi/ Gong ma rjei gdungs
rabs byung khungs dang/ og ma bangs kyi mi rabs chad tshul sogs/ Nges
par gsal bai sgron ma zhes bya ba bzhugs so//.The eastern Bhutan copy is
titled as Sa skyong rgyal poi gdung rabs byung khungs dang bangs kyi mi
rabs chad tshul nges par gsal bai sgron me (short title: Rgyal rigs byung
khungs gsal bai sgron me). English translation by Michael Aris in Sources
for the History of Bhutan published by WIEN 1986. See also Michael Aris,
Bhutan: The Early History of a Himalayan Kingdom, England 1979.
11. In the colophone of text published from TAR 1988.
12. Bod kyi lo rgyus rig gnas dpyad gzhii rgyu cha bdams bsgrigs, No. 10, p. 87-
130, Mi rigs dpe skrun khang 1988. In the colophon it reads as Ces kha gling
gi rgyal rigs bslabs pa dzin pa mkyen pa la mi rmongs pai lha btsun ngag
dbang phun tshogs dang/ phyi tshang mong khar gyi rgyal rigs dpa mdzangs
brtul phod che zhing khungs btsun pai rgyal pos brtsams.
13. Brug rgyal khab kyi cho srid gnas stangs Brug dkar po, Bhutan 1986.
14. Brug gi rgyal rabs gsal bai sgron me, Bhutan 1994
15. Bla ma gsang sngags, Brug gi smyos rabs gsal bai me long, 1983.
16. Bstan dzin chos rgyal gro kun dga ba bshes gnyen ( 1700-1764), lhoi
chos byung bstan pa rin po chei phro mthud jam mgon smon mthai phreng
ba zhes bya ba/ gtso bor skyabs mgon rin po che rgyal sras ngag dbang rnam
rgyal gyi rnam thar kun gyi go bde gsal bar bkod pa bcas bzhugs so//, 151
folios
17. Dpal ldan brug pai gdul zhing lho phyogs nags moi ljongs kyi chos byung
blo gsar rna bai rgyan ces bya ba, p.383, LTWA. No. 2:26-1859.
18. Shakya ratna, Shakya rin chen (1710-1759), Pandita bstan dzin chos kyi
rgyal poi rtogs pa brjod pa sgyu ma chen poi gar stabs, Dpal rdo rje gdan
edition, 110 folios.
19. Shakya rin chen dri med legs pai blo gros (1710-1759), Bkar rgyud kyi
rnam thar gser gyi phreng ba lta bu las dpal ldan bla ma mthu chen chos kyi
rgyal po ngag rnam rgyal bai skabs bzhugs so, Xylograhp, 39 folios.
LITERATURE ON BHUTAN IN LTWA 11
20. Dpal brug pa rin po che Ngag dbang rnam rgyal gyi rnam that rgyas pa chos
kyi sprin chen poi dbyangs, Topden Tsering, Delhi 1974
21. Pha brug sgom zhig poi rnam par thar pa thugs rje chu rgyun
22. Skyabs mgon rdo rje chang dbang ngag dbang jam dbyangs rgyal mtshan gyi
rnam par thar pa grub rigs bzhad pai rgyud mangs thugs rjes bskul bai chu
dzin khrigs pai rang sgra, brugs dgon mdo sde brag edition, 229 folios.
23. Biographies of thee Bhutanese prelates, Thimphu 1976
24. The lives of three Bhutanese religious masters, Thimphu 1976
25. Biographies of two Bhutanese lamas of the Padma glin pa tradition, Thimphu
1975
26. Rnal byor gyi min can kun dga legs pai rnam thar byung tshul lhug par
smras pa zhib moi rtsing ma ha le sna zin spu zin nas bkod pa ces bya ba,
Kargyud Sungrab Nyamso Khang, Delhi 1978.
27. Rnal byor gyi ming can kun dga legs pai nyams la shar bai phral gyi chos
spyod dra dang nyams char ci byung ma byung bris pa skyag gtad gang yang
med pa ga zhig bzhugs so, Varanasi 1972.
28. Rnal byor gyi dbang pyug chen po kun dga legs pai rnam thar gsang bum
rgya mtsho lta bu las dad pai ku shas chu thigs tsam blangs pa ngo mtshar
bdud rtsii zil mngar, block print, 70 folios.
29. LTWA old document No.882
30. LTWA old document No.888
31. LTWA old document No.886
32. LTWA old document No.885
33. LTWA old document No.883
34. Slob dpon padma Tse dbang, Brug gsal bai sgron me, p. 539. See also Brug
dkar po of Slob dpon Nag mdog. p. 193-200
35. Zhwa sgab pa dbang phyug bde ldan, Bod kyi srid don rgyal rabs, Vol. 2, p.
104, 112,113,126
36. Slob dpon Nag mdog, brug dkar po, p. 193-200
37. Slob dpon padma Tse dbang, Brug gsal bai sgron me, p. 534,539
38. LTWA old document No.887
39. LTWA old document No. 885
40. Slob dpon Padma tshe dbang, Brug gyi rgyal rabs brug gsal bai sgron me,
p. 537
12 TIBET JOURNAL
References
Aris, Michael. Sources for the History of Bhuatan, WIEN 1986
Bod kyi lo rgyus rig gnas dpyad gzhii rgyu cha bdams bsgrigs, No.10, Mi rigs
dpe skrun khang 1988
Chandra, Lokesh. Material for a History of Tibetan Literature, Part, No.11517,
New Delhi 1963
Dbang phyug bde ldan, Zhwa sgab pa. Gangs can bod chos srid gnyis ldan gyi
rgyal khab chen poi srid don gyi rgyal rabs gsal bar ston pa zla ba bum
phrag char bai rdzing bum blo gsar bung ba dga bai rol mtsho zhes bya ba,
Vol.II, 1976.
