Tsugolsky Datsan

Tsugolsky Datsan, also known as Dashi Choypelling ("Land of Multiplying the Teaching of Happiness"), is the oldest Buddhist monastery in Zabaykalsky Krai. It stands on a gentle south-facing hillside above the floodplain of the Onon River, at the mouth of the Tsugol River, in the village of Tsugol, Mogoytuysky municipal district, about 60 km southeast of the town of Mogoytuy and 265 km from Chita.

History

The datsan was founded in 1801, when three Buryat clans — Galzud, Zuun-Kharagana and Zuun-Khuasai — petitioned to establish their own monastery. The first buildings were felt-covered yurt-type structures. In 1827 the monastery received permission to build permanent structures, and in 1828 construction began on the wooden main temple, the Tsogchen Dugan, along with four smaller sume shrines. The three-storey wooden Tsogchen Dugan was built between 1831 and 1836, and in 1864–1868 a stone main cathedral temple was erected next to it.

By the late 19th and early 20th century the complex had grown to ten dugans. A philosophical school building (Choyra Dugan) was built in 1897, a medical school (Manba Dugan) in 1898–1899, and the Mahakala sume temple in 1913. The monastery also ran a hospital and a printing house, which produced 50 booklets in Mongolian and 139 works in Tibetan.

During the Soviet period the datsan suffered repression: in 1932 a military unit was stationed on its grounds, on 13 December 1933 the monastery was officially closed, and in 1936 its property was removed and partly destroyed.

The datsan was returned to believers in 1988. In 1991 a statue of Maitreya Buddha (Maidari), disassembled, was brought back to the monastery. A stupa, Yunden Shodon, was consecrated in 2010, and a new statue of Je Tsongkhapa was installed in 2011.

A center of Buddhist learning

Tsugolsky Datsan was renowned as the leading monastery among the Buryat datsans in terms of academic education. In 1845 Lubsan-Lkhundub Dandarov founded the first Buryat school of classical Buddhist philosophical education, the Tsannid school, here. Monks were taught not only the basics of Buddhism but also the Tibetan and Mongolian languages, geography, medicine, astrology and philosophy.

According to legend, the monastery's founding had been foretold: the holy Bogdo-Banchen Choglai Namzhil had predicted that the Buryats would one day build a monastery in this area.

Today

The datsan is an active religious and educational center, where Buddhism, languages, medicine and philosophy continue to be studied. Its library holds editions of the Buddhist canon — the Kangyur and Tengyur. The main sacred objects include the statues of Maitreya Buddha and Je Tsongkhapa, and the Yunden Shodon stupa.

Getting there

Tsugolsky Datsan can be reached by car along the A350 highway. The village of Tsugol lies about 60 km southeast of Mogoytuy and 265 km from Chita.