Lecture 4. Inner Mongolia: the Vajrayana domestication of cavalrymen

Inner Mongolia is the region within the PRC where concentrated Mongolian communities dwell. Culturally and geographically bordering China Proper, Khalkha Mongolia, Islamic Uighur, and the Tibetan Amdo, the architecture of Inner Mongolia demonstrate the colorful spectrum of multi-cultural assimilation. It is also the historic homes of many nomadic groups that had been passing through Inner Asia, such as the Huns (Xiongnu), Tartar, and Turks among others. During the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368), the Tibetan schools of the Vajrayana Buddhism was adopted by the Great Khans as the religion of the Mongol monarch. Since then, many Lamaist temples and stupas have been built, blending both Han and Islamic architectural forms and techniques, for which this lecture will be focused upon.


supporting documents:

Handout

Lecture Notes

Quiz with Answers