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Mike · Site Admin Joined: 07 Sep 2004 Posts: 4512 Location:

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.
http://www.kuenselonline.com/article.php?sid=4630&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
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