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Buddhist Leaders Meet, Thimphu, Bhutan, 1989

"Church and state entwine in Bhutan, where King Jigme Singye Wangchuck (at left) wears a yellow scarf, symbol of his authority, as he consults with Buddhist leaders on matters of public policy. His audience this day: the four lopons, or masters, of the central monastic body in Bhutan.

"'Only through a blend of tradition and modernity can we enhance the quality of our people,' declares the 35-year-old monarch, a hands-on ruler who speaks flawless English and used to play a decidedly un-Bhutanese sport—basketball—in his spare time."

—From "Bhutan: Kingdom In the Clouds," May 1991, National Geographic magazine

Photograph by James L. Stanfield