What is the Old Name of Bhutan?
The earliest known names for the geographical area that broadly encompasses modern-day Bhutan are Mön (མོན་), Mönyul (མོན་ཡུལ་), or Lhömön (ལྷོ་མོན་). These appellations were used by traditional historians to refer to the region before it was known by its current name.
Ancient Appellations of Bhutan
Historically, the land now recognized as Bhutan was referred to by several ancient names, particularly by traditional Bhutanese historians. These names reflect the region's early perceived characteristics or geographical location.
- Mön (མོན་): This is considered the foundational and earliest specific name for the area.
- Mönyul (མོན་ཡུལ་): Often translated as "Mön country," it specifies the land or region associated with Mön.
- Lhömön (ལྷོ་མོན་): Meaning "Southern Mön," this name likely distinguished the region based on its location, presumably south of Tibet.
Decoding the Names: Etymology and Significance
The term Mön holds a significant etymological root that provides insight into how the region was perceived in ancient times. Traditional accounts explain that Mön is a derivative of the Tibetan word mun (མུན་), which directly means darkness. This association might have referred to the perceived spiritual or cultural obscurity of the region from a Tibetan perspective before the widespread advent of Buddhism, or perhaps its dense, forested, and less explored nature.
Here's a breakdown of these historical names:
| Old Name | Literal Meaning/Context |
|---|---|
| Mön | The foundational term for the region, derived from a Tibetan word for 'darkness'. |
| Mönyul | "Mön Country" or "Land of Mön," emphasizing the geographical territory where the Mön people or characteristics were found. |
| Lhömön | "Southern Mön," used to denote the area's relative position, indicating it was the southern part of a broader "Mön" region or south of the main Tibetan cultural sphere. |
Historical Context of the "Mön Country"
The use of names like Mön, Mönyul, and Lhömön by traditional historians highlights a period in the region's history preceding the establishment of a more unified national identity and the widespread adoption of specific religious traditions. These names serve as crucial historical markers, offering a glimpse into how the territory was identified in its earliest documented periods, often from the perspective of neighboring regions, particularly Tibet. They are foundational to understanding the deep historical roots and evolution of the nation now known as Bhutan.
