Choijin Lama Temple Museum in Ulaanbaatar

The Choijin Lama Temple Museum is located in the central part of Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia. It was built by the 8th Bogd Jebtsundamba Khutuktu in 1904 for his brother, Choijin Lama Luvsankhaidav, and was completed in 1908. At that time, Mongolian and Chinese craftsmen worked together to construct this beautiful temple complex, which became a reality despite the political turmoil of the era. The construction was expedited, and within just two years, a unique architectural complex with 55 rooms was built, with interior decoration beginning soon after.

Even after the death of Luvsankhaidav in 1918, the temple’s monks continued their religious activities until the late 1930s. The temple remained active until 1938 when, following Comintern policies, religious services were halted. During the severe repression of 1937, when hundreds of monasteries and temples were destroyed, along with their religious texts, statues, and cultural artifacts, Choijin Lama Temple managed to survive with its buildings and statues intact.

Today, the Choijin Lama Temple Museum is one of the few remaining sites in Ulaanbaatar that preserves the unique cultural and religious heritage of Mongolian Buddhism. The museum, initially named the "Museum of Religious History" in 1942, remained closed to the public until 1962, only accessible to foreign dignitaries and researchers with special permits until then.

Among the museum’s treasures, some rare items such as the 108-volume Ganjuur scriptures brought from Tibet by the 4th Bogd and 226 volumes of the Danjuur, containing works on philosophy, medicine, and rituals, have since been transferred to the National Library of Mongolia. The Danjuur was translated into Mongolian in the 16th century.

The museum houses over 6,500 artifacts, including Buddhist artworks and religious objects. Some of the most famous items include statues created by Mongolia’s first Bogd, Zanabazar, such as the "Demchiggarav," "Ayush," "Dorjsembe," "Maitreya," and "Ranjue," as well as a 1,000-year-old bronze stupa from India and the mummified remains of Yonzonkhamba Baldanchoymbol. The temple complex consists of five temples and five ceremonial gates, with all the buildings featuring intricate tiered roofs adorned with depictions of mythical animals, ancient warriors, and creatures symbolizing Mongolian legends and beliefs.

Before the revolution, there were over 700 temples and monasteries in Mongolia, but during the political purges of the 1930s, the Choijin Lama Temple was one of the few to remain untouched, setting it apart from other historic sites like the Amarbayasgalant Monastery, Erdene Zuu Monastery, and the Bogd Khan Palace Museum.