Musée Manzushir

Manzusheer Monastery (Shortened Version)
Founded on April 5, 1733 (the Year of the Dark-Blue Ox) by Agvaanluvsanjambaldanzan, the first Donkor Manzusheer Khutagt and teacher of Undur Gegeen Zanabazar, the monastery was built on a site chosen after the auspicious discovery of a stone "White Old Man" statue and seven jade Arhat statues near the Achit Duinkhor spring of Bogd Khan Mountain. In 1747, the first temple was built with the Bogd Gegeen's grant and 800 lans of silver. Upon its completion in 1748, the Manchu Qianlong Emperor granted an official decree and seal, naming it "Dashchoinkhorlin" (Auspicious Wheel of Dharma Monastery), later known as Uvgun Lavrin.

By 1749, the Tsogchin (Great Assembly) Temple was constructed using a 1,000-lan silver donation from Ochirbat Sain Khan. This Tibetan-style complex grew to include 5 monastic colleges (datsans) and 17–21 distinct temples, including the Choir (Philosophy), Mamba (Medicine), and Jud (Tantra) colleges. It became a major spiritual center praised as the "Sacred Land of the Bogd's Teachings."

The monastery was renowned for its priceless Buddhist art, including the Golden and Vermilion Kangyur and Tengyur scriptures. Its most exceptional treasures were the "Sanduin Jud" and "Dorjzodvo" (Diamond Sutra) volumes crafted in 1907 by the master artisan Dagva using 1,460 lans (452.5 kg) of pure gold and silver. Today, these precious scriptures are preserved as Unique Cultural Heritage in the National Central Library of Mongolia.

Tragically, during the dark years of political purges, the entire complex was destroyed in 1937, leaving behind only stone ruins. Countless silver artifacts and sacred statues were lost forever. The last Manzusheer Khutagt, Sambadondov’s Tserendorj Lama, was falsely accused of being a "Japanese spy" and tragically lost his life on the blizzard-stricken night of October 7, 1937, becoming a political sacrifice of that era.