Druk Desi
Encyclopedia
The Druk Desi;The original title is Dzongkha: སྡེ་སྲིད་ཕྱག་མཛོད་; Wylie
: sde-srid phyag-mdzod. was the title of the secular (administrative) rulers of Bhutan under the dual system of government
between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries. Under this system, government authority was divided among secular and religious administrations, both unified under a single leader. Druk
, meaning "thunder dragon," refers symbolically to Bhutan, whose most ancient name is Druk-yul. Desi, meaning "regent," was the chief secular office in realms under this system of government.
, the office of Druk Desi was established by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in the 17th century under the dual system of government
. Having fled sectarian persecution in Tibet, Ngawang Namgyal established the Drukpa Lineage as the state religion. Under the Bhutanese system, the powers of the government were split between the religious branch headed by the Je Khenpo
of the Drukpa Lineage and the civil administrative branch headed by the Druk Desi. Both the Je Khenpo and Druk Desi were under the nominal authority of the Shabdrung
, a reincarnation of Ngawang Namgyal. The Druk Desi was either a monk or a member of the laity
—by the nineteenth century, usually the latter; he was elected for a three-year term, initially by a monastic council and later by the State Council (Lhengye Tshokdu). The State Council was a central administrative organ that included regional rulers, the Shabdrung's chamberlains, and the Druk Desi. In time, the Druk Desi came under the political control of the State Council's most powerful faction of regional administrators. The Shabdrung was the head of state and the ultimate authority in religious and civil matters.
The seat of central government was at Thimphu
, the site of a thirteenth-century dzong, in the spring, summer, and fall. The winter capital was at Punakha
, a dzong established northeast of Thimphu in 1527. The kingdom was divided into three regions (east, central, and west), each with an appointed penlop
(governor), holding a seat in a major dzong. Districts were headed by dzongpons (district officers), who had their headquarters in lesser dzongs. The penlop
s were a combination of tax collectors, judges, military commanders, and procurement agents for the central government. Their major revenues came from the trade between Tibet and India and from land taxes.
It is believed that the death of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1651 was concealed for some 50 years as authorities sought his reincarnation as successor. At first the system persisted, however the Druk Desi gradually gained political power and civil wars ensued. Once a reincarnation was found, the Druk Desi was unwilling to part with his acquired power, and the power of the Shabdrung gradually declined. Similarly, the Druk Desi also lost control over the local rulers and penlop
s (governors). The country devolved into several semi-independent regions under the control of penlops.
In practice, the Shabdrung was often a child under the control of the Druk Desi, and regional penlop
s often administered their districts in defiance of the Druk Desi.
The Constitution of Bhutan
, enacted in 2008, confirms Bhutan's commitment to the dual system of government
. However the title "Druk Desi" never appears in the Constitution, and all administrative powers are vested in the Druk Gyalpo and civilian offices directly. Furthermore, the Druk Gyalpo appoints the Je Khenpo
on advice of the Five Lopons, and the democratic
Constitution itself is the supreme law of the land, as opposed to a Shabdrung figurehead.
Wylie transliteration
The Wylie transliteration scheme is a method for transliterating Tibetan script using only the letters available on a typical English language typewriter. It bears the name of Turrell V. Wylie, who described the scheme in an article, A Standard System of Tibetan Transcription, published in 1959...
: sde-srid phyag-mdzod. was the title of the secular (administrative) rulers of Bhutan under the dual system of government
Dual system of government
The Dual System of Government or Cho-sid-nyi is the traditional diarchal political system of Tibetan peoples whereby the Desi coexists with the spiritual authority of the realm, usually unified under a third single ruler. The actual distribution of power between institutions varied over time and...
between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries. Under this system, government authority was divided among secular and religious administrations, both unified under a single leader. Druk
Druk
The Druk is the "Thunder Dragon" of Bhutanese mythology and a Bhutanese national symbol. A druk appears on the Bhutanese Flag, holding jewels to represent wealth. In the Dzongkha language, Bhutan is called Druk Yul, or Land of Druk, and Bhutanese leaders are called Druk Gyalpo, Dragon Kings...
, meaning "thunder dragon," refers symbolically to Bhutan, whose most ancient name is Druk-yul. Desi, meaning "regent," was the chief secular office in realms under this system of government.
History
In BhutanBhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
, the office of Druk Desi was established by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in the 17th century under the dual system of government
Dual system of government
The Dual System of Government or Cho-sid-nyi is the traditional diarchal political system of Tibetan peoples whereby the Desi coexists with the spiritual authority of the realm, usually unified under a third single ruler. The actual distribution of power between institutions varied over time and...
