The Kamby Lama Ondar Lopsan-Chamzy (1857–1930): The main milestones of historical biography
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25178/nit.2022.3.9Keywords:
Ondar Lopsan-Chamzy; Uriankhai Krai; Tuva; Russia; China; Mongolia; Buddhist monastery; khuree; protectorate; Pandido Kamby Lama; Civil war; political repressionAbstract
The article is the first attempt to examine the historical biography, political and spiritual activities of one of the famous religious figures of Tuva, the abbot of the Upper Chadan Buddhist Monastery (khuree) Ondar Lopsan-Chamzy (1857–1930). The study responds to the need to refute inaccurate and incorrect beliefs about him. We clarify some facts of his biography that are related to his origin, spiritual education and staying in exile, the place and circumstances of his death. The ideas about his attitude towards the revolutionary changes that were taking place in Russia are concretized. A special attention is paid to his ideological and political position at crucial and landmark moments in the history of Tuva and Russia (1916–1921). The authors consider his active participation and important role in the establishment of the religious institute of the Pandido Kamby Lama in the region. It was the prototype of contemporary institute of the Kamby Lama of Tuva.
The reorganization of the Buddhist Sangha of Tuva was undertaken by the Russian authorities in order to eliminate the submissive and dependent position of Tuvan ministers of the Buddhist cult in relations with religious institutions in Mongolia and Tibet. It implied the unification of all Tuvan monasteries under the leadership of an authoritative Buddhist hierarch. The most suitable candidate for this position, according to the Russian authorities, was Lopsan-Chamzy who considered Russia’s patronage over Tuva as a benefit for his people. He described his vision of Buddhist religious practice in Tuva in a list of moral teachings and requests attached to his petition for placing Tuva under the protectorate of Russia in 1914.
The Kamby Lama’s persistent political orientation to the monarchical Russia in the conditions of socialist modernization in Tuva doomed him to a tragic end.
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Mollerov N. M. and Samdan A. A. Kamby-lama Ondar Lopsan-Chamzy (1857–1930): osnovnye vekhi istoricheskoi biografii [The Kamby Lama Ondar Lopsan-Chamzy (1857–1930): The main milestones of historical biography]. New Research of Tuva, 2022, no. 3, pp. 116-134. (In Russ.). DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.25178/nit.2022.3.9
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