Erdene Zuu Monastery

Erdene Zuu Monastery, situated in Kharkhorin within Mongolia's Övörkhangai Province, stands as arguably the earliest surviving Buddhist monastery in the nation. Its construction commenced in 1585, ordered by Abtai Sain Khan, a ruler of the Khalkha Mongols and grandfather to Zanabazar, the first Jebtsundamba Khutuktu. The monastery's establishment followed Abtai Sain Khan's meeting with the 3rd Dalai Lama and the subsequent declaration of Tibetan Buddhism as the state religion of Mongolia. The building utilized stones salvaged from the nearby ruins of Karakorum, the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire.

History and Development

Initially, planners aimed to construct a surrounding wall designed to resemble a Tibetan Buddhist rosary, complete with 108 stupas, though historical accounts suggest this objective may not have been fully realized. The monastery's temples were adorned with paintings, and its roofs featured a Chinese style, covered with green tiles. Erdene Zuu endured periods of conflict, sustaining damage in 1688 during wars involving the Dzungars and Khalkha Mongols. Later, in 1939, under the communist regime, leader Khorloogiin Choibalsan ordered its destruction as part of a broader purge that significantly impacted monastic institutions across Mongolia. Despite this, three small temples and the outer wall with its stupas survived the initial destruction.

Preservation and Revival

In a shift of policy, Joseph Stalin later pressured Choibalsan to preserve Erdene Zuu, along with Gandantegchinlen Monastery in Ulaanbaatar, as a symbolic gesture for international visitors to demonstrate religious tolerance by the communist government. Consequently, the temples were converted into museums in 1947 and remained functioning solely as such for the subsequent four decades, with Gandantegchinlen Khiid Monastery serving as Mongolia's only active monastery during this period. Following the collapse of communism in Mongolia in 1990, Erdene Zuu Monastery was returned to the lamas.

Contemporary Significance

Since its return to monastic control, Erdene Zuu has been restored as an active place of worship. Today, it serves a dual role, functioning as a vibrant Buddhist monastery for practitioners and also as a museum open to tourists. The monastery's location within the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape has further solidified its status, as it is now included as part of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, underscoring its profound historical and cultural importance to Mongolia and the Buddhist world. Outside the monastery walls, on a nearby hill, stands Kharkhorin Rock, a stone phallus traditionally believed to aid in restraining the sexual impulses of the monks and ensuring their virtuous conduct.