Buddhism in Mongolia

"Mongolian Buddhism" redirects here. For the branch of Buddhism which the Mongols adopted from Tibet, see Tibetan Buddhism.
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Buddha statue in the Erdene Zuu Monastery, Karakorum
Gilded stupa and a prajnaparamita, Mongolian from the 18th century CE

Buddhism is the largest religion in Mongolia practiced by 51.7% of Mongolia's population, according to the 2020 Mongolia census.[1] Buddhism in Mongolia derives much of its recent characteristics from Tibetan Buddhism of the Gelug and Kagyu lineages, but is distinct and presents its own unique characteristics.

Buddhism in Mongolia began with the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368) emperors' conversion to Tibetan Buddhism. The Mongols returned to shamanic traditions after the collapse of the Mongol Empire, but Buddhism reemerged in the 16th and 17th centuries.

  1. ^ "Хун ам, орон сууцны 2020 оны улсын ээлжит тооллогы нэгдсэн дун" (PDF) (in Mongolian). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2021.