The cultic ornament of Tsugolsky dzogchen datsan

In this article the author considers peculiarities of the outside ornament of the Tsugolsky dzogchen datsan exposing the symbolism of certain elements of Buddhist ornamental art. Descriptions of lost symbols, such as gandzhir, zhalsan and bumba are provided. This allows defining the specific features of their cultic use and characterizing the distinctiveness of the art of Buryat masters. It is characteristic of Buddhist ornamental art to use a broad range of symbolic subjects, such as individual deities, mystical images, and furious guardians. Pictorial decorations, symbols and emblems used for the arrangement of ornamentation of Buryat datsans often denoted complex objects and notions. This considerably distinguishes the Buddhist temples from the outside ornaments of cultic architecture of other religious confessions.