Dge dun rin chen, dge bshes brag phug pa. Dpal ldan brug pai gdul zhing lho
phyogs nags moi ljongs kyi chos byung blo gsar rna bai rgyan ces bya ba,
Sgrub sde nges don zung jug grub pai dga tshal block prints.
LTWA Old document No. 882-889
Padma tshe dbang, Slob dpon. Brug gi rgyal rabs: Brug gsal bai sgron me,
Thimphu, Bhutan 1994
Samten, Jampa. A Catalogue of the Phug brag manuscript Kanjur, LTWA 1992
Slob dpon Nag mdog. Brug dkar po, Bhutan 1986
Shes rab rgya tsho, Akhu ching. The collected Works of Akhu ching Shes rab rgya
mtsho, Vol. 7, New Delhi 1974
Wagindra, Bande. Gangs can bod du rje rgyal gnya khri btsan/ Srong btsan sgam
po khri srong ldeu btsan dang/ Lho phyogs mon du lha sras gtsang ma zhes/
Rnam par sprul pai skye mchog de rnams kyi/ Gong ma rjei gdungs rabs
byung khungs dang/ og ma bangs kyi mi rabs chad tshul sogs/ Nges par
gsal bai sgron ma zhes bya ba bzhugs so (photocopy)
LITERATURE ON BHUTAN IN LTWA 13
Appendix I
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14 TIBET JOURNAL
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(Translation)
My friend Colonel Younghusband, who holds five shri, administrator of southern
world:
I am very glad to know that you are fine as before by the grace of gods and lamas.
I have received your letter and a copy of report on your expedition to Tibet through
the Thimphu district officer (thim rdzong). You have written in detail about the
cause of the dispute, and the Thimphu delegates also have explained to me the
matter in detail. Although you had proposed continuously for negotiation, the
minor officials (of Tibet) had told you that the mission should return to Yatung
to conduct negotiation, without which it was impossible to hold negotiation.
The delegation from Thimpu had no option but to return. Since no fully authorized
Tibetan representatives arrived there, you and your officers had to remain on the
northern plains for many days. When you advanced to Guru from We, you had to
confront a Tibetan force. I was very happy to hear that you had won the battle.
Bhutan not only shares amicable relations with the British government but also
shares the same border with the Tibetan government. Therefore, I wish that you
officers do not have to face difficulties and wastage of resources, and the people
of Tibet do not have to undergo sufferings. Regarding the negotiation, although
lower officials might not listen, I feel that higher officials would be more
receptive. We have sent a letter to His Holiness the Dalai Lama but we have not
received a reply. They might send someone to you. Till then do not worry. From
our side, we have not been able to do anything except sending our salam
(salutation) to you. We are sending oranges, pears, apricots, mangoes, potatoes, garlic,
ginger, eggs and one sack of rice to you. Our relationship and commitment is sincere
for all time. Hope our correspondence will continue without any break. If there is
anything that the government of Bhutan can do, please do inform me.
I am sending you a shawl of yas khra cloth and sman pem as a present with the letter.
From Dharma Raja of Bhutan, Bumthang Dechen Palace, Bhutan, on the 22nd
day of the 2nd month of the Wood-Dragon Year).
LITERATURE ON BHUTAN IN LTWA 15
Appendix II
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(Translation)
My friend the great Colonel Younghusband, the holder of five shri:
Salam!
Thank you very much that you are in good health, like a clear moon and your
deeds shining like the moons rays. Here I am as usual. Previously when I met
16 TIBET JOURNAL
you on your way to Tibet, you had shown me a great kindness. When you were
returning from Lhasa, I thought of meeting you at Gyantse, but unfortunately I
was unable to catch you. Thereafter when I planned to meet you, I heard that you
were not well. I sent you a letter but it seems you had not received it. After I met
you, the great British government has offered me many titles at different times
due to your kindness. Here we in Bhutan are very happy thanks mainly to the
kindness of British government and yourself. This time British government
conferred me the rank of K.C.I.E and this is indeed due to your support. Bell
Saheb, who came to present this title, informed me about your good health; I was
very happy. I request you to send me letters frequently.
I am sending herewith a scarf as a gift.
Ugyen Wangchuk, the king of Bhutan
12
th
day of the 9th month of the Water-Dog Year.
Appendix III
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----- ------ ---
LITERATURE ON BHUTAN IN LTWA 17
--- ;---- -------
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----
(Translation)
My friend Sir Francis Younghusband, K.C.I.I:
Salam!
I am happy to know that you are in good health by the grace of the Triple Gem.
Here I am also fine as before. I sent two letters to you when you were returning
from Lhasa. However, it seems that the letters did not reach you, since you
quickly proceeded straight to Bihar. From my friend Sir War I heard that you
have been rewarded with promotion and awards. I joyfully congratulate you for
this. Last time when we met at Tuna, I was promised to give a good gun by the
government. I hope I can get it now. If this is no possible, I request you to give
me a double-barrelled rifle like the one you had given to the Trongsa governor. I
can remit the payment to you. Presently War Saheb and a senior Saheb have
arrived in Bhutan and they are at Hram, and I am accompanying them during their
journey.
With a scarf on the 5th day of the 5th month of the Wood-Snake Year).
With Salam salutation,
Thimphu district officer, holder of five shris.
Note:- The English translations of all the above letters were done by the Re-
search and Translation Department of LTWA.