Traditional pottery art in Bhutan is known in Dzongkha as Dza-zo and the artisans are Dza-khem; in Kurtoep dialect they’re known as Phreng, art, and Phreng cho-khan, artisans. Dza-zo traditional form of pottery falls within the scope of recognized traditional Bhutanese arts and crafts. Today, traditional artisans in Gangzur village in Gangzur village block, Lhuentse district continue to make Bhutanese pottery. The nearby village of Maenjabi in Maenbi block formerly practiced the art, but over the past twenty years lost its artisans to age and migration for work.\n\nArchaeological evidence shows that ceramics have been important from the time of early settlement in Bhutan. Earthen pots were used as household items in the absence of utensils made of copper, bronze, and iron as we know them today. With the visit of Guru Rinpoche to Bhutan in the 8th century, handicrafts were introduced to Bhutan, including Dza-zo pottery, which was then propagated by Drubchen Thangthong Gyalpo (1361-1485) and Rigzin Pema Lingpa (1450-1521) in the 14th and 15th centuries. The tradition of handicrafts reached its peak in the 17th century when Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel (1594-1651) took personal interest in arts such as Lhadri painting, patra engraving, tshem-zo embroidery, chag-zo blacksmithing, and troe-zo silversmithing. He reinforced the practice of these artisanal skills including pottery. \n\nTraditional pottery was first practiced in the villages of Rinpung in Paro, Wangbarma in Thimphu, Shar Goenkha in Wangdi and Gangzur in Lhuntse district. From these places, the skills and knowledge have been passed down from generation to generation until today.

Traditional pottery art in Bhutan is known in Dzongkha as Dza-zo and the artisans are Dza-khem; in Kurtoep dialect they’re known as Phreng, art, and Phreng cho-khan, artisans. Dza-zo traditional form of pottery falls within the scope of recognized traditional Bhutanese arts and crafts. Today, traditional artisans in Gangzur village in Gangzur village block, Lhuentse district continue to make Bhutanese pottery. The nearby village of Maenjabi in Maenbi block formerly practiced the art, but over the past twenty years lost its artisans to age and migration for work.\n\nArchaeological evidence shows that ceramics have been important from the time of early settlement in Bhutan. Earthen pots were used as household items in the absence of utensils made of copper, bronze, and iron as we know them today. With the visit of Guru Rinpoche to Bhutan in the 8th century, handicrafts were introduced to Bhutan, including Dza-zo pottery, which was then propagated by Drubchen Thangthong Gyalpo (1361-1485) and Rigzin Pema Lingpa (1450-1521) in the 14th and 15th centuries. The tradition of handicrafts reached its peak in the 17th century when Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel (1594-1651) took personal interest in arts such as Lhadri painting, patra engraving, tshem-zo embroidery, chag-zo blacksmithing, and troe-zo silversmithing. He reinforced the practice of these artisanal skills including pottery. \n\nTraditional pottery was first practiced in the villages of Rinpung in Paro, Wangbarma in Thimphu, Shar Goenkha in Wangdi and Gangzur in Lhuntse district. From these places, the skills and knowledge have been passed down from generation to generation until today.

Lion Dance of the Tay and Nung listed in the National ICH List in 2017\nThe Lion Dance of the Tay and Nung of Lang Son City, Viet Nam, is usually performed during New Year celebrations. Villagers wearing lion masks perform dances to wish for a prosperous life and to ward off evil. The lion dance has become an important part of the cultural identity of the Tay and Nung communities by combining local cultural elements, traditional martial arts, and folk dances through migration and cultural exchange between ethnic groups in the border region. A Lion Dance team typically consists of 12 to 14 performers. Members of the team perform lion dance, martial arts dance, acrobatics, and monkey dances. Additionally, they play drums, gongs, and cymbals. The dance embodies humanistic values and promotes community solidarity, fostering harmonious interaction with the natural environment.

Lion Dance of the Tay and Nung listed in the National ICH List in 2017\nThe Lion Dance of the Tay and Nung of Lang Son City, Viet Nam, is usually performed during New Year celebrations. Villagers wearing lion masks perform dances to wish for a prosperous life and to ward off evil. The lion dance has become an important part of the cultural identity of the Tay and Nung communities by combining local cultural elements, traditional martial arts, and folk dances through migration and cultural exchange between ethnic groups in the border region. A Lion Dance team typically consists of 12 to 14 performers. Members of the team perform lion dance, martial arts dance, acrobatics, and monkey dances. Additionally, they play drums, gongs, and cymbals. The dance embodies humanistic values and promotes community solidarity, fostering harmonious interaction with the natural environment.

Lion Dance of the Tay and Nung listed in the National ICH List in 2017\nThe Lion Dance of the Tay and Nung of Lang Son City, Viet Nam, is usually performed during New Year celebrations. Villagers wearing lion masks perform dances to wish for a prosperous life and to ward off evil. The lion dance has become an important part of the cultural identity of the Tay and Nung communities by combining local cultural elements, traditional martial arts, and folk dances through migration and cultural exchange between ethnic groups in the border region. A Lion Dance team typically consists of 12 to 14 performers. Members of the team perform lion dance, martial arts dance, acrobatics, and monkey dances. Additionally, they play drums, gongs, and cymbals. The dance embodies humanistic values and promotes community solidarity, fostering harmonious interaction with the natural environment.

