Bhutan has never been colonized. The written records of its past go back to the 8th century when the great Tantric mystic Guru Padmasambhava introduced Buddhism and sowed the seeds of Bhutanese culture that exists today. Temples and monasteries, dating from the 7th century, still stand as hallowed places of worship. Bhutan’s most defining moment was the founding of the nation state by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel in the 17th century. His 35–year reign saw the establishment of laws, introduction of administrative machinery, and the construction of castle-fortresses that served as the seats of governance. In 1907, Bhutan’s first king was enthroned.