Memory of the World; 2012 - unesdoc - Unesco

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Mongolian Tanjur
Inscribed 2011
What is it
The Mongolian Tanjur is a Mongolian-language
collection of over 3425 Buddhist commentaries and
treatises (as opposed to the Kanjur which contains
the Buddha’s own words).
Why was it inscribed
It is the only complete Mongolian-language version
in existence and has survived wars and also religious
persecution under Stalin in 1937–39, a feat regarded
by Mongolians as a miracle. This reinforces its
spiritual value to Mongolian Buddhists in Mongolia
and elsewhere.
Where is it
National Library of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Tanjur is a Tibetan word meaning ‘treatise’. The Mongolian
Tanjur is a large collection of over 3425 Buddhist works on
the so-called ‘ten great and small sciences’ (philosophy,
technology, logic, medicine, philology, astrology,
model dance, poetics, Abhidharma or psychology, and
composition) created by Indian and Tibetan scientists and
panditas. These had a huge effect on the development of
Mongolian literature and many branches of science. It is
recognized as the largest sutra in the world.
The Tanjur was translated from Tibetan into Mongolian
under the supervision of Janjaa Rolbiidorj and Shireet
Luvsandambiinyam and was printed, using the old
Mongolian vertical script format and Mongolian red
dust ink, in Beijing between 1742 and 1749. To print the
226 volumes and 107,839 pages of the Mongolian Tanjur
required, among other raw materials, thick Chinese
muutuu paper and 2161 ounces of silver. The completed
work was wrapped in yellow fabric and pressed by two
wooden frames with sandalwood book covers. The
cost of this single copy was then equivalent to the cost
of 4000 sheep.
Works included in the Tanjur had been translated into
Tibetan since the 9th century and Mongolians were
translating and studying the works of Tanjur from the
beginning of the 14th century. The translation of the
whole Tanjur began in 1724 when a khan’s decree was
issued for the translation of the Tanjur. Under the decree,
135 Mongolian, Tibetan and Manchurian translators,
teachers, print workers and Buddhist scientists as well as
163 copyists were gathered from all corners of Mongolia.
In the course of translation of such a large number
of works, the language knowledge, translation skills and
methods of Mongolian translators greatly improved.
The translation of the Tanjur played a significant role in
developing the classic Mongolian language as a literary
language. A Tibetan–Mongolian dictionary was published
in 1748, influenced by the work on the Tanjur, which served
as a theoretical guide for translators and, moreover,
greatly contributed to the translation of Mongolian
of the Middle Ages.
Mongolian Tanjur 279