Institution of Mongolian (Khalkha) Jibzundamba Khutugtu: Religion and Politics on the Treshold of the 21st Century
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2009 |
| Type | Article in Proceedings |
| Conference | Vasileva E. A. et al. (Eds.), Filosofija, religija i kultura stran Vostoka |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Philosophy and religion |
| Keywords | Mongolian (Khalkha) Bogdo Gegen; Religion and Politics; Inner Asia; Buddhism |
| Description | The traditional institution of Mongolian (Khalkha) Bogdo Gegen, i.e. the supreme representative and head of local Buddhist community (Sanskr. Sangha), went through many changes during the 20th century. The eighth representative of this institution, the Eighth Bogdo Gegen (Jibdzundamba Khutugtu ), became the first theocratic ruler of Mongolia following the establishment of an independent Mongolia in 1912 and de iure remained in power after the Bolshevik revolution. After his death in 1924, the Communist power banned the search of his successor (the new recognized rebirth, the ninth reincarnation) and thus the traditional line was to be interrupted. The fact that this had not happened became publicly known as late as in the beginning of the 1990s when the Tibetan exile government officially declared that the Ninth Bogdo Gegen was alive and that it had been necessary to withhold this fact for political reasons for as long as seventy years. This contribution was inspired by concrete historical events in Outer Mongolia (Khalkha), Tibet and China, which had decisive influence upon events concerning the last two Khalkha Bogdo Gegens. |
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