Publications
САКРАЛДЫ КЕҢІСТІКТЕГІ ТАУ: МИФОПОЭТИКАЛЫҚ ТАЛДАУ
Mountains hold a sacred significance as symbols of cosmic order and unity, serving as vertical guardians that connect the underworld, earth, and heaven. This study reveals that across diverse cultures—including Chinese, Indian, Tibetan, and Caucasian traditions—the mountain is mythologically interpreted as both a sacred axis mundi and a life tree, embodying the 'center of the world.' Comparative analysis of Turkic-Mongolian and Altai folklore highlights shared cosmogonic myths, with figures like Ulgen, Erlik, and Burkhan representing foundational spiritual concepts. The research demonstrates that sacred landscapes, such as Muztaw, Uch-Sure, and the 'Gate of Shambalan' in Altai, reflect syncretic Buddhist and shamanistic worldviews. By contrasting these with other mythic peaks like Arakat, Sina, and Parnas, the study underscores their universal role as spiritual focal points, bridging ancient beliefs and evolving religious frameworks.
With each pass, another stone. Ovoo at the heart of heritage, environment, and conflict
Ovoos, stone cairns in Mongolia's Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscape, serve as dynamic markers of both ecological and political significance. They grow with human interaction, embodying spiritual power and historical memory while mediating conflicts that intertwine environmental and cultural heritage. The study highlights how three heritage bearers leverage ovoos to access more-than-human networks, preserving heritage through their interactions. This research sheds light on the entanglement of environmental and cultural dimensions in conflict mediation within UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Sacred mountains in the context of modern nation: the political dimension of landscape in Mongolia
Landscapes, particularly sacred mountains, play a pivotal role in shaping national identity and political discourse in Mongolia. This study reveals how the Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain serves as a central symbol in contemporary Mongolian nationalism, blending traditional spiritual practices with modern state activities. The research analyzes the public tachilga offering ritual, demonstrating its significance in reinforcing relational ontologies between humans and non-human entities. By examining these practices, the study highlights how landscapes have become key actors in national narratives, reflecting Mongolia's political transformation while preserving cultural heritage.
In Search of the Khutugtu's Monastery: The Site and Its Heritage
Recent excavations at the ruins of Saridag Monastery, a seventeenth-century site near Burkhan Khaldun Mountain in Mongolia, reveal significant insights into the architectural and urban planning practices of the era. Despite its challenging terrain and limited prior research, the study identified ten city ruins from this period, with Saridag Monastery being the first and most complex to investigate. Founded by Öndör Gegeen Zanabazar, the monastery's exploration, initiated in 2013, combines archaeological excavations with oral history collection, offering a rare glimpse into Mongolia's understudied historical landscape. The findings challenge previous assumptions about the feasibility of such research due to logistical and financial constraints.
What the Bricks Tell Us from a Temple at Burkhan Khaldun Mountains: Chronological Insights from pIRIR Luminescence
A groundbreaking study leverages post-IR infrared luminescence (pIRIR) to date bricks from the Buddhist temple ruins at Burkhan Khaldun Mountains, Mongolia, revealing their manufacturing period between 1230±50 AD and 1280±40 AD. This aligns with the era of extensive construction in Karakorum, offering chronological insights into the region's architectural history. The research applied both coarse and polymineral fine grain techniques to feldspar, distinguishing it from previous methods. Additionally, the study compared mineralogical compositions of bricks from various temple sites, including those in Karakorum and Erdene Zuu, enhancing our understanding of historical brick production and trade.
A Study on Burkhan-Khaldun of the Secret History of the Mongols
Burkhan-Khaldun Mountain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and sacred landscape of Mongolia, is identified in the Secret History of the Mongols with four distinct names—Burkhan-Khaldun, Burkhan, Khaldun, and Khaldun-Burkhan—and appears 28 times across its verses. The study determines that references to Burkhan-Khaldun in the 1st and 9th verses correspond to two distinct locations: Burkhan-Khaldun in Barkhujin (northeastern Lake Baikal) and Burkhan-Khaldun in Kenti Mountains, Mongolia. Additionally, the research suggests a linguistic link between 'Khaldun' and the Korean term Godeung, associated with Jumong, the legendary founder of Goguryeo, while proposing that the mountain's name may also relate to willow or lightness (Balguem). The study further posits that Burkhan-Khaldun holds symbolic significance akin to underworld-related mountains in other cultures.
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