EN
Agvaanbaldan (1797–1864), a Mongolian Tibetan Buddhist master, epitomises the rich cultural and intellectual exchange between Mongolia and Tibet in the 19th century. Born in northeastern Mongolia, he became a Gelugpa monk and pursued Buddhist studies in Urga, Mongolian capital, and Tibet. Renowned for his scholarship, he served as the master of Dharma at Ikh Khuree monastery and later travelled to Lhasa. Agvaanbaldan’s prolific writings include commentaries on major Gelugpa doxography by Jamyang Shyepa (1648–1721/2), on Abhidarma and Chandrakirti (Candrakīrti), on Tantra and monastic textbooks, numerous ritual texts, sadhanas, and poetic hymns. Despite the challenges of political persecution during communist rule, his works endured through translations into modern Mongolian, English, and Chinese. The digitisation of Buddhist texts has further preserved his legacy. Example of Mongolian treatment of his intellectual legacy reflects the resilience of Mongolian Buddhists, experiencing a revival after decades of suppression. Agvaanbaldan’s journey, from early education to travels and societal roles, shaped his profound impact on Mongolian religious heritage and education. Manuscripts of Agvaanbaldan’s works belong to still unexplored research areas. Some have been found in Mongolia and China but the location of others has not yet been revealed. Textual criticism will allow for future critical editions. At the conclusion of the article, there is an illustration of original paleographic research: a comparison between a xylograph with the text in Tibetan uchen (Tib. dbu can) script and a manuscript in ume (Tib. dbu med) script.