Culture Projects
With the aim of digitising manuscript archives, recording vanishing traditions, promoting historical memory and cultural knowledge, and leveraging cultural and spiritual heritage for environment conservation and socio-economic development, Loden carries out various projects. Since 2003, our founder Lopen Karma Phuntsho has carried out projects in collaboration with local and international partners, and in 2013 implemented nationwide projects through Shejun Agency for Bhutan’s Cultural Document and Research, which was merged with Loden in 2017.
2004 - Documentation of the Manuscripts in Gangtey Monastic Centre (EAP039)
Through this project funded by the Endangered Archives Programme, the entire library of Gangteng temple, Gangteng Rinpoche’s private library and the manuscripts in the monastic colleges were digitized, making it the first major digitisation project in the country. The project produced 1451 volumes containing 270,398 pages in digital copies.
2007 - Historical Study and Documentation of the Pema Lingpa tradition in Bhutan
Through this project funded by the Endangered Archives Programme, the entire library of Gangteng temple, Gangteng Rinpoche’s private library and the manuscripts in the monastic colleges were digitized, making it the first major digitisation project in the country. The project produced 1451 volumes containing 270,398 pages in digital copies.
2009 - The Digital Documentation of Manuscripts at Drametse and Ogyen Choling (EAP105)
With support from the Endangered Archives Programme, the project carried out digitisation of manuscripts and rare block prints in Ogyen Choling, Drametse and Nyala temples producing 144,728 images of rare books.
2010 - The Digital Documentation of the Manuscripts in Thadrak, Tshamdrak and Neyphug Temples (EAP310)
Funded by the Endangered Archives Programme, the project covered the digitisation of manuscripts and rare block prints in Thadrak, Neyphu, Phurdrup Gonpa, and Tshamdrak temples producing 287,193 images of rare books.
2012 - Digital documentation of Dongkala, Chizing, Dodedra and Phajoding temple archives (EAP570)
With the fourth funding from Endangered Archives Programme, manuscripts and rare block prints in Dongkarla, Phurdokha, Mendrup Gonpa, Pagar Lhakhang, Chizhi Gonpa, Phajoding, Pumola, Thujedrak, Dodedrak, and Dhue Gonpa temples were digitised. The project produced 300,000 images of rare books.
2013 - Documentation of Bhutan’s Oral and Intangible Cultures
Funded by Arcadia Fund and with support from University of Virginia, this project undertook a nationwide recording of Bhutan’s cultures. The five year project covering all twenty districts of Bhutan produced over 3000 hours of audio-visual recordings and some 150,000 pictures of cultural items, events and places. An exhaustive cultural typology and descriptions were also created.
2015 - Publication of Biographies of Pema Lingpa and his sons
In collaboration with Pedling Choki Gatshel, the religious organization of H.E. Gangteng Rinpoche, we have published the autobiography of Pema Lingpa, along with the biographies of his son, Thugsey Dawa Gyaltshen, and his grandson, Pema Thinley.
2015 - Publication of Twilight Cultures
In collaboration with and funding from Helvetas, the book Twilight Cultures was published covering the socio-cultural and economic changes taking place in four of the remote ethnic communities in Bhutan.
2015 - Manuscript Workshop and Photo Acquisition
With support from the Swiss Development Cooperation, we organized a successful seminar on manuscript studies that brought together scholars from both Western academia and Bhutan’s monastic system. Additionally, the project significantly expanded our Bhutan photographic archive by securing 5,400 historic photos from British collections.
2016 - Cultural Documentation of Talo-Nubgang and Chimi Lhakhang Community Landscapes
This project carried out cultural documentation of cultural sites, features, artefacts, and stories of Talo-Nubgang and Chimi Lhakhang area, with funding from the World Bank.
2019 - Digitalisation of the Kanjur set in Trashiyangtse Dzong, Bhutan
With funding support from the Borderlands Kanjur Project at the University of Vienna’s Department of South Asian, Tibetan, and Buddhist Studies, the project successfully digitized a set of Kanjur at Trashiyangtse Dzong, producing 45,164 digital images.
2020 - Leveraging Cultural Practices and Scientific Knowledge for Environmental Conversation in Tali
Supported by the UNDP GEF Small Grant Program and in collaboration with various local and national agencies, the Tali Lake in Zhemgang was successfully revived through this project The project included mapping and demarcation, developing a footpath and eco-cultural trail, conducting a biodiversity assessment, and cleaning the lake. We also produced an audio-visual documentary highlighting the lake’s significance and providing guidance for its sustainable management.
(2020 - 2021) ICH Video Production Project in Bhutan
This project, funded by the International Information and Networking Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region (ICHCAP) under the auspices of UNESCO, successfully produced 10 documentary films on the intangible cultural heritage of Bhutan.
(2020 - 2022) Digitisation of 20 remote Bhutanese archives - EAP1494
