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Religion in Mongolia

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Religion in Mongolia

Since ancient times, Tengerism has been the dominant belief system of the Mongols and still retains significant importance in their mythology. During the era of the Great Khans, Mongolia practiced freedom of worship, which is still a defining element of the Mongol character. In the 17th century, Tibetan Buddhism became the dominant religion in Mongolia. Traditional Shamanism was suppressed and marginalized, except in some remote regions. On the other hand, several shamanic practices, like ovoo worshiping, were incorporated into Buddhist liturgy.

 Buddhism: Buddhism in Mongolia began with the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368) emperors' conversion to Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetan Buddhism is a ritualistic religion with a large number of deities. This inspired the creation of religious objects, including images in paintings and sculptures. After the Stalinist purges in the 1930s, both Buddhism and Shamanism were virtually outlawed in the Mongolian People's Republic. In Inner Mongolia, traditional religion was heavily affected by the Cultural Revolution. Since the 1990s, several Christian sects have been trying to gain a foothold in Mongolia. About 4% of the Mongolian population is Muslim. Now, 3.3 million Mongols live in independent Mongolia. 80% of the population are Khalkhas. There are around 20 small ethnic groups in Mongolia, including Kazakh, Buryat, Durved, Bayad, Zakhchin, Dariganga, Uriankhai, Darkhad, Khotogoid, Torguud, Khoton, Myangad, Barga, Uzemchin, Sartuul, Tsaatan, Chantuu, and Kharchin. The Mongols returned to shamanic traditions after the collapse of the Mongol Empire, but Buddhism reemerged in the 16th and 17th centuries. After the 1990 overthrow of communism, there has been a resurgence of Buddhism in the country, with about 200 temples now in existence and a monastic sangha of around 300 to 500 Mongolian monks and nuns. Most of the Khalkhas are Buddhists.

 

Religion rituals. The rituals of the Mongolian Buddhist religion are integral to people’s spirit, culture, and life because Mongols have been practicing Buddhism for many hundred years now. There are many kinds of customs, habits, and rituals related to the Buddhist religion. One of them is a religious mask dance named “Tsam”.The Tsam is a main ritual ceremony in Buddhist monasteries. This ritual ceremony is performed in the first spring month and is devoted to the Maidar-God. Tsam was performed on special occasions by tye lamas and required wearing huge, brightly colored, elaborate masks. These masks are fine works of art because they were made by the best artists. Tsam is a religious dance performance in accompaniment with monastery music instruments, comprising predominantly percussion and wind instruments in the style of Tibetan Buddhism. Tsam dance imitating and becoming an elaborating spiritual ritual of “personals”, an endemic for long life and happiness is Tserendug or White old man, a character for sin relieving and guarding lord of the Hell is Damdinchoijoo, a character for growing rich and wealth Namsrai, a character for fight and press devils and deadly dead is the Red Guardian Lord Jamsran are to perform with a charming melody for believers artistically. Being possessed by a spirit, have Mongolian folk dances as their resources. The Tsam was performed for the first time in Mongolia 200 years ago and was “dead” in 1937 after the Stalinist regime prohibited religious rituals. From 1999, the Tsam was restored in Mongolian monasteries.

 Shamanism: Chinggis Khan himself believed in traditional Mongolian shamanism but was tolerant of other faiths. Shamanism is the most ancient religion for Mongolians. The main concept of shamanism is that space, sky, nature, and animals excite a mystic power. This religion as the national fundamental religion reached during the Hunn’s period at its very top. Nowadays, many shamanism monasteries in Mongolian territory are operating. The “Munkh Khukh Tenger” or “ Eternal Blue Sky” is the highest in the shamanist wisdom. The “Munkh Khokh Tenger” is the most mighty of all forces. Nomads’ shamanism is sometimes “tengerism”. But Mongolian shamanism has its specific characteristics. After the “Munkh Khokh Tenger” follows all kinds of “tengers” or sky hierarchically. It is important to know which particular case calls which of them. Also, each of natural place have been a “savdag” or “host”. Each human being and animal has been a “sun” or spirit. Human life in Heaven and other spheres, savdag and spirits had own “ongon” or idol, which leasing between human and tengers. Shamanist ritual acted by “boo” or shaman who can hear tenger’s word, praise hem and ask for help of them. Shamans can also ‘resolve” any problems for their clients. There are many female shamans in Mongolia, named “udgan”. Shamans may be hereditary or not. Most of them “reincarnated” at childhood. Their wears giving supplicant information about owner’s kind of activity, knowledge and mystic power. Shamanism, which had been practiced for a thousand years, was restricted by Buddhism. But after a dozen years of free market orientation, the shamanism was restored, and many shamans are practicing in our days.

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