Danzanravzhaa

Noyon Xutagt Danzaravzhaa is one of the most significant cultural figures from Mongolia in the 19th century, achieving renown as a highly enlightened Buddhist master, poet, artist, and campaigner for social justice and public education.

Contents

Childhood

Danzanravzhaa was born in 1803 in the Gobi Mergen district of Tusheet Xan aimag, in what is now Xövsgöl sum of Dornogov' aimag. His mother died when he was very young, leaving him to be brought up by his father as an only child. Being extremely poor, father and son lived by begging until 1809, when Ravzhaa became a disciple of the religious master Ishdoniilxundev of Ongiin River. It soon became apparent that the boy was extremely precocious; it is said that Danzanravzhaa earned considerable respect for the literary genius exemplified by his early poems and songs. In 1911, in recognition of his extraordinary intellectual and artistic abilities, local religious authorities bestowed on him the title of fifth reincarnation of the Gobi Noyon Xutagt.

Buddhist leader and public educator

Danzanravzhaa completed his basic training in Buddhist literature, art, religion and philosophy by the early 1820s. Thereafter he established the three monasteries of Galbyn Uul, all of which became local centres of culture, art, and education. Danzanravzhaa gave considerable attention to the development of Xamar Monastery in particular, where he established a professional theatre and touring company, public library, museum, and primary school-all of which reflected his serious commitment to the cause of public education.

Danzanravzhaa's primary school was unique in pre-revolutionary Mongolia as it offered talented children a free, secular education - consisting of instruction in Mongolian and Tibetan languages, mathematics, natural science, and history - without discrimination as to social class or gender. Successful graduates of the primary school were invited to undertake further vocational artistic training, preparing them to work as actors, singers, orators, set decorators, costume designers, and stage assistants in the Saran Xöxöö theatre company, or as teachers in schools, as well as the seal used in certifying qualified graduates.

The Saran Xöxöö Company also has a significant role in history as Mongolia's first professional public theatre. A three-level outdoor theatre was constructed specially for the performance of Danzanravzhaa's festival-dramas, which included a mixture of song, dance, oration, comedy, and melodrama presented by a company of approximately 300 actors. The theatrical company also travelled and performed for local audiences in other regions of the Gobi. Some of the costumes and other objects originally used in the theatre are on display in the Danzanravzhaa Museum today.

In the 1840s Danzanravzhaa also established what is considered to be Mongolia's first museum. As many as ten thousand objects were stored and exhibited at the "exhibition temple" at Xamar Monastery, including personal works and possessions, gifts from the public or from high-ranking religious and political authorities, and unusual objects collected during Danzanravzhaa's extensive travels. Alongside this museum was a public library, where visitors could have books read aloud or translated by library staff.

Literary output

Danzanravzhaa's known literary output included more than 300 poetic works, over 100 songs, a philosophical treatise, the ten-volume Saran Xöxöö operetta, and numerous religious tracts written in both Mongolian and Tibetan. Many of Danzanravzhaa's works have entered into the Mongolian folk tradition; his songs, in particular, are widely sung at festivals and celebrations today.

Danzanravzhaa's poems, songs, and teachings are remarkable for their outspoken criticism of 18th-century Mongolian society. Greatly disturbed by the hypocrisy he saw in others, Danzanravzhaa denounced those whom he perceived as helping themselves without helping others, criticizing others without criticizing themselves, or displaying various other forms of foolish or duplicitous behaviour. His sense of irony was well-developed even as a young child; he is reputed to have gained considerable attention for an improvised verse composed at the rear of the home became wet from rain blowing in through the smoke-hole, while the commoners at the entrance remained dry: 

When clouds come and it is time for rain
What difference between the door and the rear?
When death comes and it is time to pass on
What difference between the old and the young?

