On the Collection of the Oirat Sources from the Fund of Khovd State University of Mongolia

Abstract

The study of the written heritage of Mongolian peoples has a long tradition. The largest collections of manuscripts and xylographs in Russia are concentrated in St. Petersburg, Ulan-Ude, and some of them are in Elista and Kyzyl. In Mongolia the richest manuscript collections are held at the State Public Library and the Institute of Language and Literature of Mongolia in Ulan Bator. Recently researchers from different institutions: the Institute of Language and Literature of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, the Institute of History of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Center for the Study of Oirat History and Culture «Tod nomyn gerel», Mongolian State Pedagogical University, and others have been actively involved in the field research within the complex ethnological, linguistic, historical, ethnographic, folklore and other expeditions. The article is based on field research which was conducted during the scientific expedition held in Khovd (in Russian - Khovdosky) aimag of Mongolia. Materials on the written heritage of the Western Mongols were gathered by scientists of Khovd State University and stored electronically. The collection of manuscripts consists primarily of the Oirat sources. The manuscripts were translated by an outstanding Oirat educator, politician, and founder of the Oirat writing «Clear Script» (1648), Zaya Pandita Namkhai Gyamtso (1599-1662). Thus, the manuscripts are mainly presented by religious, ritual, ethical and edifying writings also related to household activities of Khovd aimag. Further the research will be connected with the description of the written heritage of the Western Mongols.