Madhagoki of Lingzhi
The story that I will be narrating this time takes place in the highlands of Thimphu. In Thimphu, there are four highlands: Naro, Soe, Lingzhi, and Dagala. The narrative is well known among the highland herders; it is the story of an ancestor named Madhagoki, who was one of the richest yak herders in the highlands. He was so wealthy that he owned grassland throughout the four hills, where he placed his yaks, sheep, and horses. I heard this story from several herders in several highlands, and while the facts varied slightly, the lesson of the narrative remained consistent. This story is known to be based on actual occurrences; nevertheless, the story was passed down by oral tradition from generation to generation, hence there are few variants of the story out there. (Photo credit: Author, View from the chorten in Lingzhi, 2022) Madhagoki was long renowned among the herders as one of the wealthiest men in the Thimphu highlands. He possessed tens of thousands of yaks, sheep, and horses. T...