Tuesday, August 16

Exhibition on Mongolian Buddhism in Liverpool


There is currently an exhibition on Mongolian Buddhism in the World Museum Liverpool by Ms. Barbara Hind

Stunning images of the everyday life of Mongolian Buddhists are on show in this vivid, colourful exhibition of photographs by Barbara Hind.

This accomplished photographer, originally from Knotty Ash in Liverpool, visited Mongolia 16 times between 1994 and 2001. The resulting collection of pictures is breathtaking.

Rich in colour and texture, the images capture intimate moments in the daily routine – from the call to morning worship to individuals in private conversation. They also touch on formal events such as the ordination of monks and the building of a new temple.

Barbara’s talent is to provide a unique insight into a deeply fascinating way of life, in a natural, respectful and unobtrusive way. The photos perfectly reflect the effortless integration of the spiritual and mundane in the lives of the Mongolian Buddhists.

The exhibition was itself shown at the National Museum of Mongolian History in Ulaanbaatar, 2001, where Barbara became the first westerner to be invited to display her work. This gave local people, whose lives she had documented, the chance to see the pictures for themselves.

Barbara says of her work:

“The Mongolian Buddhist images have grown out of my personal association with the monasteries and nunneries I have visited. Through my photographs I try not only to represent my own experience of seeing other people’s worlds but to also try and evoke the people’s experience in those worlds.”

You can see a selection of the images on this website, but be sure to visit the museum to see the glorious display in full colour.

Saturday, August 13

Ulaanbaatar Satelite Image - Google Earth

Ulaanbaatar Satelite Image - Google Earth

This is what Google Earth makes of Ulaanbaatar. Click on the image to see a larger overview.

I have indicated the State Department Store (Ikh Delguur), Sukhbaatar Square and Gandan(tegchenling) Monastery.

Thursday, August 11

Rare Mongolian Budhist Art Auctioned in the Big Apple


Shocking. Rare Mongolian Budhist Art was auctioned in New York

Sue Bond PR - Press Release -
Treasures from Mongolia: Buddhist Sculpture from the School of Zanabazar:
"Treasures from Mongolia: Buddhist Sculpture from the School of Zanabazar, the first ever selling exhibition devoted to Mongolian sculpture, will be staged by Rossi & Rossi at Barbara Mathes Gallery, Fuller Building, 41 East 57th Street, New York, from Monday 28 March to Monday 4 April 2005. The exhibition comprises over twenty gilded pieces dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. Formerly in a private collection, the sculptures are unpublished and have never before been exhibited. This exhibition offers an extraordinary opportunity to see a considerable number of outstanding Mongolian sculptures of various Buddhist subjects. The prices will range from $25,000 to over $150,000."

(Photo Courtesy of Sue Bond Public Relations)

See also: Don Croner's World Wide Wanders

Buddhist Sutra chanting on demand at Gandan

Internet surfers from all over the world can now request special sutras to be recited by the monks of Gandan through the Gandan Website. The feature is specially designed for the large Mongolian communities that live outside of their homeland.

On gandan.mn, see: Ном, айлтгал

Monday, August 8

Mongolia in Star Wars

There are a few Mongolian influences in the series of Star Wars Movies. First of all there is Queen Amidala of Star Wars Episode I, her senate costume was inspired by a Mongolian traditional garment worn by noble women.
See a comparison of her dress with traditional Mongolian noble dresses. For more information on Mongolian traditional dresses see this article in Mongolia Today.

Another Mongolian influence is to be found in the language of the Ewoks, supposedly a blend of Mongolian, Tibetan and Nepali languages. I didn't have any luck hearing Mongolian words however....

Not so much related to the movies is the visit of one of the actors to Mongolia on a motor trip, where he wanted to adopt an orphanage.

