Historical and cultural artifacts of Mongolia have been preserved in various corners of the world for centuries. This information was provided 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 sources related to the history of Mongolia, which are located in British institutions.
The presentation of this collection, published as part of the "Mongolian Heritage Worldwide" project that started in 2014, took place on February 12. This project aims to collaboratively research and publish relics located outside Mongolia.
The book, which is the 13th in the series, was created with the participation of Sue Bernie, a visiting scholar who made a significant contribution to the study of Mongolian Buddhism, along with academician Chuluun Sampildondov, the museum director. The writing involved a team of international researchers from the Royal Asiatic Society, the University of Cambridge, the University of Edinburgh, as well as the British Library and the British Museum.
The book includes 7 chapters covering the following topics:
Manuscripts and artifacts of the Ilkhanate and Chagatai from British collections,
Coins of the Mongol Empire from the British Museum,
Materials from the 17th to 20th centuries from the British Library and other collections,
Early 20th-century artifacts from British collections.
Mongolians express pride that this 13th book, part of the "World Heritage" project and published by the National Museum "Chinggis Khan," has managed to survive difficult times and is now available to a wide audience. It represents not only a study of the historical context but also the beginning of a broader exploration of Mongolian heritage and culture on the international stage. This is the first publication dedicated to all aspects of Mongolian heritage released in Great Britain.
Sue Bernie, the editor-in-chief, delivered an online speech from London: "The research began with the collections of the British Museum and the British Library. A new gallery dedicated to ceramics and metalwork of the Ilkhanate has recently opened, showcasing artifacts, many of which are included in this volume. Among them, a particularly notable artifact is a 14th-century metal bag, presumably made in Mosul for a Mongolian khatun. The collection also includes notes and photographs of Mongolia made by about 70 British travelers between 1715 and 1935. The Royal Geographical Society of Great Britain holds around 2500 such photographs, some of which are published in this volume for the first time."
Among the outstanding 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. It was previously thought that the mandala had Chinese origins, but it has now been established to be of Mongolian origin.
"I discovered several original Mongolian written sources 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 gratitude to everyone who supported me during the long and difficult years of searching," noted Sue Bernie, adding: "I am confident that this volume will be the first step towards further discoveries in Great Britain and the unveiling of other hidden cultural relics."
The presentation of the book, which holds special significance for bilateral relations between Mongolia and Great Britain within the framework of "soft power" policy, will take place in London next week.
It is known that more than 80 institutions in 40 countries hold artifacts, letters, and photographs related to the historical and cultural heritage of Mongolia. Since 2014, the "World Heritage" project has been regularly publishing volumes in Mongolian and English with official permissions and scholarly comments. To date, 12 volumes dedicated to Mongolian relics in Hungary, Norway, Germany, Denmark, Japan, and Russia have been published. This year, the 14th volume will be released, which will focus on Mongolian heritage in the Czech Republic.
