History of the Chhoetse Penlop

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A historical background of the Chhoetse Penlop

Posted on Friday, October 22 @ 20:29:38 CDT BST

 

22 October 2004 - The royal institution of the Chhoetse Penlop

(later called Trongsa Penlop) goes back more than 350 years into

Bhutanese history when Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal unified the

scattered population that was spread over a vast expanse of rugged

mountain territory and established a stable system of national

governance.

 

According to the accounts of researchers and scholars who have

studied the unique blend of mythology and history that represents

Bhutan's past, the Zhabdrung had appointed Chhoeje Minjur Tenpa as

his representative in Trongsa in the 1640s.

Yongzin Ngagi Wangchuck had founded the Trongsa Dzong. Born in 1517

to Lam Ngawang Chhoejay he was guided, in a vision, by the guardian

deity, Palden Lhamo, to go to a place in central Bhutan which

resembled a bow and which was abundant in food grains (mang-dru).

 

The name Mangdue has its origin in this word. Accordingly, Pal Ngagi

Wangchuk arrived in Trongsa in 1541 where he took residence in the

village of Yueli which was located on the northern hill slopes

overlooking the then bare hillock upon which the Trongsa Dzong

presently stands.

 

One night while Pal Ngagi Wangchuk was meditating his attention was

drawn by a flicker of light, resembling that of a butter-lamp

burning in the open air, at the spot where the present day Goenkhang

of the Trongsa Dzong is located. Upon visiting the spot, he was

deeply overwhelmed by discovering the Lhamoi Latsho (sacred lake of

Palden Lhamo) and the hoof prints of Palden Lhamo's steed.

 

In 1543, Pal Ngagi Wangchuk established a small Tsamkhang

(meditation quarter) in the sacred spot and named it "Mon Drubdey".

He soon attracted a number of disciples who built their own

meditation units around the main Tshamkhang. The cluster of newly

built meditation quarters appeared to the people of Yueli above like

a new village and hence they called it "Trongsar" meaning "new

village".

 

By the time Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal was fifty-two years (1646), he

had succeeded in bringing the whole of western Bhutan under the

theocratic rule he had established. He turned his attention to the

east and decided to establish a seat of authority in Trongsa which

would, considering its strategic location between the east and west,

play a crucial role in the unification of the country.

 

At that time, there were many feudal rulers in eastern Bhutan,

mainly in Bumthang, Lhuentse, Trashigang and Zhemgang. The Zhabdrung

found Chhogyel Minjur Tenpa, a close confidante and a person of

unquestionable loyalty and integrity, the most suitable candidate

for the daunting task of unifying and consolidating the whole of

eastern Bhutan under his rule.

 

Chhoeje Minjur Tenpa unified eastern Bhutan into eight provinces,

known as "sharchog khorlo tsibgay", and brought them under the rule

of the Zhabdrung. Seeing the unification of the eastern region as an

auspicious symbol, the Zhabdrung instructed Chhoeje Minjur Tenpa to

construct a dzong as the seat of Yongzin Ngagi Wangchuk and Mepham

Tenpai Nima in the centre of the Mangdue region.

 

Chhoeje Minjur Tenpa constructed the dzong in 1644 and named it the

Druk Minjur Chhoekhor Rabten Tse, which translates as "the Dzong

built on the tip of a dungkhar (conch) of the never changing land of

Druk where the dharma is everlasting". It described the shape of the

hillock holding the Dzong and the name of the builder.

 

In 1647, Chhoeje Minjur Tenpa was appointed as the Chhoetse Chila,

the title derived from the dzong. The dedicated efforts of Chhogyel

Minjur Tenpa and subsequent governors of Trongsa gradually led to

the expansion of Trongsa Dzong.

 

While the meditation centre of Yongzin Ngagi Wangchuk was initially

known as Trongsar the lams were known as "Chhoetse Chila"

or "Trongsa Chila", in keeping with the name of the Dzong, when

Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal started appointing lams for the community

from the religious body. The word "Chila" was used to describe

ordained monks. However, with the passage of time, since non-monk

chiefs were appointed to the post, the title "Chhoetse Penlop" came

to be used, replacing Chila with Penlop.

 

Three important administrative zones, with the headquarters for the

southern zone in Dagana, the eastern zone in Trongsa, and the

western zone in Paro, were established. The Zhabdrung also

established the institutions of the Paro Penlop and Daga Penlop to

head different administrative zones. Chhoejay La Noenpa Tenzin

Drugdra was appointed as the Paro Penlop, Tenpa Thinley as the Daga

Penlop and Chhogyel Minjur Tenpa as the Trongsa Penlop in 1647.

Since then the tradition of appointment of Trongsa Penlop has

continued.

 

The Penlops were direct representatives of the Zhabdrung, bestowed

with authority to make independent decisions on his behalf and

govern according to the administrative and judicial code established

by him.

 

In 1853, Jigme Namgyel became the Trongsa Penlop. Twenty-nine years

later, in the year 1882, his son Ugyen Wangchuk became the Trongsa

Penlop. With the birth of the Bhutanese monarchy in 1907, the

position of the Trongsa Penlop assumed special significance.

 

Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck was the Trongsa Penlop when the Bhutanese

clergy, the government, and the people unanimously elected him as

the first hereditary King and established a new era of Bhutanese

history. His Majesty King Ugyen Wangchuck served as the Trongsa

Penlop between 1882 and 1907 and it was in Trongsa that the people

of Bhutan offered their love, their reverence, and their allegiance

to their Monarch.

 

The institution of the Trongsa Penlop, therefore, came to signify

the true heritage to the Bhutanese Throne and the investiture

ceremony of the Trongsa Penlop became the formal declaration of this

status of the Crown Prince.

 

His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck was installed as the Trongsa

Penlop on May 15, 1972, at the age of 16 years. The lhengye

zhungtsho announced this year that the revered position of the

Trongsa Penlop would once again be known by the historical term,

Chhoetse Penlop as the Crown Prince represents all the 20 dzongkhags

of the kingdom.

 

With the formal awarding of the Gyalse Ngadun which signifies

mastery over worldy and spiritual matters, miraculous

accomplishment, inexhaustible speed and strength and the trinity of

love wisdom and power, and the celebration of the traditional

ceremonies in Trongsa, His Royal Highness Dasho Jigme Khesar Namgyal

Wangchuck will be the 16th Chhoetse Penlop.

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