Gobi Desert Mysteries - Edgar Cayce

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                                                   Ruins of Kidan State





Ruins of Kidan State capital Kharbukh Balgas is a ruined monastery on the banks of the
Kharbukh river on the territory of Dashinchilen Soum in Bulgan Aimag. Its other name is
Khun Taij Balgas.

The monastery was erected by Mongolians in the 17th century in the ruins of ancient city
of the Kidan State dating back to the 10th century.

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RUINS OF KHARAKHORUM








                          UNDER THE ETERNAL SKY- THE GREAT CAPITAL KHARAKHORUM





The proclamation of the Mongolian Great Empire in 1206 right at the heart of Central Asia
opened a new era in the history not only of Asia, but also of Europe and the whole of mankind.
 
In the l3th century, many scattered tribes and people living in felt gers united to establish the
empire of the Mongols.Through strength in numbers, the Mongols expanded their own boarders
to the west and the east, integrating many nations and countries, which greatly fasilitate the
infusion of western and eastern cultural influences into Mongolia.

During this period, major cities were built, such as Kharakhorum, the capital for all Mongolian
Empire of Ghinggis Khaan /1162-1227/ who was defined and considered one of the prominent, outstanding and distinguished personalities of the 2nd Millenium in world history.

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The safety of the Silk Road, the main road of commercial and cultural exchange connect-
ing the East with West was kept, protected and controlled by the Mongolian Empire.

So the Mongols played an important role in the development of international relations by
pursuing a special policy of control on the world level. A tax system, relay posts and the
mosts and most favorable trade conditions created by imperial command during this time.
 
We know from history about the diverse cities of the world, which have once been cultural
and commercial centers in different times.

But Kharakhorum was unique among all of the cities in human history as written in histor-
ical sources because of its popularity as the capital city of the Empire which governed the
whole of Eurasia and Middle East and unifying so many different nations at that time.

Kharakhorum was the capital city of almost all the big Empires of Mongolian ancestry and
tribes like the State of Hunnus, Hsianpi, Jujans, Turkish, Uighurs Kaganat and Kitans Empire,
Mongolian Khereid Kingdom etc.

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About 780 years ago, a suitable geographical location was chosen for the building of the
capital of the Mongols, Kharakhorum.

As there were no high mountains in the southeast, where the sun rose, the sunlight would
hit the mountains in the northwest, and gradually descend into the city of Kharakhorum.
 
During the reign of Ugedei Khaan /1186- 1241/, Kharakhorum became the official capital of
Mongolia. He improved the organizational form of the state, finished the construction of
Kharakhorum city begun by his father Chinggis Khaan and made it the capital of his Mongo-
lian Empire.

The restoration and reconstruction work of Kharakhorum as the capital city of the Mongo-
lian Empire began in 1220 according to the resolution and official degree of Chinggis Khaan.
The city was originally founded near the ruins known in history as Taikhal Shivee in the
8th century.

After he passed into the Heavens in 1227, his son Ugedei succeeded the throne and
accomplished a great deal in continuing the policy of the policy of the Great Emperor
his father.

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The Kharakhorum capital city was built in a rectangular form and the citadel of the Tumen
Amgalan Palace was extending 200 m long from north to south.

The city had four quarters. First quarter was the place where there were essentially mer-
chants from Muslim Countries and their markets; second, those from China; third, palaces
of the Great Khaans and Queens, princes and princesses as well as high officials and digni-
taries of the Khaans family; fourth temples of churches and places of prayer.

In the latter there were 12 Buddhist temples, 2 Moslem mosques and 1 Christian church,
the large temple built was 94,5 meters tall and commercial houses, smiths workshops,
cottages and hundreds of gers /Mongolian national house/. It covered a rectangle area
stretching 2500 meters from the south to the north and 1500 meters from the west to
the east.

Kharakhorum was extremely beautiful with richly —colored and scenic flower beds, and
with plenty of evergreen trees planted around. There were 4 big gates on each site of the
city, making it easier to come in and go out.

