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Chogley Yeshey Ngodrup (1851-1917) was the fifth rebirth of the aspect of speech of the Shabdrung. He was the 57th and last secular ruler before the introduction of the monarchy. From 1915 until his death in 1917, he was also in office as Bhutan's 53rd head abbot.
Photo by J. C. White, 1905; loan from a private collection
Container for betel (bata), silver with fire-gilding, coral; H: 9 cm, diameter: 20 cm; loan from a private collection
A container of this quality and size would have been used by the nobility and high clergy. Chewing betel is wide spread in all social strata, by men and women, who are very fond of the stimulating effect of the betel nut.
During the coronation ceremony in 1907, Ugyen Wangchuck is sitting next to the head abbot, Je Khenpo. While older pictures show Je Khenpo's throne as higher than Ugyen Wangchuck's, both are of equal height here. The table of the newly crowned monarch with the sacrificial scarf, however, is a bit higher. Excerpt from a photo by H. Hyslop; loan from a private collection