Knowing Bhutanese textile: (kishuthara)

Origin:

In late 600 AD the Chinese wife of Tibetan king Songtsen Gembo, Ashi Jaza, introduced the most popular belief the loom and weaving traditional wear in Bhutan. The most popular design kishuthara highly intricate weave originated from Khoma village in eastern Bhutan. Legend has it the design Kishuthara was tweeted by a bird when Ashi Jaza was wondering about a design. The bird tweeted; “chi tu nee nan, nee thu seum nan”(“pick one add two, pick two add three”) kishuthara -tema design was thus born.

Weaving was known to be a prophecy an art only few could master especially kishuthara, not all kurtoep (people from eastern Bhutan) but only few knew how to weave. Weavers where never poverty-stricken nor had to plead, weaving was necessary art only few could perfect the art of kishuthara.

Textiles are not only symbols of wealth for Bhutanese it is also a social status and to this day peoples worth are often based on clothes they wear. The popularity of the textiles thrived as the ruling Wangchuck dynasty came from a renowned weaving region, kurtoe. As the dynasty moved westward in a quest for stronger and unified Bhutan in mid-nineteen century, the art of Bhutanese textile and the techniques flourished throughout the kingdom.

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Narrated by: Jurmey Wangmo (designer)