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The Guardian of Clear Scripts in Mongol Khüree


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Authors

Bulag, Uradyn E. 
Fuerwa, Dorjraa 

Abstract

Namjil Lama is an illustrative figure to highlight in this video. He is the person who collected most of the clear script books in Mongol Khüree County in Ili. In this video, he explained what and why he has been doing over the years. He is known for his Buddhist knowledge and clear script collection among the locals. Namjil Lama not only inherited hundreds of Tod Bichig scripts from his grandfather, who went to Lhasa at a young age and brought back many Buddhist sutras and translated them into the clear script, including Altan Gerel, Chagan Shühürtü, and Har Shühürtü, Namjil also has Banzaragchi in classical Mongolian script, which he claims to be the oldest scripture in Mongol Khüree: as it was written during the reign of Khublai Khan according to the date mentioned in the book. Additionally, he also holds the knowledge of handwriting and the woodblock Tod scripts. Handwriting and woodcutting with sophisticated rules and aesthetic styles, he takes at least a month to write full-time every day to complete an entire Tod Üsüg script on paper, whereas the latter takes over three months to complete. Given that it is part of his life, Namjil did not count how many woodblock scripts and paper scripts he made from old scripts. Woodblocks must be ripened before carving scripts on them to prevent them from curving or cracking, as Namjil explained. Therefore, Namjil usually boils the woodblock in water for a set period. After carving clear scripts on it, he proceeds to boil it in butter as a second step. This process ensures the woodblock script's endurance, whether exposed to hot and cold weather or subjected to rain or snow for a long time. Otherwise, it will become weathered. Interestingly, Namjil is now carving a woodblock that has not been ripened, since the government urgently requested it for their museum without considering its future durability. Additionally, Namjil used to make his own pens and knives for carving. Nowadays, he finds many options available online or buys directly from shops. Namjil is optimistic about the tradition of writing clear scripts, stating that people should pay close attention to preserving their traditional scripts in this contemporary, changing society. Namjil’s grandfather was a herder but sought to learn Buddhism in Lhasa for two years, earning the “Ubash” title, which is granted to married males, while “Uushints” is a similar accolade for females. Individuals with Ubash or Uushints titles were permitted to read clear scripts to other families, whereas Buddhist lamas were required to remain in their monasteries and recite Tibetan Buddhist scriptures. Nowadays, everyone could read clear scripts to other families if they could fluently read it.

Description

Keywords

Altan Gerel, Chagan Shühürtü, Har Shühürtü, Namjil, Banzaragchi, Tod Üsüg, woodblock Scripture

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Publisher

Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge

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Sponsorship
Sponsored by Arcadia Fund, a charitable fund of Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin.