The Temple Baroque of Totma and Baikal Region at the End of the 18th Century as a Result of the Synthesis of Cultures and the Dividends of “Kyakhta Fair”

Abstract

The paper reviews the socio-cultural consequences of the border trade between Russia and China in Kyakhta in 18th century, the formation of two regional architectural schools: the temple baroque style in Totma and the similar one in Baikal region. The development of Russо-Chinese confessional and cultural contacts including the origin of so called Russо-Chinese architectural style, the “cultural dialogue” between Orthodoxy and Buddhism in the Baikal region and its reflection in the architecture of the Siberian Baroque are also discussed in present work. We try to prove the point of view that the expansion of “Kyakhta fair”, the movement of Chinese and Siberian goods (as well as aesthetic influences) to the West, resulted in “re-export” of the architectural techniques of the Siberian Baroque to the Russian North.