The Black-Slate Edict of Punakha Dzong
61 Pages Posted: 1 May 2020
Date Written: June 1, 2019
Abstract
This text provides an introduction to and a translation of an inscription engraved on black slates at Punakha rDzong chung. The inscription purports to contain a legal code of Zhabs-drung Ngag-dbang rnam-rgyal, the founder of the Bhutanese State. The main intention of the text is to equate the organization of the newly established ‘Brug-pa state to the organization of the Tibetan imperial state of Srong-btsan sgam-po, thereby legitimizing and sanctifying the Zhabs-drung´s rule in Bhutan. For this purpose, the inscription takes as its point of reference the Section on Law and State, a chapter on Tibetan imperial law and administration found in the mid 16th century text mKhas pa’i dga’ ston by dPa'-bo gTsug-lag phreng-ba (1504-1566).
Keywords: Black-Slate, Zhabdrung, Bhutan, law, legal code
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