Dzong architecture

Presented by Parnita Rai Karpagam University

INTRODUCTION Bhutan , the land of thunder Dragon (Druk Yul), is a landlocked state in South Asia located at the eastern end of the Himalayas. It is bordered to the north by China and to the south, east and west by the Republic of India.

Bhutan is predominantly comprised of steep and high mountains crisscrossed by a network of swift flowing rivers in the deep valleys. The elevation rises from 200 m (660 ft) in the southern foothills to more than 7,000 m (23,000 ft).

Bhutan in the last few years have undergone so much change in its political system, economics, societal growth and development. The country which used to be isolated from the world is no more hidden Shangri-La. The developmental activities in its own strength are rapidly taking place which has brought to break the certain rules of most conserved and preserved architecture of Bhutan. The feasibility and the indigenous science has stretched its influence so much that its unavoidable to not to get inspired of its possibilities and introduce the changes meticulously and carefully though in architecture of Bhutan in modern context.

BHUTANESE ARCHITECTURE The Bhutanese (traditional) architecture is doubtlessly one of the best expressions of the dragon kingdom, in terms of quality and originality. Though the origin of its architecture goes back to Tibet, yet as it arrived into Bhutan, where the climate is milder with abundant rainfall and plentiful supply of timber, the building idea has given birth to a unique architecture in which wood plays a major role. Shingle roofs, rammed earth timber framing walls are common, as the raw materials are easy to find.

Bhutans culture and traditional heritage is most visible in its commanding architectural styles displayed by Dzongs (fortresses), Lhakhangs (temples), Goenpas (monasteries), Chortens (stupas), and housing units sprawling over the country. With continual adaptation to local topography, climatic conditions, local material availability and construction technology, indigenous Bhutanese architecture was heavily influenced by religious beliefs and stand as witness to domestic situations over the centuries.

DZONGS The great Zhabdrung Nawang unified the area and cultivated a distinct Bhutanese identity during the 7th century AD, since when dzongs evolved. The dzongs have always been the integral part of Bhutanese civilization and Bhutanese culture in its intricate details of craftsmanship and magnificent architecture in its scale. Literally Dzong means fortress, where the administration and military centre of an area was concentrated.
Utse

Typical dzong plan

Essentially, as is obvious in the earlier dzongs like Semtokha, the structure consists of a series of rooms enclosing a central courtyard, in which stands a central temple or citadel.
The development of a dzong from this original plan was brought about by the dual nature of its function, that is, that of monastic establishment together with an administrative centre.
Typical Utse plan

There was a physical division of the dzong into two parts to serve this purpose.

TYPOLOGY The most defining factor which distinguishes the Dzongs from other forms of architecture around the world is the fact that they were in the past and are still today multifunctional.

The military would use the Dzong as a garrison if need be, and as an armory. The prior governments would claim the Dzongs as the seat of their rule. The administrative bodies of a district would be housed within the Dzongs, as would monks.
And the Dzongs were also places of trade and an area where people would congregate to share in celebration with their fellow man, especially during the annual tshechu (mask dance festival). The Dzong architecture is massive in style with towering exterior walls surrounding a complex of courtyards, temples, administrative offices, and monks' accommodation.

The dzong- system are located at all strategic positions and most of the it were built according to a common plan with regional variations. A typical dzong houses a layout with a central block called as UTSE usually surrounded by smaller blocks. A great open courtyard is achieved in the central.

FUNCTION OF THE DZONG MILITARY The very location of the dzong is militarily a strategic one, commanding a good view over traditional routes of attack from Tibet and giving the dzongs a control over passes into other valleys.

The steep, tall battered Walls, pierced with arrow slits and tiny high set windows contribute to its impregnable structure, as does the single entrance, set so high that entry is impossible without steps; these are usually carved out of a single piece of wood and so are easily lifted and removed.
RELIGIOUS The religious faces of the Dzong manifests itself primarily in the temple it holds and in its body of monks. Thus it has the elaborate code of dress and etiquette and the decorative aspects that underline its religious functions. Three types of paintings can be found- the frescoes inside the chapels, the painted wood work and the painted sculpture that is omnipresent- all of which are religious in their symbolism. The monastic centre for the Buddhist education is mostly carried out inside the Dzong under the tutorship of the head abbot of the district.

