Buddhism across the grasslands of Chinggis Khan

Book Details

• Publisher: ADITYA PRAKASHAN Indological Publishers & Booksellers

• Language: English

• Edition: 2013

• ISBN-13: 9788177421286

• ISBN-10: 817742128X

• Subject: Buddhism

About the Book
This book offers an exhaustive survey of Buddhist art, literature, monasteries, and the rich cultural history of Mongolia, providing deep insights into the transcreation of over 6,000 works in the Kanjur and Tanjur. It covers the evolution of Lamaism over the centuries, detailing 220 philosophical, ritual, hagiographical, and historical works written under the Manchu dynasty.

The narrative also reveals the devastating destruction of Mongolian Buddhism under the communist regime in the 20th century. Profoundly moving, the book chronicles the annihilation of over 750 monasteries, the burning of five million manuscripts and xylographs, and the brutal genocide of monks. The anguished letters of intellectuals like Prof. Rinchen and Lobsang Vandan offer a firsthand account of the atrocities, including the tragic destruction of sacred sites like Erdeni Dzu and Choijin Lamin Sum.

A major part of the book focuses on the revival of Mongolian culture and Buddhism after this period of oppression, including the monastic boom, the return of Buddhist relics by Russia, and the resurgence of Mongol identity. It also documents the efforts of Prof. RaghuVira and his son Lokesh Chandra, whose expeditions to Mongolia were a beacon of hope for the country’s Buddhist revival.

Additionally, the book covers the discovery of previously unknown Buddhist tales, the microfilming of the Tanjur, and the establishment of an international network for Mongolistics, shedding light on the renaissance of Mongolian Buddhism. With personal reflections from the author on his experiences over the last 60 years, this book is an essential resource for the study of Buddhism in Mongolia.