Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ZANABAZAR: THE MICHELANGELO OF THE STEPPES
Zanabazar, an artist, statesman and Living Buddha, is today considered one of the
greatest Renaissance artists in all of Asia. He was born in 1635 and at the tender
age of three was deemed to be a possible gegeen(saint), so when he turned 14 he
was sent to Tibet to study Buddhism under the Dalai Lama. Known in Mongolia as
Öndör Gegeen, he was also proclaimed the reincarnation of the Jonangpa line of
Tibetan Buddhism and became the first Bogd Gegeen (reincarnated Buddhist
leader of Mongolia).
When he returned from his studies in Tibet, the artist-lama kick-started a Mon-
golian artistic renaissance. Besides sculpting and painting he also invented the
soyombo, the national symbol of Mongolia, and reformed the Mongolian script. A
political figure, Zanabazar's struggle with the Zungar leader Galdan led to Mongo-
lia's submission to the Manchus in 1691.
Zanabazar died in Bĕijīng in 1723 and his body was later entombed in a stupa in
Amarbayasgalant Khiid. You will see many of Zanabazar's creations in monasteries
and museums in Mongolia, and there is a fine collection of his art in the Zanabazar
Museum of Fine Arts in Ulaanbaatar (
Click here
)
. You can recognise images of
Zanabazar by his bald, round head, the dorje(thunderbolt symbol) he holds in his
right hand and the bell in his left hand.
For more on Zanabazar, look for the Guidebook to Locales Connected with the
Life of Zanabazar,by Don Croner.
BULGAN
POP 147,300 (INCL ORKHON) / AREA 49,540 SQ KM
Most visitors to northern Mongolia charge through Bulgan aimag en route to more popu-
lar sights such as Khövsgöl Nuur and Amarbayasgalant Khiid, but travellers with a bit of
time on their hands can find some interesting, rarely visited sights in Bulgan, as well as
some beautiful scenery that makes for nice cycle touring.
A small mountain range, the Bürengiin Nuruu, bisects the aimag and, though it only
reaches a maximum altitude of 2058m, it provides plenty of lush habitat for wild animals
and livestock. In the south of the aimag are two unique historical sights, Tsogt Taijiin
Tsagaan Balgas and Khar Bukh Balgas, which are both geographically more in line with
sights found in central Mongolia.
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