Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal

The Drukpa Kagyu lama who came to Bhutan from Tibet, unified the country, and established a system combining religious and secular rule.

Life

Drukpa lama

Ngawang Namgyal was a high lama of the Drukpa Kagyu school in Tibet; because of a dispute over succession within the school, he left Tibet in 1616 and arrived in western Bhutan.

Unified Bhutan

Using his religious authority to unite local powers, he repulsed several Tibetan attacks, built dzongs (fortresses serving as both monasteries and administrative centers) at Punakha, Thimphu and elsewhere, unified Bhutan, established a dual system of government shared by a religious leader and a secular chief administrator, and drew up a legal code.

Dzong

He died in 1651, but his death was kept secret for more than half a century; the official story was that he was "in meditative retreat."

Legacy

Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal is regarded as the founder of the Bhutanese state, and the dzongs and institutions he established still shape Bhutan today.

Did you know? Bhutan's native name, "Druk Yul" (Land of the Thunder Dragon), comes from the "Druk" of the Drukpa Kagyu school.

Key dates

• 1616Arrived in Bhutan
• 1629Built Simtokha Dzong
• 1637Built Punakha Dzong
• 1651Died (his death long kept secret)