ADMINISTRATIVE Symbolic of consolidated power, the Dzong houses offices and administrative staff half its space. Whoever controls the Dzong, controls the valley or area. The Dzong houses the spaces for the official responsibility of the welfare of the town or the valley. It acts as the seat of power of the person who is directly representing the king. In some of the Dzongs, the court is also located inside the Dzong premises.

CULTURAL SYMBOL Buddhism though came much later in Bhutan, its influence reached everywhere in Bhutanese and their culture. From the way we build houses to the monasteries, from the ways we learn to the ways we behave, Buddhism and its influence is displayed. Architecture however has the deep plantation of Buddhism. And whenever architecture of Bhutan is discussed about, without understanding the dzong, its incomplete. Dzong is symbol of architecture, culture and the religion of Bhutan.

And the fact that everyone who is visiting the dzongs either of official work or for religious purposes, are expected to enter the dzong premises in perfect attires of Bhutanese culture as a respect and admission of its power.

SOCIAL SPACE Dzongs have always been a place to come and socialize once in a while. And it is done normally through the celebration of festivals inside the courtyards of the dzong. Idea though started as the celebration of victories during the time of Zhabdrung, the custom continues till date. Once in a while, everyone including the peasants, civil workers, dashos, royal families all gather for a festival which will last about 3 days.

ELEMENTS OF DESIGN WALLS A distinctive feature of a dzong is its the batter of the walls. It is understood that the battering of wall in dzong is of Tibetan influence which is shown in the similar style of achieving the battering of wall by reducing the thickness of wall from exterior. It is often noticed that the red strip is painted below the roof which is done so to signify the religious importance of the dzong. The masonry load beading walls support the most loads from roof and the structure itself.

Red strip (khemar)

COLUMNS ( karchen ) The columns play an important role in the structure, providing support at regular intervals along with the beam that supports the joists. The capitals or brackets between the column and beam with their wide form may actually be absorbing some weight and guiding it down to the column. Columns can be placed on any floor- preferably one above the other to give balance.

WINDOWS There are basically three types of windows. The first is simplest, consisting of a rectangular space surrounded by wooden posts on all the sides and divided down the middle by another wooden post. The wooden elements can be carved or can be left plain. The wooden sliding shutters are included. Second one is like a chaitya type window- a series of lobed trefoil arches, quite narrow which are often interspersed with panels of wood brightly painted. The third type of window is most elaborated and grand, consisting a long and broad window area which projects much the same manner as balcony.

RABSEL
The rabsel is a timber structure constructed with a series of vertical and hotizontal timber members with shaming (ekara). it projects out of the main superstructure and rests on the ground floor joists known as tsechukhayniym. The rabsel will always have cornices. Rabsel can be continuous throughout or can be broken down in to smaller units.

SHAMING (ekra wall) The ekara wall is basically a wattle and daub wall, with mud plaster on bamboo mat inserted between wooden frames. The wall can also simply be a wooden plank between frames.

DOORS The dzongs usually have a single entrance with massive wooden doors. Within the interior are more doors but the main one is always the focus of the attention. ROOF The pitched roof consists of four or more heavy trusses interlocked to form a square frame on which rafters can be laid. Rising vertically from the middle of two opposite sides are two taller wooden posts which in turn hold up and are connected by the ridge beam. This frame is held together by a system of interlocking pieces. Above the trusses, parallel to the ridge beam are purlins, laid across from one another. Roof is a complete structure in its design and beauty. Most of the Bhutansese buildings are also defined by the way in which roof is designed and colored. Dzongs are mostly colored red and yellow while residential are mostly plain white.

LEAN TO ROOF
Gyaltshen

The chenkhep roof is a lean-to-roof usually built at a gable end to protect structure from rain. In dzongs, these roofs are topped by a Jabzhi or sertong.

Sertong

Sertong is the highest architecture element placed on dzongs and monasteries. Usually placed on a jabzhi roof with windows fully incorporated with traditional cornice. The gyaltshen or the vistory banner is the second highest architecture element. It is usually used in palaces to symbolize the leadership where as Sertong is used for religious buildings.

CONCLUSION The dzongs adapting the change in its typology is of course triggered due to the change in political scenario, economics. society must be manifested in the dzongs as these structures are the identity of Bhutanese architecture.

Bhutanese architecture holds the one of the most enormous and beautiful architectures in the world with its rich cultural and religious element.
A structure that were first evolved mainly for military function has now become a place for administration and a placed for social collaboration.