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The Tumen Amgalant Palace /Palace of Myriad Tranquilities/ of the Great Mongol Khaans was structured on some 2800 square meter plots of land and was a three story edifice with very
attractive, ravishing golden roofs.

The French architect and goldsmith Wilhelm Bouche created Silver tree Fountain where on
swing four faucets and underneath them were four outsized bowls accordingly.

On the top of the Silver tree there was an Angel blowing a horn.

When functions of state ceremonial occasions were at work, delicious and wholesome beve-
rages would spill out of each faucet differing in kind and taste into the four bowls, And invited
to the occasions would help themselves to the same when the bowls filled beverages, taking
as an honor and great pleasure.

The external decoration of the palace was an architectural innovation unparalleled in Central
Asia and the Far East at that time.

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The city most important such urban site throughout the vast reach of the territory of the
Mongol Empire in the 13-16th centuries. It was from this capital that the Mongol Empire
was governed and from this Silk Road that the commerce of Europe, Asia and Near East
was controlled for more than 400 years.

Kharakhorum attracted travelers from Eurasia; Piano Carpini in 1246, Ata Melik Juveiny 1253
and William Rubruck in 1254 and Marco Polo 1274 and many kings, princes.

They all documented their travel and visits to the center of the Mongolian Great Empire.
William Rubruck's Journey to the East, K7harakhorum is described as the following; earthen
walls enclose the city, with four main gates as points of entrance. \

At the eastern gate millet and cereals are sold, at the western gate sheep and goats, at
the southern gate cows and carts, and at the northern gate horses.

During the reign of Munkh Khaan /1251 - 1259/ and Khubilai Khaan /1260 - 1297 /, a labour
force of 1500 sculptor men employed to build the Kharakhorum were withdrawn from their
work, and gradually construction stopped.

Munkh Khaan was a great statesman who made the Mongolian State the biggest Empire in
the World and managed to maintain its integrity. Although Kharakhorum was the capital,
Khubilai Khaans did not reside there, and only the Klhaans ambassador remained in
Kharakhorum when they moved the capital to Beijing.

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In 1380, troops of the Chinese Ming Dynasty attacked Mongolia and invaded Kharakhorum.
Some of Mongolian lords were arrested, the city was greatly damaged and plundered, and
Tumen Amgalant palace set on and destroyed.

Some historians say the name of Kharakhorum did not appear in history for another 100 years.

However, this does not point to Kharakhorum's extinction, rather that the historical records
of the time were lost. Although the king of all the Mongols, Batmunkh Dayan Khaan /1466
- 1517 or 1470 - 1544/, lived in the city, he did not restore it or do any specific major work to renovate the city.

For a time, while Batmunkh Dayan Khaan settled internal feudal wars, united - the country and established peaceful relations with China, Kharakhorum served as the political and economic
center of Mongolia in the late 16th centuries.

In 1552, troops from Oirad in western Mongolia invaded and Oirad was attacked by Altan Khan
/1507 - 1582/ prince of Turned. He also invaded Kharakhorum, a city that had kept its political
and military importance since Batmunkh Dayan Khaan.

40 years after the event, the ger-palace of Abtai Sam Khaan /1554 — 1588/ was built in Kharakhorum, and the Erdehezuu monastery constructed nearby in 1586, of which only a
stone sculpture of a turtle remains today.

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Beginning in the 17th century, the Manchurian Dynasty /1644 - 1911/ directed her attack toward Mongolia during the crisis and internal strife between the Khalkh and Oirad princes.

All this marked the beginning of the loss of independence, piece by piece that brought Kharakhorum into its disarray. This is now Kharakhorum, the capital of Mongolian Empire, became a ruin.

KharakhorUm was the capital of Mongolia for 400 years and the capital of the Mongolian Great Empire for 40 years.

Nowadays Kharakhorum is under Mongolian government protection. The Government has begun with UNESCO an implementation of the project on Preservation and Protection of the Foundation of KharakhorUlm.

