Dzong architecture

Dzong architecture is used for dzongs, a distinctive type of fortified monastery (རྫོང, , dzoŋ˩˨) architecture found mainly in Bhutan and Tibet. The architecture is massive in style with towering exterior walls surrounding a complex of courtyards, temples, administrative offices, and monks' accommodation. Distinctive features include: High inward sloping walls of brick and stone painted white with few or no windows in the lower sections of the wall Use of a surrounding red ochre stripe near the top of the walls, sometimes punctuated by large gold circles Use of unique style flared roofs atop interior temples Massive entry doors made of wood and iron Interior courtyards and temples brightly colored in Buddhist-themed art motifs such as the ashtamangala or swastika History of Bhutan Dzongs serve as the religious, military, administrative, and social centers of their district. They are often the site of an annual tsechu or religious festival. Typically half of the rooms inside a dzong serve administrative purposes (such as the office of the penlop or governor), while the other half is dedicated to religious purposes, primarily the temple and housing for monks. This division between administrative and religious functions reflects the idealized duality of power between the religious and administrative branches of government. Tibet used to be divided into 53 prefecture districts also called dzongs. There were two dzongpöns for each dzong, a lama and a layman. They were entrusted with both civil and military powers and are equal in all respects, though subordinate to the generals and the Chinese amban in military matters, until the expulsion of the ambans following the Xinhai Revolution in 1912. Today, 71 counties in the Tibet Autonomous Region are called dzongs in the Tibetic languages. Bhutanese dzong architecture reached its zenith in the 17th century under the leadership of Ngawang Namgyal, the 1st Zhabdrung Rinpoche. The Zhabdrung relied on visions and omens to site each of the dzongs.