The evolution of written Buddhist collections in Kalmykia

The article based on archival documents and field research, addresses the various stages of the formation of Buddhist written collections in Kalmykia. Special attention is given to library, museum, and private collections of the Republic Kalmykia, which for the larger part has not been researched or documented before. It is concluded that there is a relative continuity of the traditions of reading and copying of canonical Buddhist texts and adaptation of tradition to new conditions such as the war on religion in USSR between 1920.1970s, the exile of Kalmyks between 1943.1957s, and emigration to Europe and the USA.