Phuntsho Choden
| Phuntsho Choden | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Queen Phuntsho Choden in 1926 | |||||
| Queen consort of Bhutan | |||||
| Tenure | 26 August 1926 – 30 March 1952 | ||||
| Coronation | 14 March 1927[citation needed] | ||||
| Predecessor | Tsundue Pema Lhamo | ||||
| Successor | Kesang Choden | ||||
| Co-Druk Gyaltsuen | Pema Dechen | ||||
| Born | 1911 Wangducholing Palace, Bumthang | ||||
| Died | (aged 91-92) Dechencholing Palace | ||||
| Spouse | |||||
| Issue | Jigme Dorji Wangchuck | ||||
| |||||
| House | Wangchuck (by marriage) | ||||
| Father | Dasho Jamyang, Chumed Zhalgno[1] | ||||
| Mother | Ashi Decho Dorji | ||||
| Religion | Buddhism | ||||
Ashi Phuntsho Choden (1911 – 24 August 2003) was the Queen consort of Bhutan, as the wife of King Jigme Wangchuck.[2]
Early life
Ashi Phuntsho Choden was born in 1911 at Wangducholing Palace to Chumed Zhalgno, Dasho Jamyang (of the Tamzhing Choji family - also known as the Myo family -) and Ashi Decho, daughter of Ashi Yeshay Choden (who was the sister of Druk Gyalpo Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck).[3]
She had two full-brothers and two full-sisters, and another half-siblings by the second marriages of her parents:
- Dasho Gonpo Dorji, Chumed Zhalgno.
- Ashi Pema Dechen (1918–1991).
- Dasho Lam Nado (1920–1989).
- Ashi Chimi.
From an early age, Ashi Phuntsho Choden received a traditional education, including lessons on Buddhism. She received teachings, empowerment, and reading transmissions in the Drukpa Kargyu, Karma Kargyu, Dujom, Peling, and Nyingthig traditions from renowned Buddhist lamas.
Marriage and family
She married Bhutan's second king, a cross cousin, Jigme Wangchuck, in 1923, when she was 12 years old at Thinley Rabten Palace, Phodrang.[4] They were second cousins. Ashi Phuntsho Choden was the half-sister of the maternal grandfather of the current Queen of Bhutan, Jetsun Pema, and she was the great grandmother of the Fifth Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. She made sure that her only child, Druk Gyalsey Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, learned both English and Hindi in early childhood to prepare him for Bhutan's escalating involvement in foreign diplomacy.
Her younger sister, Ashi Pema Dechen (1918–1991), was the second wife of her husband since 1932, when she was 14 years old.[5]
Royal duties
She was very religious. Phuntsho Choden played an important role in maintaining and strengthening Bhutan's rich Buddhist heritage. She built a legacy of religious institutions, established spiritual learning centres, and preserved the rich imagery that formed a core of Bhutan’s religious history.
She created the monument National Memorial Chorten in Thimphu which she built in memory of her son, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, for the well being of the nation and the people.
Death
She died on 24 August 2003 at Dechencholing Palace. Her body was ceremoniously laid out for 49 days and was taken to places she had been to when she was living.
Honours
| Styles of Queen Grandmother Phuntsho Choden | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reference style | Her Majesty |
| Spoken style | Your Majesty |
| Alternative style | The Royal Grandmother |
Bhutan :
King Jigme Singye Investiture Medal (2 June 1974).[citation needed]
Commemorative Silver Jubilee Medal of King Jigme Singye (2 June 1999).[citation needed]
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Ancestry
| Ancestors of Phuntsho Choden | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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References
- ^ "Thukten Shedrup Dargay Choling - Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators".
- ^ "Central Tibetan Administration Mourns the Demise of Bhutanese Gayum Phuntsho Choden". Retrieved 15 September 2014.
- ^ "Central Tibetan Administration Mourns the Demise of Bhutanese Gayum Phuntsho Choden". Phayul.com.
- ^ "WANGCHUCK DYNASTY. 100 Years of Enlightened Monarchy in Bhutan. Lham Dorji".
- ^ "Queens of Bhutan".
Notes
- ^ Women in Bhutan retain their names upon marriage.
 | This biography of a member of an Asian royal house is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
