Historical and cultural relics of Mongolia, with a centuries-old history, are located in various corners of the world. This was reported by MiddleAsianNews.
The book titled "Mongolian Historical and Cultural Heritage in Great Britain" represents the result of a deep analysis of previously unstudied and newly found artifacts and written documents related to the history and culture of Mongolia, which are stored in British institutions.
The presentation of this book, part of the project "Mongolian Heritage Worldwide," which started in 2014 to research, study, and publish these relics, took place on February 12. The collection, covering the historical and cultural relics of Mongolia stored in Great Britain, was published under the same title.
This work, which became the 13th book in the series, was co-authored with Sue Burney, a visiting scholar who made a significant contribution to the study of Mongolian Buddhism from both British and Mongolian perspectives, under the guidance of Academician Chuluun Sampildondov, director of the National Museum "Chinggis Khan." The publication was created by a group of experienced international researchers, including scholars from the Royal Asiatic Society, the University of Cambridge, the University of Edinburgh, the British Library, and the British Museum.
The book consists of 7 chapters covering various aspects:
Artifacts and manuscripts from the Ilkhanate and Chagatai states found in British collections,
Coins of the Mongol Empire from the British Museum,
Materials from Mongolia from the 17th to the 20th centuries from the British Library and other collections,
Early 20th-century artifacts from British collections.
Mongolia takes pride in the fact that this 13th book, part of the "World Heritage" project and published by the National Museum "Chinggis Khan," has survived difficult times and is now available to a wide audience. It is not just a historical study but also an important step towards creating a comprehensive analysis of Mongolian heritage and culture on the international stage. This is the first publication that covers all aspects of Mongolia's heritage released in Great Britain.
Sue Burney, the chief editor of the book, gave an online presentation from London: "Our research began with the collections of the British Museum and the British Library. Recently, the museum opened a new hall dedicated to ceramics and metalwork of the Ilkhanate, which featured a special exhibition of these artifacts, most of which are reflected in this volume. Notably, there is a 14th-century metal bag, presumably made in Mosul for a Mongolian khatun. Additionally, the collection includes notes and photographs about Mongolia from around 70 British travelers, gathered from 1715 to 1935. The Royal Geographical Society of Great Britain holds about 2500 such photographs, some of which are published for the first time in this edition."
Among the significant artifacts is a bronze mandala with gold elements, located in the British Museum. Dr. Surun-Khanda Syrtypova confirmed that it was made by the master Zanabazar in the 17th century. Previously, the mandala was considered a Chinese work, but its Mongolian origin has now been established.
"I personally discovered several original Mongolian written documents collected in the area of the Ezen River near Khara-Khoto, in the collection of Mark Aurelius Stein, stored in the British Library. I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who supported me throughout the long years of searching for this cultural treasure," noted Sue Burney, adding: "I hope this volume will be the first step towards new discoveries in Great Britain and will help uncover many other hidden cultural relics."
The book, which is of great significance for bilateral relations between Mongolia and Great Britain in the context of "soft power" politics, will be presented in London next week.
To date, more than 80 institutions in over 40 countries possess artifacts, written documents, and photographs related to the historical and cultural heritage of Mongolia. Since 2014, the "World Heritage" project has regularly published volumes in English and Mongolian with official permissions and academic comments. Twelve volumes have already been released, dedicated to Mongolian relics in countries such as Hungary, Norway, Germany, Denmark, Japan, and Russia. This year, the release of the 14th volume, which will focus on Mongolian heritage in the Czech Republic, is planned.
