Mongolia and The Roerich's

The Roerich's and Mongolia

The 80th anniversary of an international expedition in central Asia headed by Russian scientist, painter and archaeologist N.K. Roerich is marked this month.
For this anniversary, an international symposium entitled "The Roerich's and Mongolia" was organized from November 20-21, 2008 by the International Association of Mongolian Studies, Academy of Sciences, the Roerich Society of Mongolia and the Roerich Family Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.

On September 15 in Ulaanbaatar, 1926, newspaper “Izvesliya" published in Russian 'A cultural-archaeological expedition arrived from Moscow on September 12. Heading the expedition is the world-renowned Russian painter, Roerich. The expedition may stay in Ulaanbaatar for a long time to study culturally valuable items in Mongolia's capital city. The expedition includes the painter's son, young scholar and Sanskrit language master Yuri. N. Roerich. A new book by him about Tibetan painting was published in 1925 by a printing house in Paris. The expedition arrived here from southern India passing the Himalaya and Karakorumsk mountains."

Sh. Bira, head of the Roerich Society of Mongolia, highlighted that work undertaken by that first Central Asian expedition led by N.K. Roerich are very significant in studies on Central Asian civilization and an expedition objective was to study the intelligence and civilization of small forgotten countries with low development in the world, such as Mongolia. He gave a lecture "N. Roerich is a Great Mongolist”, stating that Roerich, still a valuable heritage for scientific sectors, educated in a number of sciences, was a socially and culturally famous figure.

Mongolia had poor development in 1926-1927 when the expedition worked in the country: nevertheless he saw Mongolia's future optimistically and said. "Mongolia has much potential to exist and aspiration for great construction”. Having forgotten Mongolia, the west has a special reason to connect with and keep the country as a resource for future construction." In his story 'Mongolia', N. Roerich stated, "A limitless and hidden sea is still in front of us. Everyone will see its hidden power in every sector of life, although it is difficult to understand whether or not this hidden power is occasional.

However, nothing at all is occasional and. therefore, this hidden 'thing: is reserved for great deeds." When N. Roerich created his ideology on the unification of historic western and eastern civilizations, he wrote a scientific treatise on the significances of Mongolia's nomadic civilization, history and culture and painted many pictures about Mongolia.

Nicholas Konstantinovieh Roerich was born in St. Petersburg. Russia, on October 9, 1874 and studied at the Academy of Art at St. Petersburg University from 1893-1898, simultaneous study at the Law University. He wrote. "From 1890s, he saw accurate symbolisms of their people's morals shown in the main directions of philosophy, cultural memorials, monuments, literature and religions from ancient India, China, Tibet and Mongolian culture."

For 42 years N. Roerich lived in Russia, in India for 20 years, USA for 3 years, Finland for 2 years, France for 1 year, England for 1 year, China for 2 years, Tibet for half a year and Mongolia for 7-8 months. Roerich twice toured through Central and Eastern Asia, in 1924 and 1934, and following his travels in Mongolia's Gobi and Altai Mountains and the Himalayan Mountains, wrote the books 'Heart of Asia' and 'Altai-Himalaya' syabout his tours.

Not only N. Roerich, but also his son Yuri Roerich studied eastern and Mongolia history and wrote numerous books. When academician Sh. Bira studied at the Eastern Institute of Russian Scientific Academy in 1957-1960, he was a student of Yuri Roerich and received his academic degree under his instruction.
During the symposium, Mongolian and Russian scientists attested to contributions by N. Roerich and his son Yuri Roerich to Mongolian studies, history, paintings and translations of Buddhist sutras, also drawing attention to the modern-day significance of the Roerich Pact, the N. Roerich prophesy, participation at the First Congress of Mongolists and letters by Yuri Roerich.

Roerich Snr, in describing art, science and religion, as three of the most embracing of human cultural activities, with important roles for humankind to coexist peacefully, together with well-known international figures (Einstein, Tagore) initiated the Roerich Pact during World War II for the purpose of protecting world cultural values.
N. Roerich's paintings, so attractive with their combinations of colours, amazing symbols, and secrets, depict hidden ideas and deep meanings. N. Roerich, knowing the Buddha legend well toured through the Indian and Tibetan mountains looking for legendary Shambhala. The Roerich's are also famous for introducing Shambhala in Buddhist teachings in western countries.

A small timber house in Mongolia where his expedition team stayed in 1927-1928 currently remains undestroyed in Ulaanbaatar and participants at the symposium placed a memorial plaque on its wall.

Mongol Messenger