Jigme Singye Wangchuck
Encyclopedia
Jigme Singye Wangchuck is the former King of Bhutan
. He was the fourth Dragon King (Druk Gyalpo) of Bhutan from 1972 until his abdication in favour of his eldest son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, in 2006. He is credited with many modern reforms in the country.
. When he was formally crowned on 2 June 1974, he was the youngest monarch in the world at eighteen years of age, and the coronation was notable for the presence of foreign dignitaries, thus signalling the end of the long isolation of the country. He was educated in Bhutan, India
and the United Kingdom
. He attended Rice University in Houston, Texas.
views based on the traditions of Buddhism
. Even to this day, traffic lights do not exist in the country, and by law everyone must wear traditional 14th century clothing. Since the beginning of his rule, television
and internet
access have become available. Tourism
in Bhutan, however, remains low.
King Jigme Singye Wangchuck is the creator of GNH (Gross National Happiness
).
in 2008, leaving the throne to his son. In a royal edict issued on 14 December 2006, the king announced that he would begin handing over power to his eldest son Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck immediately. He ordered a parliamentary election
be held in 2008.
(20 December 1955 (age 56), second daughter of Yab Ugen Dorji and Yum Thuiji Zam)
2. HM Ashi Tshering Pem Wangchuck
(20 December 1957 (age 54), third daughter)
3. HM Ashi Tshering Yangdön Wangchuck (21 June 1959 (age 52), fourth daughter)
4. HM Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck
(11 May 1963 (age 48), fifth daughter)
(1987): Collar of the Order of Mubarak the Great (1990): Member of the Order of Ojaswi Rajanya (1988): Knight of the Order of the Seraphim
(1994)
Bhutan
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...
. He was the fourth Dragon King (Druk Gyalpo) of Bhutan from 1972 until his abdication in favour of his eldest son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, in 2006. He is credited with many modern reforms in the country.
Early life
He acceded to the throne at the age of seventeen, in 1972, after the sudden death of his father, Jigme Dorji WangchuckJigme Dorji Wangchuck
Jigme Dorji Wangchuck was the Third Druk Gyalpo of Bhutan.He began to open Bhutan to the outside world, began modernization, and took the first steps toward democratization...
. When he was formally crowned on 2 June 1974, he was the youngest monarch in the world at eighteen years of age, and the coronation was notable for the presence of foreign dignitaries, thus signalling the end of the long isolation of the country. He was educated in Bhutan, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He attended Rice University in Houston, Texas.
Modernization
It has been noted that the fourth king ruled his people with orthodoxOrthodoxy
The word orthodox, from Greek orthos + doxa , is generally used to mean the adherence to accepted norms, more specifically to creeds, especially in religion...
views based on the traditions of Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
. Even to this day, traffic lights do not exist in the country, and by law everyone must wear traditional 14th century clothing. Since the beginning of his rule, television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
and internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
access have become available. Tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
in Bhutan, however, remains low.
King Jigme Singye Wangchuck is the creator of GNH (Gross National Happiness
Gross national happiness
The assessment of gross national happiness was designed in an attempt to define an indicator that measures quality of life or social progress in more holistic and psychological terms than only the economic indicator of gross domestic product .-Origins and meaning:The term...
).
Abdication
On 17 December 2005, (at the age of 50), he announced his intention to abdicateAbdication
Abdication occurs when a monarch, such as a king or emperor, renounces his office.-Terminology:The word abdication comes derives from the Latin abdicatio. meaning to disown or renounce...
in 2008, leaving the throne to his son. In a royal edict issued on 14 December 2006, the king announced that he would begin handing over power to his eldest son Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck immediately. He ordered a parliamentary election
Bhutanese general election, 2008
Bhutan held its first general election on March 24, 2008 for the National Assembly. Two parties were registered by the Election Commission of Bhutan to contest the election: the Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party , which was formed by the merger of the previously established Bhutan People's United...
be held in 2008.
Family life
Jigme Singye Wangchuck is married to four queens (all of whom are sisters) and has five sons and five daughters. Several of his children have been educated abroad.Wives and children borne
1. HM Ashi Dorji Wangmo WangchuckDorji Wangmo Wangchuck
Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck is a former queen of Bhutan and first wife of former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who is married to four sisters all of whom were entitled to be called queen.Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck is the first wife of...