. Having fled sectarian persecution in Tibet, Ngawang Namgyal established the Drukpa Lineage as the state religion. Under the Bhutanese system, the powers of the government were split between the religious branch headed by the Je Khenpo
Je Khenpo
The Je Khenpo , formerly called the Dharma Raj by orientalists, is the title given to the senior religious hierarch of Bhutan. His primary duty is to lead the Dratshang Lhentshog of Bhutan, which oversees the Central Monastic Body, and to arbitrate on matters of doctrine, assisted by lopons...
of the Drukpa Lineage and the civil administrative branch headed by the Druk Desi. Both the Je Khenpo and Druk Desi were under the nominal authority of the Shabdrung
Shabdrung
Shabdrung , was a title used when referring to or addressing great lamas in Tibet, particularly those who held a hereditary lineage...
, a reincarnation of Ngawang Namgyal. The Druk Desi was either a monk or a member of the laity
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
—by the nineteenth century, usually the latter; he was elected for a three-year term, initially by a monastic council and later by the State Council (Lhengye Tshokdu). The State Council was a central administrative organ that included regional rulers, the Shabdrung's chamberlains, and the Druk Desi. In time, the Druk Desi came under the political control of the State Council's most powerful faction of regional administrators. The Shabdrung was the head of state and the ultimate authority in religious and civil matters.
The seat of central government was at Thimphu
Thimphu
Thimphu also spelt Thimpu, is the capital and largest city of Bhutan. It is situated in the western central part of Bhutan and the surrounding valley is one of Bhutan's dzongkhags, the Thimphu District. The city became the capital of Bhutan in 1961...
, the site of a thirteenth-century dzong, in the spring, summer, and fall. The winter capital was at Punakha
Punakha
thumb|right|Punakha Dzong and the [[Mo Chhu]]Punakha is the administrative centre of Punakha dzongkhag, one of the 20 districts of Bhutan. Punakha was the capital of Bhutan and the seat of government until 1955, when the capital was moved to Thimphu. It is about 72 km away from Thimphu and it...
, a dzong established northeast of Thimphu in 1527. The kingdom was divided into three regions (east, central, and west), each with an appointed penlop
Penlop
Penlop is a Dzongkha term roughly translated as governor. Bhutanese penlops, prior to unification, controlled certain districts of the country, but now hold no administrative office...
(governor), holding a seat in a major dzong. Districts were headed by dzongpons (district officers), who had their headquarters in lesser dzongs. The penlop
Penlop
Penlop is a Dzongkha term roughly translated as governor. Bhutanese penlops, prior to unification, controlled certain districts of the country, but now hold no administrative office...
s were a combination of tax collectors, judges, military commanders, and procurement agents for the central government. Their major revenues came from the trade between Tibet and India and from land taxes.
It is believed that the death of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1651 was concealed for some 50 years as authorities sought his reincarnation as successor. At first the system persisted, however the Druk Desi gradually gained political power and civil wars ensued. Once a reincarnation was found, the Druk Desi was unwilling to part with his acquired power, and the power of the Shabdrung gradually declined. Similarly, the Druk Desi also lost control over the local rulers and penlop
Penlop
Penlop is a Dzongkha term roughly translated as governor. Bhutanese penlops, prior to unification, controlled certain districts of the country, but now hold no administrative office...
s (governors). The country devolved into several semi-independent regions under the control of penlops.
In practice, the Shabdrung was often a child under the control of the Druk Desi, and regional penlop
Penlop
Penlop is a Dzongkha term roughly translated as governor. Bhutanese penlops, prior to unification, controlled certain districts of the country, but now hold no administrative office...
s often administered their districts in defiance of the Druk Desi.
The Constitution of Bhutan
Constitution of Bhutan
The Constitution of Bhutan was enacted July 18, 2008 by the Royal Government. The Constitution was thoroughly planned by several government officers and agencies over a period of almost seven years amid increasing democratic reforms in Bhutan...
, enacted in 2008, confirms Bhutan's commitment to the dual system of government
Dual system of government
The Dual System of Government or Cho-sid-nyi is the traditional diarchal political system of Tibetan peoples whereby the Desi coexists with the spiritual authority of the realm, usually unified under a third single ruler. The actual distribution of power between institutions varied over time and...
. However the title "Druk Desi" never appears in the Constitution, and all administrative powers are vested in the Druk Gyalpo and civilian offices directly. Furthermore, the Druk Gyalpo appoints the Je Khenpo
Je Khenpo
The Je Khenpo , formerly called the Dharma Raj by orientalists, is the title given to the senior religious hierarch of Bhutan. His primary duty is to lead the Dratshang Lhentshog of Bhutan, which oversees the Central Monastic Body, and to arbitrate on matters of doctrine, assisted by lopons...
on advice of the Five Lopons, and the democratic
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
Constitution itself is the supreme law of the land, as opposed to a Shabdrung figurehead.