Sunday, August 7

Данбадаржайлин хийд 240 нас хүрч, "Тумба-ши" шүтээн залагдав




Бурхны шашны "Данбадаржайлин" хийд үүсгэн байгуулагдсаны 240 жилийн ойтой давхцан уг хийдийг шинэчлэн засварлах төслийн арга хэмжээ болон, эв нэгдлийн бэлгэдэл "Тунба-Ши" шүтээнийг залах ёслол өчигдөр буюу намрын эхэн сарын шинийн гуравны Балжиннямтай бэлгэт сайн өдөр тохиов. Уг үйл ажиллагааг
"Данбадаржайлин" хийдийн тэргүүн Д.Дашрэнцэн нээлээ. Тэрээр одоо 96 насыг зооглож байгаа бөгөөд уг хийдийг дахин үүсгэн байгуулагч нь билээ. Нээлтэнд Монголын Гандантэгчлэн хийдийн тэргүүн, хамба лам Д.Чойжамц, Монгол Улсаас Япон улсад суусан анхны Онц бөгөөд Бүрэн Эрхт Элчин сайд Дамбадаржаа, Япон улсаас Монгол улсад суугаа элчин сайд Тодо Тацуо нарын хүмүүс ирсэн байлаа. Монгол Улсын Ерөнхийлөгч Н.Энхбаярын мэндчилгээг Ерөнхийлөгчийн дэргэдэх шашны асуудал эрхэлсэн зөвлөлийн нарийн бичгийн дарга Н.Цэдэндамбаа хүргэсэн юм.

Хүндэт зочид мэндчилгээ дэвшүүлсний дараа хамба лам Д.Дашрэнцэн тэдэнд тусгалан равнайлж бэлтгэсэн "Тунба-Ши" шүтээнийг өргөн барив. Мөн тэрбээр элчин сайд
Тодо Тацуод "Тунба-Ши "-г гардуулахдаа Монгол-Японы цаашдын цаашдын хамтын ажиллагаа улам бат бэхжиж эв найртай байхыг ерөөж байсан юм.

Ойн баярт Япон улсаас 62 зочид, Монголд амь үрэгдсэн япон цэргүүдийн хойчийг хүндэтгэхээр ирсэн бөгөөд зарим нь Цогчин хийд эмнэлэг байх үед сувилуулж байсан аж. Тэр утгаараа Монгол Японы найрамдлын харилцааны нэгэн том гүүр болох амь үрэгдсэн япон цэргүүдийн дурсгалд зориулсан суврагыг "Данбадаржайлин" хийдэд босгожээ.

Тус хийдийг шинэчлэх төсөвт нийтдээ хоёр тэрбум 500 мянган төгрөг зарцуулагдахаар төлөвлөгдсөн бөгөөд 240 жилийн өмнөх хэлбэрээр нь засварлах гэнэ. Энэ их ажлын санхүүжилтийг гадаад дотоодын буяны байгууллагуудын хандиваар, ойрын 5-10 жилийн хугацаанд босгоно гэнэ. Дээрхи ажлуудыг хүндэт зочид болон сүсэгтэн олонд танилцуулсаны дараагаар мандал өргөх еслолд хотын мэр М.Энхболд хүрэлцэн ирсэн юм.

the mongol ger book


It's there: the Real Mongol Ger Book.
People from previously the Art Hippy Village "Ruigoord", have established the "perhaps most western ger factory" and have gers for sale and rent in the Netherlands. But recently the Godfather of the Dutch ger Froit has written the Real Mongol Ger Book. Plough yourself through a shopping list of warnings and the ever disarming Dunglish, to discover what it is all about...

Friday, August 5

Overview of Sacred sites of Mongolia

Provided by: WWF Mongolia


National (by decree of the President)
1. Otgontenger mountain (Zavkhan)
2. Bogd Khaan mountain (UB)
3. Burkhan Khaldun mountain (Khentii)


Regional (several aimags jointly worship)
1. Bereeven (13 Sansar mountain’s rare mountains for Choijoo Naidan ceremonies)
2. Ikh Burkhant (Dornod)
3. Altan Ovoo (Sukhbaatar)
4. Otsol Sansar (30kms away from Choir)
5. Darkhan Khan (50kms from Sukhbaatar center)
6. Bat-Khan mountain (Tuv, Uvurkhnagai, Bulgan provinces
7. Hogno Han
8. Tsambagarav
9. Suvarga Khairhan
10. Ikh and Baga Khangai (Hangai mountain ranges; on the way to Bat-Ulzii sum&Harhorin sum)
11. Suvarga-Hairhan Uul (Arkhangai)


Aimag level

1. Khentii: Undur Khan

2. Zavkhan: Bayasgalant

3. Sukhbaatar: a). Munkh Khan, b). Altan Ovoo mountain

4. Gobi-Sumber: Ikh Hongor (east from Ikh Nart; territory of Dalanjargal sum; burial area for hoshuu nobleman)

5. Dundgobi: a). Ikh Gazryn Chuluu (Delgerkhangai sum), b). Baga Gazryn Chuluu (Delgersukh sum north from the aimag center), c). Gurvan Saikhan