In his later life Danzanravzhaa spared no criticism even of high-ranking lamas and political figures; his later poem "Ichig Ichig" ("Shame, shame"), for instance, is direct in its attack on hypocritical doctors, lamas, and other "wise" men, in sharp contrast to the cautious reverence displayed by most contemporaries. Similarly the great festival music drama of Saran Xöxöö contains frequent references to the "terrible dishonest times" in which Ravzhaa saw himself as living, and which he considered to be the source of the evil and corruption prevalent even amongst the high-ranking officials he satirized on stage. Indeed Ravzhaa earned many enemies as a result of his iconoclasm and general irreverence for authority, notably due to his opposition to Manchu rule of Mongolia, which he saw as being corrupt and exploitative. Danzanravzhaa's pessimism became increasingly evident in his later writings, culminating in the poem "Yertönc avgain zham" ("The Way of the World"), composed as he became aware that he had been poisoned and about to die.

While the language and themes of Danzanravzhaa's poetry often appear quite simple on the surface, the poems typically have a complex structure and figurative meaning based on dharma teaching. There is a strong belief among the people of the Mongolian Gobi that singing certain songs is the same as reciting pujas. For instance, people believe that performing the song Ülemzhiin chanar (Outstanding Qualities) once is equivalent to reciting the White Tara Puja a thousand times.

Timeline: Life of Danzanravzhaa

Year Event
1803 pig The fifth Gobi His Holiness Danzanravzhaa is born in the xoshuu (district) of the Gobi Mergen Van within Tusheet Xan’s province, as the son of the poor man Dulduit.
1815 monkey Danzanravzhaa has audiences with the fourth Bogd Jivzundamba and His Holiness Ajaa Rinpoche, and becomes their disciple.
1817 ox Studies Buddhist philosophy at the Padgar chos-gling Monastery in Inner Mongolia
1821 Establishes the Lam-rin gru-tshang temple
1822 Construction of the Great Palace
1823 Becomes a disciple of Janjaa Rinpoche. Establishes the temples of sNgags-pa (Tantra), Chos-kyi tshong rdal (Buddhist philosophy) and Protective deities.
1826 Construction of Labran Monastery, which includes a tower and Chogramba temple
1827 pig Estabishment of Dus-axor (Kalachakra) temple. Extensive offerings made to Orosgochoo. Manufacture of tsam costumes and instruments, and performance of the first tsam ceremony.
Establishment of Sorogjiddurxenlin Monastery and beginning of tantric meditation.
1828 rat Construction of the Tsog-chen temple at Chos gling Monastery, housing one thousand gold and copper Buddha icons and nine-jewel Kanjur sutra made by Danzanravzhaa.
1832 Construction of the Saran Xöxöö theatre, and first performance of the “Story of Moon Cuckoo” drama.
1842 Establishment of the museum at Xamar Monastery.
1843 rabbit Completion of the construction of Tsagaan Chuluutyn Temple, Uxaa-Argalantyn Agui monastery and Galbyn monastery. A Red Protector is granted to Galba Monastery by Danzanravzhaa from Chos-gling Monastery.
1848 Construction of the Tsog-chen temple of Western Monasteries, as well as temples representing the four main branches, nine stupas, and Choigan and Labran temples at Xamar Monastery.
1851 Creation of a path to Shambala Land at Xamar Monastery, intended to lead all sentient beings to the holy Shambala.
1854 tiger Palace constructed for Danzanravzhaa at Ulaan Shand.
1856 Death of Danzanravzhaa.

Monasteries established by Danzanravzhaa

His Holiness Danzanravzhaa established his first monastery at Övör Xamar in the year of the horse (1822), when he was only 19 years old. This monastery has since been known as "Xamar Monastery". His Holiness later established a number of monasteries throughout the Gobi, all of which remained active until 1938. Other monasteries include:

References

www.mandaltours.com | tours@mandal.ca | +976 99.73.51.47 (Mongolia)

In commemoration of the legacy and teachings of
His Holiness Dulduit Danzanravzhaa
Fifth Wrathful Noble Xutagt of the Great Gobi (1803-1856)

I did not overbearingly sophize
Nor preach with pride and arrogance
But having found a sense in this world
Spoke the truth of my dear heart.
portrait of Danzanravzhaa, Fifth Wrathful Noble Xutagt of the Great Gobi  scorpion, symbol of wisdom as used by Danzanravzhaa
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