Policy of Christianization of Buryat Population of Russian Empire in Late 19th — Early 20th Centuries

Abstract

The problem of interaction between the state and religious communities, Orthodox and Buddhist, in Buryatia during the imperial period is considered. The results of a comparative analysis of the policy of the Russian state on the one hand and of the Orthodox Church on the other hand in relation to the Buryats are presented in the article. The objective of the study is to identify the ways and mechanisms through which this ethnic group was included in the Russian community, ensuring the interests of the empire in the east of the country. The relevance of the study is due to the importance of the topic of interreligious interaction in the multi-confessional community, which, in particular, is the population of ethnic Buryatia for several centuries. The author dwells on the interrelated aspects of the surrounding activities as a mechanism for the Russification of the Gentiles and the simultaneous desire of the authorities to bring the Buddhist clergy under their control, legitimized by special legislative measures. As a result of the study, it has been proved that the state policy of institutionalizing Buddhism played an important role in the formation of the Russian identity of the Buryats. It is argued that this was largely aided by the loyalty of the Buddhist clergy to the monarchy and the state. It is shown that Orthodox propaganda had only a formal success, expressed in the number of persons who were baptized.