Bhutan is known for handicraft items in bronze, silver and other metals. These items are the sculpture of religious figures that are widely practiced and in every temples and monasteries you could witness a large brightly painted and gilded status of the Buddha (Past, Present and Future), Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, Guru Rimpochhe and other saints and local deities of Bhutan.

Bhutan’s artistic tradition has its roots in Buddhism with almost all representation in the arts running along the prevailing theme of struggle between good and evil. Bhutanese art is mostly symbolic. It is highly decorative and ornamental. The Buddhist nature of Bhutan’s artistic heritage may be traced to Pema Lingpa, the great 15th Century terton (treasure discoverer), who was an accomplished painter, sculptor, xylographer, and architect.

In 1680, Desi Tenzin Rabgye opened the school of Zorig Chusum to teach 13 types of Bhutanese arts and crafts under the instruction of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. Such promotion of traditional Bhutanese art has been preserved through the centuries, with continued patronage provided by the Royal family, nobility and clergy. The common people, who depend on the artisans for a wide variety of metal and wooden objects indispensable to typical Bhutanese households, provide active support to the arts.The artist is often a religious man who creates the work commissioned by a Jinda or patron. Paintings and sculpture are made by groups of artists working in special workshops executed by monks or laymen. The basic preliminary work is done by the disciples, after which the master carries out the finishing touch of fine details.
Bhutanese arts and crafts reflect the unique spirit and identity of the Himalayan kingdom. The art of Zorig Chosum or the thirteen arts and crafts of Bhutan-remains very much alive today. There are two institutes of Zorig Chosum where these traditional arts and crafts are being taught today-one in the capital, Thimphu and the other in Trashi Yangtse in eastern Bhutan.

Architecture

The architecture of Bhutan is one of the Kingdom’s most visible distinctive features. The massive Dzongs (fortresses) with their upward sloping walls, the ancient monasteries and the humble farm house stand out as an important part of the country’s landscape. Each valley in Bhutan retains its own architectural character in terms of the type of building material used, ranging from mud to stone, and the special ambience of its most famous monasteries and Dzongs.