不丹(Bhutan)

不丹语作Druk-yul

位於喜马拉雅山脉的王国。面积47,000平方公里。人口约692,000（2001）。首都：廷布。人民分为三大种族：东部的佛教徒沙尔乔普人（阿萨姆人）；信奉西藏佛教的菩提亚人，约占全国人口的3/5，分布於北部、中部和西部；以及西南部信奉印度教的尼泊尔人。语言：宗卡语（官方语，一种藏语方言）和西藏方言。宗教：大乘佛教（国教）。货币：努尔特鲁姆（Nu）。北部是大喜马拉雅山脉，山峰高达7,300公尺以上，峻谷也在海拔3,700～5,500公尺之间；大喜马拉雅山脉往南呈辐射状分叉为小喜马拉雅山脉，有若干肥沃的山谷位於其间，海拔为1,500～2,700公尺，人口稠密，已广为垦植；山脉以南是杜阿尔斯平原，控制了山脉入口要道，战略地位重要，但气候大多十分炎热，终日烟雾蒸腾，森林密布。经济以农业为主，所有的出口货物几乎都是销往印度。政府形式为君主立宪政体，一院制。国家元首暨政府首脑是国王。

由於山脉和森林的阻碍使不丹长久以来与外界隔离，其封建君主禁绝外人抵此一直维持到20世纪。虽然如此，它还是不能免於成为外来侵略者的觊觎目标，1865年受英国势力的统辖，1910年与英国订约同意由英国负责其外交事务。1949年印度取代英国的角色。1950年中国据有邻邦西藏更进一步促使它加强了与印度的关系。中国方面明显的威胁促使不丹统治者体认到现代化的必要性，已着手计画建设道路和医院，并创建一套世俗教育体系。

English version：

Bhutan

Kingdom, Himalaya Mtns. Area: 16,000 sq mi (41,500 sq km). Population (1997 est.): 860,000 (result of the King's repudiation of the 1980 census; with a large number of Nepalese refuges, the actual population could range from 700,000 to 1,800,000). Capital: Thimphu. There are three main ethnic groups: the Buddhist Sharchops (Assamese) in the east; the Tibetan Buddhist Bhutia, about three-fifths of the population, in the northern, central, and western areas; and the Hindu Nepalese in the southwest. Languages: Dzongkha (official), Tibetan dialects. Religion: Mahayana Buddhism (official). Currency: ngultrum. Its northern part lies in the Great Himalayas, with peaks surpassing 24,000 ft (7,300 m) and high valleys lying at 12,000-18,000 ft (3,700-5,500 m). Great Himalayan spurs radiate southward, forming the Lesser Himalayan ranges. Several fertile valleys there, at elevations of 5,000-9,000 ft (1,500-2,700 m), are fairly well populated and cultivated. South of these mountains lies the Duars Plain, controlling access to the strategic mountain passes; much of it is hot and steamy and covered with dense forest. The Bhutanese economy is mainly agricultural; nearly all exports go to India. It is a monarchy with one legislative house; its head of state and government is the monarch. Bhutan's mountains and forests long made it inaccessible to the outside world, and its feudal rulers banned foreigners until well into the 20th century. It nevertheless became the object of foreign invasions; in 1865 it came under British influence, and in 1910 agreed to be guided by Britain in its foreign affairs. It later became oriented toward British-ruled India, though much of its trade continued to be with Tibet. India took over Britain's role in 1949, and Communist China's 1950 occupation of neighboring Tibet further strengthened Bhutan's ties with India. The apparent Chinese threat made its rulers aware of the need to modernize, and it has embarked on a program to build roads and hospitals and to create a system of secular education.

参考文章

• 不丹王国的历史沿革专项地理
• 孟加拉国、斯里兰卡、不丹、阿曼、也门的由来世界史