The castle of Tsogt taij.
THE REGIONS OF MONGOLIA
BULGAN AIMAG
PRINCE TSOGT’S WHITE HOUSE
This castle ruin is situated near Mount Khaldunzurkh in a valley of Tuul River 20km northeast from Chin Tolgoyn Kherem in Dashinchilen Soum, Bulgan
province. It was formerly a castle of Queen Madai Taigal, a mother of Prince Tsogt. This temple designed castle with a tiled roof was surrounded by several
small fortresses. The fortress had a gate in the south. There are many remains, perhaps, any settlement surrounding the castle. Therefore, it is said that many
people inhabited around the castle. This castle was designed alike buildings in ancient capital Karakorum and there was a big library which is rich with
Buddhist sutras and various kinds of books. In eastern hill of the castle, there was a turtle stone much same as that of Karakorum.
This hill is called Melkhiit. Currently, there are wall remains of building, a stone pedestal and a Stele. The inscription in Mongolian and Tibetan was about a
construction work of the castle memorial started in 1601. And also it said that ”On western bank of Tuul River south of Mount Khaldunzurkh, 6 temples had been
built over 17 years of time”. Buildings in this memorial were not restored well due to frequent fighting among domestic noblemen in 1627-1630. However, it was
taken under state protection in 1971. This area in Tuul River valley is called Bor Bulan and it is never droughty in summer. Mount Zaamar, 20km northeast from
the site, is a zone without harsh winter called zud. (A zud is a Mongolian term for an extremely snowy winter on which livestock are unable to find fodder
through the snow cover, and large numbers of animals die due to starvation and the cold.) So, area around the castle is named as “Never droughty Bor Bulan,
Toson Zaamar without zud”.
Prince Tsogt: He was born in 1581 becoming a son of Major Baarai, a direct descendent of Chinghis khaan’s golden lineage. Prince Tsogt was one of few
educated people of the period who was literate via home schooling. He was a military man, a translator and a poet who follows a red sect of Buddhism and was
also a persistent supporter of Ligden khan’s policy. He was recorded in history because he had been fighting for the independence of his country by leading
40,000 soldiers. He willy-nilly moved to Lake Khukh leaving home country being persecuted by noblemen who followed Manchu and joined with Ligden khan to fight
against Manchu. He was died in a battle field in 1637.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
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