On Monday, August 12, the Museum of History of Buryatia named after M.N. Khangalov launched the exhibition "Masterpieces of Buddhist Buryat Art from the State Hermitage." The event is dedicated to the 260th anniversary of the establishment of the Pandito Khambo Lama Institution in Russia.
"We are pleased to welcome all of you to our republic, to share our hospitality, and to see everyone gathered here from 15 participating countries at today’s forum 'Traditional Buddhism and Modern Challenges.' We have much in common: culture and history. One of the main things we truly share is the history of Buddhism. The Hermitage is a world-renowned brand known in every country, and the fact that it has sent exhibits specifically for this exhibition underscores the significance of our forum. We, the participants of this forum, can touch historical relics and once again confirm the rich heritage of masterpieces of Buddhist Buryat art. Welcome to Buryatia!" greeted the Head of Buryatia, Alexey Tsydenov.
This joint project between the National Museum of Buryatia and the State Hermitage has been realized with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the republic and the Foundation for the Promotion of Buddhist Education and Research. The National Museum of Buryatia and the State Hermitage have long-standing ties, noted curator and keeper of the Oriental Collection at the State Hermitage, Yulia Elikhina:
"The exhibition continues the traditions of our long-standing cooperation with the National Museum of Buryatia. Even during Soviet times, restorers would come; in 1997, our restorer Elena Grigoryevna Shishkova came for the restoration of the Atlas of Tibetan Medicine. Then, starting in 2015, master classes were held by restorers to teach local specialists what we know. This tradition continued in 2021 when a bust of Catherine II was presented to the Aninsky Datsan, and an exhibition was held dedicated to Catherine II's activities as the embodiment of White Tara, as an empress who established Buddhism as a state religion in Russia. Since then, the Hermitage has also maintained its connections," said Yulia Elikhina.
The exhibition (6+) features rare monuments of Buddhist culture from the Hermitage collection. The display opened with a picturesque image of Genghis Khan, founder of the Mongolian state, and archaeological materials from the medieval settlement of Konduy, founded by one of Genghis Khan's brothers. The settlement was located in ethnic Buryatia, and similar architectural details that introduce visitors to one of the best architectural monuments from the 13th to 14th centuries have not previously been presented in the collections of museums in the republic.
For the first time, visitors to the exhibition will see gifts presented to the royal family by the Buryat people at various times—silver sculptures of "Buddha Shakyamuni," Buddha of Longevity "Amitayus," Bodhisattva of Wisdom "Manjushri," Goddess "White Tara," altar decorations representing rare examples of supreme craftsmanship and delicate work by Buryat artisans from the late 19th century.
Also presented are gifts given to Russian diplomat, publicist, poet, and translator Esper Uhtomski, who accompanied Tsarevich Nicholas during his trip to Siberia in 1891, as well as rare examples of Buryat Buddhist painting from Uhtomski's collection originating from the Aninsky Datsan. His collection won a grand gold medal at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900. Esper Uhtomski's collection remains the best in Russia in terms of quantity and diversity of Buddhist sculpture, painting, and ritual objects.
The exhibition is complemented by painted masterpieces by Buryat masters from the late 18th to mid-20th centuries, a unique cast-iron Amitayus sculpture made at the Petrovsky factory, showcasing various iconographic images and artistic schools of Buryatia. The exhibits are unique works by Buryat masters, most of which have no analogs in the republic. The exhibition will run until November 17, 2024.
"We are pleased to welcome all of you to our republic, to share our hospitality, and to see everyone gathered here from 15 participating countries at today’s forum 'Traditional Buddhism and Modern Challenges.' We have much in common: culture and history. One of the main things we truly share is the history of Buddhism. The Hermitage is a world-renowned brand known in every country, and the fact that it has sent exhibits specifically for this exhibition underscores the significance of our forum. We, the participants of this forum, can touch historical relics and once again confirm the rich heritage of masterpieces of Buddhist Buryat art. Welcome to Buryatia!" greeted the Head of Buryatia, Alexey Tsydenov.
This joint project between the National Museum of Buryatia and the State Hermitage has been realized with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the republic and the Foundation for the Promotion of Buddhist Education and Research. The National Museum of Buryatia and the State Hermitage have long-standing ties, noted curator and keeper of the Oriental Collection at the State Hermitage, Yulia Elikhina:
"The exhibition continues the traditions of our long-standing cooperation with the National Museum of Buryatia. Even during Soviet times, restorers would come; in 1997, our restorer Elena Grigoryevna Shishkova came for the restoration of the Atlas of Tibetan Medicine. Then, starting in 2015, master classes were held by restorers to teach local specialists what we know. This tradition continued in 2021 when a bust of Catherine II was presented to the Aninsky Datsan, and an exhibition was held dedicated to Catherine II's activities as the embodiment of White Tara, as an empress who established Buddhism as a state religion in Russia. Since then, the Hermitage has also maintained its connections," said Yulia Elikhina.
The exhibition (6+) features rare monuments of Buddhist culture from the Hermitage collection. The display opened with a picturesque image of Genghis Khan, founder of the Mongolian state, and archaeological materials from the medieval settlement of Konduy, founded by one of Genghis Khan's brothers. The settlement was located in ethnic Buryatia, and similar architectural details that introduce visitors to one of the best architectural monuments from the 13th to 14th centuries have not previously been presented in the collections of museums in the republic.
For the first time, visitors to the exhibition will see gifts presented to the royal family by the Buryat people at various times—silver sculptures of "Buddha Shakyamuni," Buddha of Longevity "Amitayus," Bodhisattva of Wisdom "Manjushri," Goddess "White Tara," altar decorations representing rare examples of supreme craftsmanship and delicate work by Buryat artisans from the late 19th century.
Also presented are gifts given to Russian diplomat, publicist, poet, and translator Esper Uhtomski, who accompanied Tsarevich Nicholas during his trip to Siberia in 1891, as well as rare examples of Buryat Buddhist painting from Uhtomski's collection originating from the Aninsky Datsan. His collection won a grand gold medal at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900. Esper Uhtomski's collection remains the best in Russia in terms of quantity and diversity of Buddhist sculpture, painting, and ritual objects.
The exhibition is complemented by painted masterpieces by Buryat masters from the late 18th to mid-20th centuries, a unique cast-iron Amitayus sculpture made at the Petrovsky factory, showcasing various iconographic images and artistic schools of Buryatia. The exhibits are unique works by Buryat masters, most of which have no analogs in the republic. The exhibition will run until November 17, 2024.
