Staff Reporter

The sacred collection of eight manifestations of Guru Rinpoche, known as Guru Tshen Gyed, has been reunited with Bhutan after residing overseas for over 50 years. These historic slates, previously housed in a private collection, will now be on display at the Wangduechhoeling Palace Museum and Cultural Centre in Bumthang.

The origins of this return trace back to the Third Druk Gyalpo, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, who gifted the intricately carved slates to his close friends Monica and Fritz von Schulthess during his personal visits to Switzerland in the 1960s. For more than five decades, the von Schulthess-Oltramare family of Switzerland safeguarded these exquisite artworks, which embody the enlightened activity of Guru Rinpoche.

In a heartfelt gesture, during a recent visit to Bhutan, the Hoch and Oltramare families—descendants of the von Schulthess family—returned the precious slates to Bhutan, honouring the legacy of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo.

Soon, visitors to the Wangduechhoeling Palace Museum will be able to experience the profound cultural and spiritual significance of these works in the “Lotus Born” Gallery.