The political system set
up by the Zhabdrung had the Je Khenpo to look after the spiritual
affairs of the monastic system while the Desi managed the
temporal matters. As far as the political administration was concerned, the
Desi was assisted by many officials whose power and authority varied. The
country was divided into three large provinces, viz. Paro to look after the
western and south-western Bhutan, Dagana to look after the south-central Bhutan
and Trongsa to look after eastern Bhutan. The head of the provinces were known
as Chog gi Chila Namsum or the Three
Regional Monastic Superintendents but popularly known as Poenlop
(Governor). The first Chilas were Mijur Tenpa as Choetse Poenlop
(Trongsa Poenlop), Tenpa Thinley as Daga Poenlop and Tenzin Drugda
as Paro Poenlop. The other regional heads who had equal status with the Chila
Namsum were the Dzongpoens (Chief of Dzongs) of
Thimphu, Punakha and Wangdue Phodrang. These three regions were known as Densa
Zhung Sum or the Three Central Seats. Again, Punakha and
Thimphu were particularly referred to as Densa Phan-tshun or Alternative
Monastic Seats. The first three central Dzongpoens were Namkha
Rinchen as Wangdue Phodrang Dzongpoen, Au Tshering as Thimphu
Dzongpoen and Pekar Rabgye as Punakha Dzongpoen. However, the other
Dzongpoens were under the control of the Chila Namsum. For instance, the
Dzongpons of Sharchhog Khorlo Tsibgye were under the direct control of Choetse
Poenlop. The other posts instituted to help in the administration of the
country and which had the same status with the three Chilas and three central
Dzongpoens were the Droenyer (Chief of Protocol)
and Kalyoen (Executive
Minister). The Droenyer also served as the Chief Justice while the Kalyoen
passed the orders of the Zhabdrung to other officers. The three Chilas, the
three central Dzongpoens along with Kalyoen and Droenyer formed the Lhengye
Tshog or the Council of Ministers. The
issues of National importance were discussed in this council. The other posts
were those of Dzongpoens under the control of the Trongsa Chila. These
Dzongpoens who had large areas under their jurisdiction also had Drungpas,
the Subdivisional Administrative Officers and the Gups, the Village Headman to
assist them. The other office bearers who assisted the Desi, Poenlops and the Dzongpoens were
Droenyer (Chief of Protocol), Zimpoen ( གཟིམ་དཔོན་ )or the Chief Supervisor of attendants,
Darpoen ( དར་དཔོན་ ), Army in charge, Nyerchhen ( གཉེར་ཆེན་ ) Officer in charge of rations, and
Norpoen ( ནོར་དཔོན་ ), Officer incharge of cattle etc. Though the Desi as well as each of the
Poenlops and Dzongpoens had these officers to assist them, the importance and
power of the office bearers differed greatly. For instance, the Droenyer of the Desi
was more powerful and influential than that of the Dzongpoen.
National Identity
The Zhabdrung realized that the biggest threat to the Bhutanese sovereignty was its lack of a National Identity. The linguistic variety of Bhutan was so large that each region spoke its own dialect. The dress code and food habits differed from one region to another. This diversity was seen as a disadvantage because Tibet could take advantage of the situation and pose threat from cultural as well as religious fronts. Thus, the Zhabdrung felt the need to introduce customs, traditions, dress, ceremonies, festivals, and language that reflected distinct Bhutanese features. The introduction of the ceremony of Zhugdrel Phuensum Tshogpa after the completion of Punakha Dzong is a feature special to Bhutan. This ceremony symbolizes the Bhutanese Nationhood and unity amongst its different valleys. Even today, this ceremony is popular for all degrees of celebration as a prelude. The Dzongs that were built under his command represented strength, which safeguarded the Bhutanese sovereignty from external and internal threats besides being a source from where the Dharma diffused. Today, this unique architecture reflects the Bhutanese aesthetic expressions and their ways of life as well as unity. There are many other unique features created by the Zhabdrung such as the dress code, festivals and even the rituals. Suffice it to say that this identity created by the Zhabdrung has become an element that distinguishes Bhutanese from others. Today, this unique identity has become an effective weapon of safeguarding the Bhutanese sovereignty.
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