Par-zo, The Art of Woodblock Carving

The name ‘Par-zo’ is a combination of two meaningful units. ‘Par’ refers to figure or an image and ‘zo’ denotes art. However, the engraved products are generally called Shing-par or can also be said in the reverse order as Par-shing which is literally engraved woodblock.

Par-zo can be divided into two sub-arts: mask and image or script engraving. The script engraving is further divided into 'Do-ko' stone engraving and 'Shing-par' woodblock engraving. However, the art of scriptural woodblock carving is now considered as an endangered intangible cultural element of Bhutan.

Even there are a few Buddhist masters who created art, none of them were as highly revered as Padma Lingpa (1450-1521), who was an eminent Buddhist master and also very well known for his sculptured figurines, wall paintings, masks, cloak of chain mails, swords, Vajra (thunderbolts), and numerous woodblock engravings treasured in monasteries. His achievements are certainly outstanding.

The art was transmitted to his disciples and his sons who gradually spread the art wide across the country. There are 624 woodblocks carving in the biography of Padma Lingpa which is revered as the oldest woodblock treasure in Bhutan. The colophon of the woodblock says, “Initiated by Thug-sey (heart-son) Dawa Gyaltshen (1499-1587) in the memory of his late father.”

These woodblocks still preserved at Kun-zang dra monastery, one of his temples founded in the 15th century in Bumthang district, central Bhutan.

Dhar-par is considered as the biggest woodblock engraving. The biggest would have a meter in length, a foot in breadth and nearly two inches of width. These are mainly used for printing prayers flags, Thang-ka (tapestry) and Mandalas.

These products are mostly used for the benefit of the deceased, to bring luck and fortunes for those living ones and while the Mandalas images are for rituals purpose.

Yig-par normally in rectangular shape and in various sizes such as Dha-tshe ma (arrow size), Ter-tshe ma (medium size or size of hidden treasure religious texts), Thru-tshe ma (a foot or a length of an ankle to stretched middle finger tip), and Pey-thung (small size).

Yig-par appears in smaller size compared to Dhar-par blocks. It entirely contains Buddhist scripts sometimes with few portraits of some enlightened beings. Scriptures like Buddhist cannons, commentaries, philosophies, instructions, meditations, etc. are often engraved on both the side. However, both the Dhar-par and Yig-par will have identical mirror-like scripts.

Either of these Sing-par are primarily used for mass printing and publication of sacred doctrine basically to impart the Buddhist values. Those Institutions having enormous collection of woodblocks serve as Par-khang (printing house) in olden days.

History records that Bhutan has some the popular printing house between 17th to 19th century. These were Pung-thang (Punakha Dzong) and their publications were called Pung-thang parma, Choe-tse (Trong sa Dzong), Choe-tse par-ma and Tra-shi gang (Trashigang Dzong), Tra-shi gang parma with unique mark of identity.

Normally for Dhar-par printing five different fabric colors; white, yellow, red, green and blue are used. These colors represent five elements while cloth is purposefully used for the durability. The prayer flags are either attached to a pole and hoisted on the hills or stitched on a rope and hung on the tree branches, across the cliffs, bridges' railing, and in the sacred places.

The wind helps to flutter the prayer flags and it is believed that fluttering of flag is similar to reading and recitation of prayers. It not only helps to liberate the deceased souls, magnetizing one's fortunes but also the wind touching the prayer flags turns to holy air, purifying the rest of the place benefiting sentient beings in realizing the Buddhahood nature by mere feeling of the air.

Normally, hardwood such as la-tag (birch; betule utilis), lung-tag (birch; betula alnoides), Tsen-den (cypress; cupressus corneyana), Ta-go (walnut; Juglans regia), etc. are often used for engraving.

In Bhutan, artists normally prefer la-tag or tag-pa shing, betule utilis due to mass availability of the resources and considering the quality of engraving compared to other woods.

Betule utilis tree is grown abundantly at elevations of 4,800 to 3,000 meters above sea-level along with Junipers, conifers, and rhododendrons. It grows as high as 15 to 25 meters approximately. The leaf measures 3 to 10 centimeters long with paper-like maroon bark.

Sek-chung is the main engraving tool made of a good quality metal, handle of soft wood and with a metal ring to prevent the handle from cracking the handle. It is similar to the skew chisel with pointy slanted tip. These appears in various sizes depending on the size of scripts.

Min-dru is another important engraving tool mainly used for making a hole and carving curve shaped syllebles such as; O-shaped or half-circular-shaped scripts. Min-dru is like a fluted chisel and it has similar length and decorations like Sek-chung.

Besides Sek-chung and Min-dru, there are also other tools crucially necessary for the art. To mention these; Tag-pai Shing, jeli (plane) and Sok-som (sandpaper) to smoothen the plank, Par-yig (script sheet), Pyin (glue) to paste the script, Sek-chung, Min-dru, Dar-do (whetstone) to sharpen the tools, Pe-kar mar-khu (mustard oil) to soften the wood, phag-ze (brush) to clean he surface, and Chu-rey (damp cloth) to cover the woodblock.

However sometimes, woodblocks can also be seem placed on the desk with the left fingers supporting firmly from the left end that aids to produce qualitative woodblock.

Sek-chung is normally held by the right hand: the middle finger and the thumb help to it hold firmly; the pointer finger is used to press and the ring finger function as the supporter to the Sek-chung tip. The carving is usually started from the right to the left direction.

Completing the engraving, a draft printing is made to examine the quality of scripts and for proofreading before into a proper woodblock shape. If there are broken scripts, missing words, a mark is put for location. The final step of the engraving is called zug-jab or making a replacement. Again a final editing is done for the authenticity.

If the woodblock appears to be fine, a label is carved on the side-face of the left hand-side of the block; it includes the abridged title, volume, and page number of identification. It is then turned into traditional shape for final printing.

Depending on the thickness of the woodblock, two to three hours are needed for the wood to fully absorb the oil.

Soaking the wood in oil is the traditional way of fumigating it. The process also hardens the wood and saves it from pesticides, rotting and also makes water resistant.

Proper stacking and care should be maintained to locaet the woodblocks. It is recommended not to stack one another on the top since there is high risk of breaking the scripts when it is being used. Therefore, woodblocks should always be stacked in a horizontal standing position with a foam sheet cut in its size and insert between the woodblocks to protect the engraved scripts.

Large volumes of texts are printed from printing houses and distributed to needy institutions, and also sold for the institution development purpose.

In Buddhist context, engraved woodblocks are highly revered as they commemorate Buddha and other enlightened beings. The holy textual scriptures as well as woodblocks represents their speech.

Thus, in fortresses, monasteries, temples, and even in some private houses in Bhutan, huge collections of ancient scriptures are found.

Valuable by the quality of the paper used, the texts printed from woodblocks are considered blessed and sacred. Their contents are authentic. These texts are read, recited, and even paraded around the village to wharf off evil spirits and bless the land with timely rain, bountiful harvest, peace, and tranquility. Both the engraving process and products are integral to Bhutan's Intangible Cultural Heritage.