(20 December 1955 (age 56), second daughter of Yab Ugen Dorji and Yum Thuiji Zam)
| Name | | Birth | | Marriage | Issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princess Ashi Sonam Dechen Wangchuck Sonam Dechen Wangchuck Princess Ashi Sonam Dechan Wangchuck is a princess of Bhutan. She is the daughter of the 4th King of Bhutan Jigme Singye Wangchuck and sister of the 5th King, Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck. She has a degree in international relations from Stanford University and a masters in law from Harvard Law... |
5 August 1981 (age 30) | |||
| Prince Dasho Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck | 6 July 1984 (age 27) | |||
2. HM Ashi Tshering Pem Wangchuck
Tshering Pem Wangchuck
Tshering Pem Wangchuck is one of the four wives and queens of Bhutanese king Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who ruled until abdication in 2006.-Children:She had, with the former king, the following children:* H.R.H. Princess Ashi Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck...
(20 December 1957 (age 54), third daughter)
| Name | | Birth | | Marriage | Issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princess Ashi Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck | 10 January 1980 (age 32) | |||
| Princess Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuck Kesang Choden Wangchuck Princess Kesang Choden Wangchuck , is a member of the royal family of Bhutan. She is a daughter of H.M. former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck and H.M... |
23 January 1982 (age 30) | |||
| Prince Dasho Ugyen Jigme Wangchuck Ugyen Jigme Wangchuck HRH Prince Ugyen Jigme Wangchuck is a member of the royal family of Bhutan and is one of the sons of HRH His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck and HRH Ashi Tshering Pem Wangchuck.... |
11 November 1994 (age 17) | |||
3. HM Ashi Tshering Yangdön Wangchuck (21 June 1959 (age 52), fourth daughter)
| Name | | Birth | | Marriage | Issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King Druk Gyalpo Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck is the 5th and current reigning Dragon King of the Kingdom of Bhutan. He became king on 14 December 2006 being crowned on 6 November 2008.-Family:... |
21 February 1980 (age 31) | |||
| Princess Ashi Dechen Yangzom Wangchuck | 2 December 1981 (age 30) | |||
| Prince Dasho Jigme Dorji Wangchuck | 14 April 1986 (age 25) | |||
4. HM Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck
Sangay Choden Wangchuck
Sangay Choden Wangchuck is one of the four wives and queens of Bhutanese king Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who ruled in Bhutan from 1972 until his abdication in 2006.The other three wives and queens, all Sangay Choden's sisters, are:...
(11 May 1963 (age 48), fifth daughter)
| Name | | Birth | | Marriage | Issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Dasho Khamsum Singhye Wangchuck | 6 October 1985 (age 26) | |||
| Princess Ashi Euphelma Choden Wangchuck | ||||
Styles
- 1955–1963: Dasho Jigme Singye Wangchuck
- 1963–15 May 1972: His Royal Highness Dasho Jigme Singye Wangchuck
- 15 May–15 July 1972: His Royal Highness Trongsa Penlop Dasho Jigme Singye Wangchuck
- 15 July 1972–14 December 2006: His MajestyHis MajestyHis Majesty, or, The Court of Vingolia is an English comic opera in two acts with dialogue by F. C. Burnand, lyrics by R. C. Lehmann, additional lyrics by Adrian Ross and music by Alexander Mackenzie....
the King of Bhutan - 14 December 2006–present: His MajestyHis MajestyHis Majesty, or, The Court of Vingolia is an English comic opera in two acts with dialogue by F. C. Burnand, lyrics by R. C. Lehmann, additional lyrics by Adrian Ross and music by Alexander Mackenzie....
the Fourth Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck
Honours
: Order of Khalifa, 1st Class (1990): Collar of the Order of the ChrysanthemumOrder of the Chrysanthemum
is Japan's highest order. The Grand Cordon of the Order was established in 1876 by Emperor Meiji of Japan; the collar of the Order was added on January 4, 1888. Although technically the order has only one class, it can either be awarded with collar , or with grand cordon...
(1987): Collar of the Order of Mubarak the Great (1990): Member of the Order of Ojaswi Rajanya (1988): Knight of the Order of the Seraphim
Order of the Seraphim
The Royal Order of the Seraphim is a Swedish Royal order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Polar Star...
(1994)