I.BUDBAYAR: THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MONGOLIA HAS 8 PERCENT OF ITS EXHIBITION IN ITS HALL
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International Museum Day is celebrated worldwide on May 18 each year. For this anniversary, we spoke with I. Budbayar, Head of the Policy and Planning Department of the Mongolian National Museum.
-Happy International Museum Day. What events are organized by the industry for Museum Day?
-In our country, the museum industry celebrates International Museum Day every year. The International Museum Council is celebrating this year under the theme "The Future of Museums: Refresh and Imagine." On the occasion of Museum Day, the Mongolian National Museum is conducting a series of interviews through its website to inform the public about the museum's development, trends and museums.
-This building of the Mongolian National Museum is the first museum building in our country. It is said that the Revolutionary Museum first opened its doors in this building. Start with this story?
"Yes." The Revolutionary Museum was first opened in 1971 on the 50th anniversary of the People's Revolution in this building of the present-day Mongolian National Museum. At that time, a museum was established to glorify and publicize the events of the People's Revolution of 1921 and the activities of the revolutionary figures. This is the first museum building in Mongolia.
-When was the first museum established in our country?
-It is believed that the modern museum in Mongolia was established in 1924. After the People's Revolution, the Institute of Scripture of the time began collecting valuables related to the history and culture of the Mongols, but the event was first introduced to the public in December 1924. At that time, Erdene Jonon van Shirendamdin bought a house and collected the artefacts and opened the first exhibition. It is believed that the foundation of a modern museum or the Mongolian National Museum was laid in Mongolia.
Since then, it has been renamed the Mongolian National Museum, the Mongolian Revolution Museum, the D.Sukhbaatar Museum, and the Kh.Choibalsan Museum, and in 1956 the White House opened its doors to the Chinggis Khaan Museum. The State Central Museum had an exhibition fund that combined cultural and natural heritage. In 1991, the government decided to diversify the museum to world standards, splitting the Central State Museum into the Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of History. The Museum of Natural History remained in its old white house, and the National Museum of History moved to its current location.
The National Central Museum was established in July 1991 when the State Central Museum moved its historical and ethnographic treasures to its current location with exhibits and staff. From then until 2008, it was known as the National History Museum. In 2008, the state and local museums were reorganized into museums responsible for providing research and professional guidance. In connection with this, Government Resolution No. 129 changed the National History Museum to the Mongolian National Museum.
-How often are museum exhibits updated? How new will the exhibit be when you visit the museum 3-4 years later this year?
-All museums renovate the exhibition. It is important to present interesting and informative exhibits to the audience. So we replace the exhibits in the hall with the exhibits in the collection. On the other hand, the storage environment for exhibits in Mongolia does not meet the required standards. There are more than 80 museum buildings nationwide, of which more than 50 are non-dedicated or rented. Since the humidity and heat of the collection building do not meet the storage requirements, one of the ways to improve the storage conditions of the exhibits is to rotate the exhibits in the exhibition hall. For these two reasons, Mongolian museums update their exhibits from time to time.
In January 2021, Mongolia passed the Law on Museums. How will this law contribute to the development of the museum?
-The Law on Museums creates a legal environment for the museum's exhibition plan to be approved and updated every six years. Our museum has 60,170 exhibits, nine permanent exhibition halls and one temporary exhibition hall. Eight percent of the exhibits are on display in existing halls. Ninety percent of the exhibits are in the treasury. There are 24 local museums, 12 state-owned museums, and more than 80 museums nationwide, including private and corporate museums. Of these, more than 30 percent of Mongolia's museum heritage is in our museum.
-What is the current level of Mongolians' perception of museums? How would you describe the meaning and significance of the museum?
-The museum is a cultural and scientific organization that searches for and finds historical and cultural heritage, and has the main function of registering, restoring, studying, promoting and disseminating its findings. On the other hand, the museum makes a valuable contribution to the intellectual development and education of the people by explaining the national values and distinctive features of the country based on the rare and valuable exhibits and artifacts of that time. upbringing and national immunity. This is the main task of the museum. It is also the largest realistic presentation to promote national identity, history and culture to foreigners. When you go abroad, you go to the museum and get acquainted with the history and culture of the country and its people. Therefore, the importance of the museum is invaluable. Previous figures show that our museum is visited by 160,000 people a year. Of these, 40 percent are tourists and 60 percent are domestic audiences. 60-70 percent of the domestic audience are children and youth.
-Is it because the majority of museum visitors in our country have children that it is free for children?
