Читать книгу Mongolia – Faces of a Nation - Frank Riedinger - Страница 7

This Buddhist monastery was established between 1904 and 1908 and at that time, it was the residence of the state Oracle. The holder of this office was Luvsankhaidav, a younger brother of the Bogd Gegeen, the first living Buddhist leader Zanabazar, who introduced Lamaism to the Mongolian people in the 17th century.

If important decisions had to be made for the state, the Oracle was called upon to pronounce on the right decision for the future. The site consists of five temples, which fortunately escaped mostly undamaged and unscathed from the anti-Lamaism campaign during the country’s socialist era. Tradition says that Choibalsan, the socialist dictator in power at the time, personally removed the site from the list of cultural heritage sites that were to be destroyed.

Most of the items on show have been collected together from different sites throughout the country. They give an interesting and richly varied overview of the historic and cultural development of Mongolia, right up to the 1930s. The museum also contains the rooms where the Oracle was sent into a trance, in order to be able to make the desired pronouncements and predictions. Again, tradition says that secret, Tantric rituals were also held here.

Throughout the temple, you will find images and statues of the green Tara of Zanabazar. She was the favourite deity of the master and is venerated at almost every family altar set up in Mongolian jurtes. One of the things most worth seeing is a bronze stupa, which was made in India in the 10th century and was brought single-handedly to Mongolia by Zanabazar. The well preserved Tsam masks are amongst the museum’s treasures. These fearsome objects originate from 18th century Tibet and were brought from there to Mongolia where, as a result, even more magnificent and impressive masks have been developed. Particularly impressive is the representation of the deity Jamsran that is decorated with about 7,000 pieces of coral.

Choijin Lam Sum Temple Museum in Ulaanbaatar.

Temple Museum Choijin Lam Sum in Ulaanbaatar.

Temple Museum Choijin Lam Sum in Ulaanbaatar.