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Of Rainbows and Clouds: The Life of Yab Ugyen Dorji As Told to His Daughter | 
 enlarge | Authors: Yab Ugyen Dorji, Queen Of Bhutan Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck
Publisher: Serindia Publications
Category: Book
Buy New: $35.00
New (4) Used (4) from $33.50
Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 1131494
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 128
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.3
Dimensions (in): 11.3 x 8.9 x 0.9
ISBN: 0906026490
Dewey Decimal Number: 954.98
EAN: 9780906026496
ASIN: 0906026490
Publication Date: October 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
Yab Ugyen's memoirs reveal the story of a remarkably close and loving family, brought to life through historical photographs of five generations of its members as well as contemporary photographs of those temples, houses and palaces associated with the family. The book includes a description and the only extant photographs of the royal wedding in 1988 of His Majesty the King of Bhutan with four of Yab Ugyen's daughters. The latter part of the book chronicles Yab Ugyen's struggles as he grows from a fledgling shopkeeper to a successful merchant. Through the dramatic and gripping vicissitudes of his life and fortunes, beautifully narrated by his daughter, Yab Ugyen reveals a simple and inspiring philosophy of life that has enabled him to tide him over hard times and deepened his spiritual faith and belief in the invisible forces of karma. This biography provides a fascinating and vivid insight of Bhutan. There are intimate and revealing glimpses of traditional life in monastic retreats, remote villages, forts and palaces.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
 Additional reading January 7, 2006
Rudolf U. Weber (Switzerland)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
If you are interested in Bhutanese history, you should read Michael Aris' "The Raven Crown" (1994) first. Unfortunately Aris covers only the period up to about 1960. Despite his intimate knowledge of the royal family (he was tutor to the royal children around 1970) he does not mention the Queens at all and their family only in passing.
"Rainbows and Clouds" offers some interesting glimpses at 20th century Bhutan and at somebody who lived through the huge changes this country has undergone, maybe even helped to shape it. Also there are some interesting pictures. But naturally this is a very personal book without any claim to objectivity and there are some big holes. Especially the issue of Ugyen Dorji's oldest brother "Chogley" Jigme Tenzin is rather perplexing, since Aris does not mention him at all. However, both books basically agree on the death of the Shabdrung in 1931, although as a historian Aris is naturally more careful.
I got the strong impression that this book is in part meant to establish a defined and clean record of the maternal ancestry of the future king and it should therefore be read very critically.
 What a funny, but saddly false book! July 10, 2004
Tulku Mingmay Dorji Wanchuck (Bhtuan)
3 out of 6 found this review helpful
As a real Bhutanese who has read this book, I have to say that grand liberties taken by Ashi Dorji Wangmo are truly funny. So what if she writes well? She had a ghost writter anyway. She has totally invented her family's tree to give legitimacy to some claim to royal origins even though she is already married to the His Majesty the King. Big mistake on her part because the people she claims to be related to are still living. I wonder why she would do this when everyone in Bhutan is laughing at her fantasy behind her back? Could it be that the truth is relative and if you tell a lie long enough it becomes the truth? Of course most people would never in a million years say anything publicly. Maybe her father the notorious land stealer (because he is the king's infuriating father in-law) told her this and she really believes it. HM is really a good guy, but his in-laws do as they wish and the local people who only have a plot of land to grow rice really don't like it when she comes on official visits to the Dzongkhags. The people respect HM and love him and would do anything for him and the country are weary of self aggrandizing ashies at the people's expense. It's too bad that I have to use a pseudonym, for fear of my own business being ruined by the newly royals monopolies .
 the queen writes well October 27, 2003
bianca chu (USA)
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
I enjoyed this book as it gave me a deep satisfaction and insight into the history of the kingdom of Bhutan. I was fascinated to read about the life story of the Queen's father and the class shifts from merchant to elite- that were made with the coming of modernization. Reading this book made me even more interested in the political situation, and the monarchy of Bhutan. I would definately like to read some more on their monarchy especially their present King with his policy of Gross National Happiness instead of Gross National Product that we have in the Western world as a measure of a country's success. Now that is thought provoking!
Rainbows and Lies - Book of Lies April 19, 2004
2 out of 6 found this review helpful
I guess if what ever you do to improve this life's existance doesn't help you in the next, then this story book is a book of fiction that will not add to the authors' advancement in subsequent incarnations. If what you do harms the life of others in this life and impeads the ability of others to avoid suffering and causes hatred of oneself due to selfishness and greed, then this book is a self indictment by the lies told in it.
Read this book instead! April 19, 2004
2 out of 6 found this review helpful
My recommendation:Buy any other book about Bhutan, and remove any pleasure you gained from reading this book of lies. READ THIS ONE!
"So Close to Heaven : The Vanishing Buddhist Kingdoms of the Himalayas"
by Barbara Crossette
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