6. Tuv: Lamtny Ovoo (behind Manzushiri Monastery)

7. Bulgan: Bulgan Uul (aimag center)

8. Arkhangai: Tsogt Sumber (Chuluut sum)

9. Bayankhongor: a). Erdenemandal (aimag center), b). Hongor Hairhan (Galuut sum), c). Bogd Hairhan (Ikh Bogd)

10. Uvurkhangai: a). Ulziit mountain, b). Noyon Hairhan

11. Darkhan: a). Darkhan Uul, b). Haliar or Haidag Uul, c). Noyon Hongor

12. Orkhon: Bayan-Undur mountain

13. Uvs: a). Ulaan Uul (Ulaangom), b). Han Huhii Uul, c). Tsagaan Ergiin Ovoo

14. Bayan-Ulgii: Altai Tavan Bogd mountain(Buyant sum; Urianhai)

15. Zavkhan: Altan Elst (aimag center)

16. Huvsgul: a). Uliin Ovoo (Darkhad three sums worship), b). Renchinlhumbe (same), c). Dayan Deerh (Bulgan aimag shares with Renchinlhumbe; Chandmani sums), d). Hovsgol Nuuriin Huis (Hovsgol Lake belly button)

17. Gobi-Altai: Eej Khairhan mountain

18. Selenge: a). Amarbayasgalant, Burenkhan, b). Tovkhon Khan mountain

19. Hovd: -

20. Umnugobi: Gurvan Saikhan mountain

21. Dornogobi: a). Bayan Bogd (used to worship Ulaanbadrah sum), b). Sharilyn Ovoo (south from the aimag center; once worshipped)

370th anniversary of the birth of Zanabazar

BY S.UYANGA -
taken from UB POST August 3rd

THE 370TH anniversary of the birth of the first Bogd Khaan Zanabazar was celebrated on July 29 and 30 in Khar Khorin, Ovorkhangai aimag. Several state figures took part in a ceremony presided over by President N.Enkhbayar. In his opening speech Enkhbayar noted the significance of the Soyombo, the state emblem created by Zanabazar, and of Zanabazar’s influential role in Mongolian Buddhism, art and culture. The president described how the Soyombo was one of Zanabazar’s greatest works.
The highly respected symbol describes Mongolian history, tradition, statehood and independence. Enkhbayar explained that Zanabazar used the Soyombo to express his simple teaching that events that happen to a person or people are a direct result of the people’s actions. This in turn was used to express that the increase and decrease in the fortunes of the Mongol nation were due to the Mongolians themselves and it is therefore only the Mongolians who can save themselves from any misfortune.
Zanabazar lived from 1635 to 1723 and was the most important state and religious figure of his time. He is famous for creating the Soyombo alphabet and many magnificent art works including portraits of the Buddha and sculptures of the 21 taras. He was a descendant of Chinggis Khaan and promoted the growth of Buddhism in Mongolia, adjusting the religion to Mongolian traditions.
Some historians have criticized Zanabazar’s close relationship with Manchu occupiers of Mongolia. However, Doctor N.Khavkh countered this in a report he made at a scientific conference organized for the anniversary on July 6, saying that Zanabazar had no choice but to accept the support of the Manchu. He said that historical records show that at that time Russia had become strong and Mongolia was in danger of attack from Buryatia as well the strong influence of Manchu rule.
Khavkh explained that the Manchu Emperor Enkh- Amgalan put pressure on Zanabazar to allow Mongolia to become Manchu territory. However Zanabazar resisted and facilitated the keeping of Mongolia as an independent country yet under the control of the Manchu. Zanabazar played a pivotal role in saving Mongolia from being annexed to any of the powerful nations at that time such as Russia, Buryatia, and China, according to Khavkh.
A danshig Naadam (regional Naadam) event was held in Ovorkhangai to mark the anniversary, with traditional competitions of national wrestling, horse racing and archery.

Thursday, August 4

Turkish Newspaper


They used a picture of mine in the Turkish Daily News for an article on Nadaam - unfortunately no credits!

See Mongoluls.Net for the original.
















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