Image of China in the diaries of a specialist in Mongolian studies O. M. Kovalevsky (1801–1878)

The article presents materials from the diaries of a specialist in Mongolian Studies of Kazan University O. M. Kovalevsky about China in the first half of the 19th century. The scientist managed to visit Beijing as part of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission, where he spent the winter and spring of 1830–1831. O. M. Kovalevsky visited only suburban Buddhist temples and monasteries, while regretting that he did not speak Chinese well enough. At first, O. M. Kovalevsky kept daily notes about his stay in China, and then his notes became thematic, he was interested in almost all aspects of the Chinese history and life. Acquaintance and companionship with people of different classes made it possible for O. M. Kovalevsky, in addition to improving the Mongolian language, to acquire thorough knowledge about the Manchu language, the state system of China, the history and literature of the Chinese, Manchus and Mongols, their religion and customs.