Of the Buryat Republic

Emblem

In the golden background one can see a green horn of plenty with green leaves and dark red fruits, outgoing from it. There is a black Mercury baton (Mercury is known as the Ancient Roman god of trade) over the horn. The horn and the baton were depicted at historical emblem of the town of Verchneudinsk (it is the old name of Ulan-Ude), which was adopted on 26 october of 1790 by a royal law, and the original description of that runs as follows: “In the golden background there is a Mercury baton and the horn of plenty as a sign of the town’s out-standing trade”.

You can find a five jag tower crown at the top of the emblem’s escutcheon. There is a traditional Buryat symbol ‘Soyembo’ of eternal life in the central jag: it is a circle with a three tongue flame above and a crescent under it. In the lower crown’s part a national ornament is added. The crown symbolizes the status of Ulan-Ude city as the capital of a region of the Russian Federation.

The escutcheon is framed below by a blue ribbon of the Order of the Labor Red Banner which the city was awarded with in 1984.

Flag

The flag of the city of Ulan-Ude is a rectangular width, the height and the length of which are 2 and 3 meters respectively. The flag consists of two vertical stripes of blue and yellow color.

In the blue one you can see ‘Soyembo’, a traditional Buryat symbol of eternal life, and a sign demonstrating that the city belongs to the Buryat republic. It is depicted as a yellow circle with a three tongue flame above and a yellow crescent under it.

The picture of the horn and the Mercury baton was taken from the ancient city’s emblem. The horn and the baton were suggested by Impress Katherine II to mark Verchneudinsk of as the largest trade centre and bargain striking place in Transbaikalia (Zabaikalie) during XVII-XVIII c., when the city was a real trade and business capital, where trade roads crossed and connected European Russia with East Siberia, the Far East, Middle Asia, China and Mongolia (and through Russia they further would connect with the Western Europe).

BURYATIA – A TERRITORY OF THE NORTH BUDDHISM

Since XVII c. Buddhism has become one of the official religions of the Russian empire. It started to spread quickly among the Buryat tribes. The making of monasteries and temples which were a synthesis of Tibetan, Chinese, Indian and Mongolian temples’ architecture, had modified not only the shape of steppes and forests, but gave the birth to a new spiritual and cultural tradition in the nomad’s life.

After October revolution of 1917 a hard time came for Buddhism as well as for other Russian confessions. During perestroika (it is the reorganization of the Soviet state in 1980s) a new period begins, and times of the religion rebirth and the datsan restoration prosper in Buryatia. Today datsans have turned into a necessary and usual part of a daily life of the Buryat population. Around of suburganes (sacred mortars, concrete towers made by Buryats and devoted to outstanding lamas) and obooes (a pile of stones for worship) believers first of all perform a ritual of worship Goro. They walk slowly around the monastery and rotate prayer drums with depicted mantras while their moving. The drums’ rotation cleans the space and the cognition of the believers. The believers bend down inside the temples and in front of the suburganes, and they make gifts to the monastery. Finally, one can clear the body, speech and mind. If you make a gift to the gods, you will deserve a virtue. During oboo’s ritual lamas (Buddhist monacs) and believers call to sabgags, local gods and spirits. Traditionally one can tie fabric’s pieces to the tree’s trunk and brunches, and leave sweets and money. The juniper is kindled on the stone altars, and the gods will be pleased by this aromatic smoke. The most important you should remember is a respectful attitude towards the other world forces. And, probably, they will do you a favor.

The official residence of the Head of the Buddhist Sangha of Russia, Habdo Lama Damba Ajusheev, is situated in Ivolginski datsan in 40 minutes ride from Ulan-Ude.