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The Megjid Janraisig statue was built to commemorate the independence
from China proclaimed on 16 December 1911- Unfortunately, the magnificent
Megjid Janraisig Sum, among other monasteries and temples. was destroyed
during the communist purges of the late 1930-s. The huge Megjid
Janraisig statue and the temple were restored and opened to the
public view in 1996.
The
statue is 26.5 meters high, and weighs 90 tons. 8.6 kg of gold,
25 kg of silver, 20 tons of copper, 27 tons of steel, 15 tons of
chalk, 30 tons of cement and 2100 precious stones were used to make
it. 186 precious stones decorate the head of the statue. 1000 small
statues of Ayush god were made to sit aside. Following the religious
architectural code 2 stone lions to protect the god were made and
put in front.
People's donations, grants from foreign countries and state contributions
made it possible to unveil the statue of Megjig Janraisig: the Lord
who looks in every direction.
The
museum is Mongolia's important historical architectural monument.
The monastery assembly consists of 7 temples, 20 small and big gates,
a small two-story European style house, and surrounding brick and
wooden fences. The temples were built in 1893-1903 for the Eight
Bogd Javzan Damba. A few years later the small European style winter
house was built and fenced around.
Today this is a museum that contains belongings and objects related
to Bogd Khaan's life and his religious activities. The big gate
in the middle was built in 1912-1919 when the Eighth Bogd Khaan
was proclaimed the Head of the Buddhists and Head of the State.
Mongolian carpenters built this masterpiece without a single nail
and used 108 notches.
There is also an excellent collection of the 17-20th Centuries traditional
Mongolian paintings, thangkas, appliques etc. in the temples. The
collection of religious musical instruments used in Bogd Khaan's
ceremonies, as well as Bogd Zanabazar's (1635-1724) works and his
personal belongings, attract the attention of visitors.
This
architectural ensemble consists of four temples, the main and supplementary
gates, a tall blue brick fence, a wooden ger and wooden fences.
The temples were buiitin 1904-1908 for the brother of the 8th Bogd
Gegeen, Choijin Lama Luvsanhaidav. The four temples are the Temple
of Maharaja, the Main Temple, the Temple of Zuu, the Yadam Temple
and the Amgalan (Peace) Temple. There are four gates entering this
courtyard. The temples contain impressive collections of thangkas,
tsam masks, wooden and bronze statues, appliques and papiermache
of various gods, all made by Mongolian artists at the end of the
19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. The interior and exterior
of the temples are richly decorated with various small statues and
masterly carved religious scenes.
The Museum was founded in 1966. The first hail exhibits several
thousands year-old cave paintings and deer stone paintings found
in the territory of Mongolia; interesting objects depicting the
rise and fall of different states that existed in the territory
of present Mongolia are also exposed in the hall.
Hand made carpets of the Huns, pieces of Uighur and Turkic constructions,
the portrait of General Kultegen and hun-hushoo (stone statues of
a man) are the most fascinating objects there. The museum also displays
findings discovered during the archeological diggings in Kharakhorum.
The museum has the best collection of Zanabazar's works and masks
for religious dance, tsam. The tsam masks are made of papier-mache
and decorated with gold, silver, pearl and coral.
This is one of the oldest museums which was founded in 1924 as the
National Central Museum. In 1956 it was renamed the State Central
Museum and in 1997 it became the Museum of Natural History, Today
there are departments of Geography, Geology, Flora and Fauna, and
Paleontology in the museum.
Displays of stuffed and embalmed animals including the rare Gobi
bear and wild camel, birds and fish will give you a good idea about
the rich fauna of Mongolia. Most impressive is the Paleontology
section. There are petrified eggs and bones of many dinosaurs that
lived in the Gobi desert 60-70 million years ago and two complete
skeletons of the flesh-eating giant Tarbosaurus and ihe duck-billed
Saurolophus. Petrified bones of 5 kinds of dinosaurs out of 7 that
are known today have been discovered in Mongolia. The museum also
has samples of various minerals that are found in the country.
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