Cultural perspectives of Bhutan: Murals, a talk by Zara Fleming

On 4th March 2026, Zara Fleming gave a fascinating talk about symbolism in Bhutan.

Bhutan is home to an astonishing array of symbols, many of which have been borrowed from Buddhist India and subsequently Tibet.

The Eight Auspicious Emblems, the Seven Precious Gems, the Five Sense Offerings and the Four Guardian animals (dragon, tiger, garuda and snow lion) plus the Wind Horse found on prayer flags.

But one also finds murals such as the Four Friends, the Old Man of Long Life and Training the Mind. We will explore this infinite variety of symbolic subject matter and their many layers of meaning.