A number of domestic and foreign scholars have investigated the site of Kharakhorum city sinse the end of the 19th century. Doctor N.M.Yadrintsev first discovered the ruins, in 1889. Excavation of the site began in 1890.

During the period of 194&1949 a Mongolian historical and ethnological expedition headed be Russian scientists S.V. Kiselev and Mongolian scientist Kh.Perlee investigated the site for the first time. As a large amount of new evidence was acquired.

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Excavations, of a big structure at the crossing of the two streets, of a Khaans palace in the
west corner of the big wall and of the houses near the southern gate, were carried out.

As a result it was found that the Khaans palace was surrounded by a wall, in the center of
which stood the main building of the palace with two other smaller ones situated on both
sides of it.

The Khaan's palace was erected on three-floor high foundation and supported by 64 pillars
and a spacious inner hall. There were other beautiful halls, too, with the walls decorated with
fine designs and figures of dragons, lions and other architectural enamel and clay sculptures.

The floors of all the buildings of the palace were made of the tiles covered with green, red enamel. Foreign ambassadors and delegates were received in the main hall.

The discovery of Mongolian, Chinese, Arabic and Central Asian 230 coins, stone stamp, skill cup, balances, ploughs, etc., testify that in the city of Kharakhorum, trade flourished and cereals and
other crops were raised on large around the compound.


Under a joint project of the Mongolian Government, UNESCO and the Japanese Government “Protection of the ruins of Kharakhorum ancient Mongolian capital� implemented for
1995-1997, a topographic map, archaeological excavation and underground survey are being
carried out.

These investigations have revealed that in Kharakhorum there were palaces, emples, hops,
military stores and residential quarters within a rectangular wall pierced by gates at each of
the four cardinal directions.

It is obvious that Mongolian urban architecture and city planning reached its most elaborate
expression at this site, which fully lives up to the detailed accounts given by Marco Polo and
his companions /Mongolians tentative list cultural and natural heritage. UNESCO Beijing office
Ministry of Enlightenment Mongolia p-4 I.

The restoration and research of historical monuments and relics of Kharakhorum and Valley of
Orkhon river as a unique heritage of Mongolia as well as human history has attracted the
interest of scholars world wide. The involvement of Academy of Science of Mongolia,
professionals, scholars and scientists are very important to implement this research work.

Kharakhorum was unique among all of the cities human history, as written in historical sources
because of its popularity as the capital city of the Empire which governed the whole of Eurasia
and the Middle and Far East and unifying so many different nations at that time.


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                                               THE ERDENZUU MONASTERY





Erdenezuu is the first Buddhist monastery in center Mongolia.

Abtai Sain Khaan, descendant of Chinggis Khaan, on the foundation of the Kharakhorum, esta-
blished it in 1586. Building materials, especially stone, were taken from the city of Kharakhorum
to construct the massive pillars, walls and pedestals. The monasteries temples and stupas were
begun in the 16th century and building continued up to the early period of the 19th century.

Architectural style is a combination of both Mongolian and Tibetan, and Chinese traditions. Not
a single nail was used in the construction of the monastery temples. Joints were made only
through intricate junctions and joining of carved wood.

The monastery is surrounded by a massive wall which is 402 *402 meter. There are four gates
at the each side and walls consist of 108 stupas, 25 on each side and 2 at every corner.
In the former times, the monastery was included 100 temples with 10000 monks. The monastery museum has unique exhibits such as many cast god images, clothes and musical instrument. It
also displays art crafts of Mongolian masters from 16th to 18th centuries like golden “wheels
of eternity�, figurines, Buddha statues, Tsam /Buddha religious dance! masks and dresses etc.
Arabic, Mongolian Tibetan and Chinese inscription has remained until today in the monastery.
Many stone monuments were kept inside the Erdenezuu in the 13th to 14th centuries.


