Erdene Zuu
Mission
The Erdene Zuu Monastery Library preservation project focuses on digitally preserving the monastery’s invaluable collection and other Mongolian library collections through mobile digital preservation. This effort includes cataloging, digitizing, and archiving texts to protect them from age-related damage and loss, ensuring perpetual access to Mongolia’s cultural and historical treasures. By uniting and safeguarding manuscript fragments from across the countryside, the project fosters a robust network for digital text preservation. This initiative secures Mongolia’s heritage for current and future generations, making it accessible both locally and globally. ALL and Erdene Zuu initiated this project in 2023.
History
The Erdene Zuu Monastery, established in 1585, is the oldest surviving Buddhist monastery in Mongolia and a cornerstone of the nation’s cultural and spiritual heritage. Built near the ruins of Karakorum, the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire, it represents the fusion of Mongolian and Tibetan Buddhist traditions. Today, it stands as a symbol of resilience and preservation, housing invaluable manuscripts and woodblock prints. Through the digital preservation project, the Erdene Zuu Monastery’s rich legacy is safeguarded, ensuring its treasures endure for generations to come.
Preservation Highlights
Astrology Text by Lochen Dharmashri
Originally composed in 1681 by the esteemed scholar Lochen Dharmashri, this text serves as a supplement to his foundational work, The Sunlight of the Astrological Scripture. It delves into the essential principles of the Tibetan astrological calculation system, offering clarity and depth to this intricate tradition. The preserved edition, printed using traditional woodblock techniques, is carefully held at the Erdene Zuu Library, standing as a valuable testament to the enduring legacy of Tibetan scholarship and craftsmanship.
Donate
All funds raised are used for ALL’s mission to locate, digitally preserve, and safeguard some of the world’s most precious collections of cultural literary wisdom heritage.
Project Manager Profile
Lama Gongor Chuluundorj, the dedicated project manager at the Erdene Zuu Monastery Library, leads a vital mission to preserve Mongolia’s ancient texts. As the country’s oldest surviving monastery, Erdene Zuu is a repository of profound cultural heritage and historical memory. The preservation process involves identifying and digitizing texts that have endured thanks to the resilience of Mongolian custodians over centuries. Lama Gongor and his team meticulously create detailed metadata for each text and carefully scan every page, ensuring that even the most fragile volumes, rich with history and knowledge, are safeguarded for Mongolian communities and the world.
Erdene Zuu Stories
Training the Staff of the Oldest Buddhist Monastery in Mongolia
Glimpses of Erdene Zuu Monastery
Retrieving Manuscripts at Erdene Zuu Monastery
Social Media
Installing highspeed internet at Erdene Zuu
A Precious Manuscript in the Erdene Zuu Collection
Erdene Zuu: Introduction to the Project
