"Virtuous Beings"; The concept of tha damtshig and being a moral person in contemporary Bhutanese society

Whitecross, Richard W

Abstract

This paper sets out a preliminary investigation of tha damtshig. In particular, it examines the concept of tha damtshig, and its role in the creation of a sense of moral identity among contemporary Bhutanese. The concept of tha damtshig is central to Bhutanese social values and based on Buddhist teachings. However, more recently the concept has become intertwined with notions of loyalty to the state and political allegiance. By focusing on how the concept of tha damtshig is created and embodied in everyday life, and in its use to create and maintain a moral sense of personhood, we can discern the interplay between popular, ground-level understandings and perspectives and state policies as Bhutan seeks to balance social and political transformation with maintaining its traditional values.

Citation

Whitecross, R. W. (2010). "Virtuous Beings"; The concept of tha damtshig and being a moral person in contemporary Bhutanese society. Himalaya, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies, 28, 71-82

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: 2010
• Deposit Date: May 13, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: May 13, 2015
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 28
• Pages: 71-82
• Keywords: tha damtshig; moral identity; Bhutan; cultural values
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/8098