Conference Opening Address, Zava Damdin 150th Anniversary Conference. Delgeruun Choira, Dundgovi Aimag Mongolia. 26 July 2017. Photograph courtesy of The Zava Damdin Scripture and Sutra Institute of Mongolia.
Conference delegates, Zava Damdin 150th Anniversary Conference. Delgeruun Choira, Dundgovi Aimag Mongolia. 26 July 2017. Photograph courtesy of The Zava Damdin Scripture and Sutra Institute of Mongolia.
The International Zava Damdin (b1867- )150th Anniversary Scientific Conference took place on 26–30 July 2017 at Delgeruun Choira Monastery in Dundgovi Aimag, Mongolia. It was convened by the Zava Damdin Scripture and Sutra Institute in collaboration with the Mongolian Academy of Sciences.
Background: The Mongol hermit-scholar-poet Lobsang Dayang Zava Damdin took rebirth on 7 February 1867 (Year of the Rabbit) at Dartsagtin Tsagaan Khad of Delgertsogt Sum (Dundgovi Aimag) in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert.
The 2017 conference, the second such conference after the cessation of Soviet-socialist communism in now democratic Mongolia, once again provided the opportunity for scholars from around the world to come together and present research to their peers on a range of topics related to Zava Damdin. Papers and other presentations came from a range of academic fields and their various epistemological grounding and perspectives.
Classical Mongolian vertical script (Mongγol bičig; in Mongolian Cyrillic: Монгол бичиг; Eng. Mongol bichig) with a Tibetan pecha ((Tibetan: དཔེ་ཆ་, Wylie: dpe cha). Ulaanbaator Mongolia. 26 September 2016. Photograph courtesy of Zava Damdin Rinpoche.
The Zava Damdin 140th Anniversary Conference in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
The last time this important international conference was convened was a decade ago, in September 2007. This was the first time such a conference of Buddhist Studies academics had been held since the cessation of soviet socialism in Mongolia in 1990.
The Mongolian names for ‘Buddha’ are ‘Sanjaa’ or ‘Burkhan Bagsh; in Tib. sangs-rgyas. Below are some of the photographs I took at that socially and culturally ground-breaking event.
A panel from one of the paintings (orig. colour; medium: oils) submitted for the Zava Damdin 140th Anniversary Art Competition for Young Artists held at The National Library of Mongolia. 1 September 2007. Section of original painting reprinted here in monochrome with permission from The Zava Damdin Institute of Mongolia.
A ‘next-generation Mongol’ Gelug Lam (Pagchuk Lam) attending the Zava Damdin 140th Anniversary Conference at The National Library of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar. 2 Sept 2007. Photo: C.Pleteshner.
International guest speakers and research academics at the Zava Damdin 140th Anniversary Conference at The National Library of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar. 2 Sept 2007. Photo: C.Pleteshner.
Secular and monastic audience participating in the Zava Damdin 140th Anniversary Conference at The National Library of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar. 2 Sept 2007. Photo: C.Pleteshner.
CP attending the Zava Damdin 140th Anniversary Conference, Ulaanbaatar. 6 Sept 2007.
end of transcript.
Written by C.Pleteshner, Research Fellow, Nomadic and Buddhist Philosophies for The Zava Damdin Institute of Mongolia.
Refer to the INDEX for other articles that may be of interest.
© 2013-2024. CP in Mongolia. This post is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Documents linked from this page may be subject to other restrictions. Posted: 8 February 2017. Last updated: 20 June 2022.