Abstract
The Qing period saw both the flowering of Buddhism in Mongolia as well as the arrival of new infectious diseases such as smallpox and syphilis which had reached epidemic levels by the 17th to early 20th centuries. During that critical period, a considerable number of Mongolian Buddhist scholars produced a substantial amount of works dedicated to the ways of fighting epidemics. This paper explores the efforts of Mongolian Buddhist scholars in countering this new threat, within the unique social and political milieu of the time. Smallpox spread severely reduced the Mongolian population and could have influenced the change of political control in the region, as several prominent Mongolian leaders who fought against Qing domination were themselves victims of smallpox epidemics. Similarly, at the beginning of the 20th century, around half the Mongolian population was infected by syphilis and, as a result, the population further declined in numbers. Tibetan Buddhist medicine, which was introduced to Mongolia from Tibet, was enriched by Mongolian traditional medical practices and fused with traditional Mongolian and Chinese medical knowledge during Mongolian scholars’ search for preventive methods against infectious diseases. This article examines the works of three renowned Mongolian Buddhist scholars who dealt with issues of infectious diseases: Ye shes dpal ‘byor, Chakhar Géshé Lobsang Tsültim, and Lobsang chos ‘phel.
Highlights
Seventeenth century Mongolia, a land of pastoral nomads with a semi-arid environment and unpredictable weather conditions, experienced warfare as well as a severe outbreak of infectious diseases such as smallpox and syphilis within its population
At the beginning of the 20th century, around half the Mongolian population was infected by syphilis and, as a result, the population further declined in numbers
Syphilis was a new infectious disease which had another very profound impact on the Mongolian population, as almost half the population was infected by the early 20th century
Summary
Seventeenth century Mongolia, a land of pastoral nomads with a semi-arid environment and unpredictable weather conditions, experienced warfare as well as a severe outbreak of infectious diseases such as smallpox and syphilis within its population. Religions 2019, 10, 229 studied Tibetan Buddhist medicine and wrote their medical works primarily in the Tibetan language.. Religions 2019, 10, 229 studied Tibetan Buddhist medicine and wrote their medical works primarily in the Tibetan language.1 They translated a significant number of medical texts into the Mongolian language, as well as producing some works in Mongolian. For the purpose of identifying the situation of infectious diseases in Mongolia during the 17th to the early 20th centuries, four of the most influential medical treasures written by Buddhist scholars from different regions of Mongolian territories are presented in this article. Lobsang chos ‘phel based this work on the most advanced ideas presented in the previously available medical treatises, including the works of Ye shes dpal ’byor and Lobsang Tsültim.
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