Shagzo or the art of wood carving is an ancient art passed down generation to generation of Bhutanese. This art of wood turning is traditionally practiced by the people of Trashi Yangtse in eastern Bhutan. The master artisans are called Shagzopa. Bhutanese Shagzopa make varieties of exquisite functional and decorative products like wood bowls (dapa), cups (dza phob), plates and containers of various unique shapes, sizes and colours. These products are made from a wide range of woods in Bhutan such as tashing (juglans regia), hashing (taxus baccata), baashing (picea spinulosa), sermaling shing (Acer Camphellii) and etometo (Rhododendron arboretum). This craftwork used to be widely used before the usage of steel and brass started.