The chapel built in honour as the center Mongolian prince Tusheet Khaan G.Chakhundorj I 1630-
1699 I visit to the V Dalai Lama /1617-1682 I in 1675 is also placed chapel .On both sides of this chapel there are 2 small chapels for praying. Furthermore in front of left and right sides of brick
fortress wall there are 2 little wooden fences so called “Khais�.

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In the fortress nearby the gate the tombs of Abtai Sam Khaan /It means The Good Prince! and E.Gombodoij Khaan /1594-1655/, were built.

Behind the tombs, there are 3 main temples so called “Main Three Zuu�. Abtai Sam Khaan,
his grandson Gombodorj Khaan, Darkhan Noyon, and his queen built the Western temple. Here 3
big statuettes are also placed in the temple. The one on the left depicts Sanja-Odsuren who, according to religious mythology, was the first disseminator of religions before Buddha and a
Maidariin Gegeen Jamba, who will disseminate Buddhism after Buddha and between them Buddha
stands in his old age.

The main Central Zuu was built at the ruling of the Thusheet Khaan. In the temple the idols soon
on idol Lham and an idol Gombogur the main shrine of Erdenezuu, is on the right. Three big idol
statues are placed along the northern wall. On the left side is the God Medecine Otoch Manal, on
the right side is Holy Avid in the center is Buddha in his youth.

Statues preserved in the temple are the god of the Moon, Buddha s disciples 8 sages and others.
The special pedestal displays the dozens of chased mould and gilded copper statues of idols made
by Under Gegeen G.Zanabazar /1635 -1723/ who was on excellent sculptor and scientist, painter.
 
Walls of upper floor of the temples have beautiful appliques depicting the Forests Mountains and
caves where gods lived like hermits. These pictures are called the land of the ‘Thousand
Buddhas of Golden time�, who descended from the Heaven onto the Earth.

The Eastern Zuu temple was built by Erkhii Mergen Khaan and his son Gombodori Tusheet Khaan's
wife Khandjamts, mother of Zanabazar.There are 3 big statues displayed in the temples on the
left is Bogdo-Lama himself, on the right is the idol Janraisig, in the center is the image of the
Buddha in his teenage.

The model of the Eastern Zuu temple made of brown sandalwood is placed in to the center at the pedestal. There are also wall pictures of 35 gods of Manal Dunsha, Bogd Lama and his disciples.

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The small chapels of Ajush Thama are located in side the fortress where the pictures of gods,
made by skillful hands of the Mongolian young women, hang in the temple. They also contain
wall pictures, images of animals and idols.

The main stupa, which is called “Golden Stupa†for praying, is erected on the northern east sector. On the left side on the stupa there is 3 floor high palace called Lavrin, which office monks.

The Lavrin is one of the monumental pure styles of Tibetion architecture. The temple contains
75 idols of Makhagal, Gombogur, Bogdo Lama, sculpture of Zanabazar, pictures of gods, appliques, embroideries, masks, and horn of tsam, flue, bells, musical instruments and many other treasures
of history and culture.

The square placed in the middle called “Square of Ulzey Khutagt†where Abtai Khaans ger-
palace assembled. Later, called “Bat U1zey�

The huge ger tent was erected for the Center kings and feudals meeting held in 1658 and now
only paved square with stone plates, 45-meter diameter left. The Bat Ulzey ger has enough space
to room some 300 persons.
 
In front of the ger was a very beautiful artificial lake. Water pipes were laid from the Orkhon River
to supply the lake with water.

The temples contains an excellent collection of thanckhas, tsam masks, wooden and bronze statues, original paintings, carvings, ornamentS, costing, gods made by Mongolian painter, sculptors, smiths masters in the 16th and 18th century.

Erdenezuu monastery museum is a wonder of the history of Mongolian culture and religion.

Also, Erdehezuu is the only monastery built in accordance with the traditional Mongolian urban
planning. It’s architecture is very similar to that of Mongolian palace architecture found in
the Kharakhorum City.


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