Lion Dance of the Tay and Nung listed in the National ICH List in 2017\nThe Lion Dance of the Tay and Nung of Lang Son City, Viet Nam, is usually performed during New Year celebrations. Villagers wearing lion masks perform dances to wish for a prosperous life and to ward off evil. The lion dance has become an important part of the cultural identity of the Tay and Nung communities by combining local cultural elements, traditional martial arts, and folk dances through migration and cultural exchange between ethnic groups in the border region. A Lion Dance team typically consists of 12 to 14 performers. Members of the team perform lion dance, martial arts dance, acrobatics, and monkey dances. Additionally, they play drums, gongs, and cymbals. The dance embodies humanistic values and promotes community solidarity, fostering harmonious interaction with the natural environment.

Lion Dance of the Tay and Nung listed in the National ICH List in 2017\nThe Lion Dance of the Tay and Nung of Lang Son City, Viet Nam, is usually performed during New Year celebrations. Villagers wearing lion masks perform dances to wish for a prosperous life and to ward off evil. The lion dance has become an important part of the cultural identity of the Tay and Nung communities by combining local cultural elements, traditional martial arts, and folk dances through migration and cultural exchange between ethnic groups in the border region. A Lion Dance team typically consists of 12 to 14 performers. Members of the team perform lion dance, martial arts dance, acrobatics, and monkey dances. Additionally, they play drums, gongs, and cymbals. The dance embodies humanistic values and promotes community solidarity, fostering harmonious interaction with the natural environment.

Lion Dance of the Tay and Nung listed in the National ICH List in 2017\nThe Lion Dance of the Tay and Nung of Lang Son City, Viet Nam, is usually performed during New Year celebrations. Villagers wearing lion masks perform dances to wish for a prosperous life and to ward off evil. The lion dance has become an important part of the cultural identity of the Tay and Nung communities by combining local cultural elements, traditional martial arts, and folk dances through migration and cultural exchange between ethnic groups in the border region. A Lion Dance team typically consists of 12 to 14 performers. Members of the team perform lion dance, martial arts dance, acrobatics, and monkey dances. Additionally, they play drums, gongs, and cymbals. The dance embodies humanistic values and promotes community solidarity, fostering harmonious interaction with the natural environment.

Lion Dance of the Tay and Nung listed in the National ICH List in 2017\nThe Lion Dance of the Tay and Nung of Lang Son City, Viet Nam, is usually performed during New Year celebrations. Villagers wearing lion masks perform dances to wish for a prosperous life and to ward off evil. The lion dance has become an important part of the cultural identity of the Tay and Nung communities by combining local cultural elements, traditional martial arts, and folk dances through migration and cultural exchange between ethnic groups in the border region. A Lion Dance team typically consists of 12 to 14 performers. Members of the team perform lion dance, martial arts dance, acrobatics, and monkey dances. Additionally, they play drums, gongs, and cymbals. The dance embodies humanistic values and promotes community solidarity, fostering harmonious interaction with the natural environment.

Lion Dance of the Tay and Nung listed in the National ICH List in 2017\nThe Lion Dance of the Tay and Nung of Lang Son City, Viet Nam, is usually performed during New Year celebrations. Villagers wearing lion masks perform dances to wish for a prosperous life and to ward off evil. The lion dance has become an important part of the cultural identity of the Tay and Nung communities by combining local cultural elements, traditional martial arts, and folk dances through migration and cultural exchange between ethnic groups in the border region. A Lion Dance team typically consists of 12 to 14 performers. Members of the team perform lion dance, martial arts dance, acrobatics, and monkey dances. Additionally, they play drums, gongs, and cymbals. The dance embodies humanistic values and promotes community solidarity, fostering harmonious interaction with the natural environment.

Lion Dance of the Tay and Nung listed in the National ICH List in 2017\nThe Lion Dance of the Tay and Nung of Lang Son City, Viet Nam, is usually performed during New Year celebrations. Villagers wearing lion masks perform dances to wish for a prosperous life and to ward off evil. The lion dance has become an important part of the cultural identity of the Tay and Nung communities by combining local cultural elements, traditional martial arts, and folk dances through migration and cultural exchange between ethnic groups in the border region. A Lion Dance team typically consists of 12 to 14 performers. Members of the team perform lion dance, martial arts dance, acrobatics, and monkey dances. Additionally, they play drums, gongs, and cymbals. The dance embodies humanistic values and promotes community solidarity, fostering harmonious interaction with the natural environment.

Lion Dance of the Tay and Nung listed in the National ICH List in 2017\nThe Lion Dance of the Tay and Nung of Lang Son City, Viet Nam, is usually performed during New Year celebrations. Villagers wearing lion masks perform dances to wish for a prosperous life and to ward off evil. The lion dance has become an important part of the cultural identity of the Tay and Nung communities by combining local cultural elements, traditional martial arts, and folk dances through migration and cultural exchange between ethnic groups in the border region. A Lion Dance team typically consists of 12 to 14 performers. Members of the team perform lion dance, martial arts dance, acrobatics, and monkey dances. Additionally, they play drums, gongs, and cymbals. The dance embodies humanistic values and promotes community solidarity, fostering harmonious interaction with the natural environment.