-Of course, it is free for children. The museum law states that children under the age of 16, people with disabilities, and the elderly can visit the museum free of charge. For the first time, the law provides for free public museums of all types, including public, private, local, and corporate.
The museum is legalized as a non-profit organization engaged in cultural and scientific activities. Therefore, the museum has age-appropriate educational programs for children and youth. For example, there are educational programs for middle school students that are relevant to the subject of history. It is more interesting for children to be introduced to the lessons learned in the classroom through exhibits and artifacts.
Every museum has an educator. The exhibits are small for children and used in trainings. We also aim to make the museum a second non-formal learning environment by inviting well-known scholars to give lectures.
-How do you decide on the financing of your activities related to exhibition reform and educational programs?
-As the museum is a non-profit organization, it is financed from the state budget. However, the government has decided to return the proceeds from 2018 and use them to improve its operations. This is a great decision that has greatly contributed to the development of the museum. As for our museum, we collected 750 million MNT in 2019 and returned this income. spent on work such as. These investments are not included in the state budget.
-Nowadays, foreign museums are using their technological advantages in their activities and exhibitions. How is the Mongolian National Museum paying attention to this issue?
-Now the museum exhibits are placed in a glass case and a brief description is given. As mentioned above, 92% of our museum's exhibits are kept in our collection. Due to the limited space, it is possible to show the hidden exhibits in digital and virtual form using the advantages of technology. During the quarantine, we exhibited many exhibits with photos and addresses, and access was high. There is also a need to introduce virtual technology in the permanent showroom.
As a starting point, we are working with the private sector. A group of young people have been working for more than two years to launch an online museum called the Rust Museum. They are working with us to place an online museum of Mongolian-era artifacts in the Empire Hall of the Mongolian National Museum for the first time. From the e-museum, which will be available to the public in June, we are working on our future directions and work plans. Mongolia is at the beginning of a new stage in the development of museums. It is worth mentioning that the establishment of the Ministry of Culture, government support and investment in cultural and arts organizations such as museums, libraries and theaters provide opportunities and encourage us to work.
-What is the level of security of the museum exhibits?
-The Law on Museums defines museum security at three levels. First, the lifeblood of the Museum is the security of its treasures. Second, there is a legal requirement that the building be safe and that there be a museum. As part of this policy, many museum buildings are being built in the capital and in the countryside. Third, environmental security is considered. Under this provision, it is prohibited to operate within 500 meters of a museum building, such as a gas station or a centralized landfill.
-There was a case of theft of exhibits from the National Museum. Is there no risk of theft now?
-In 2007, our museum was robbed and several exhibits were lost. The same thing has happened in other museums, and the issue has caused a stir, with special emphasis on museum protection and updated rules. For example, a treasurer should not enter the treasury alone, but only two or three. One treasurer should have 2-3 locks. More than a decade ago, the museum's cameras and alarm systems were not very good. At present, our museum has 108 cameras and all exhibits are under surveillance.
-The Mongolian National Museum has been working intensively in the field of research and has discovered many interesting archeological sites in recent years. Can you tell me about it?
-One of the features of the National Museum is that it has the same departments as other museums, such as the Treasury Department, Security Service Department, Education, Public Programs Department, and Marketing Department, and we are a research organization. There are two professional methodological centers. Conducts historical, archeological and ethnographic research. One of five organizations authorized to conduct archeological research. Every year we conduct excavations in cooperation with foreign universities and institutes. The journal Nomadic Heritage is published regularly to promote these works. The Center for Professional Methodology publishes a booklet called “Museum Studies” and distributes it to local museums and provides professional and methodological advice.
-Two years ago, a 13th century pottery drill and butter were found on Horig Mountain in Khuvsgul province. This research was probably done by researchers at the National Museum?
- Yes. Our researcher, Dr. J.Bayarsaikhan, conducted a survey in Khorig Uul, Mungarag bagh, Ulaan-Uul soum, Khuvsgul aimag, based on information from local people. More than 100 imperial tombs were looted in the area. Our researchers re-excavated the looted area using archeological research methods. Sieves of excavated earth and re-excavation of the excavated pits revealed three pottery drills and one pottery oil that had been stored in the permafrost for 700-800 years. The golden moon, which has long been worshiped by the Mongols, also appeared. Sources say that since the Xiongnu period, Mongolians worshiped the sun in the morning and the moon in the evening, and that the sun and the moon were idols. Evidence of the ancient connection between the Mongols of the Xiongnu period and the Empire is the same sun and moon idols. The Hunnu and Empire Halls of the Mongolian National Museum have identical golden suns and moons found in archeological excavations.
Also found in the tombs of the aristocracy of the Empire were a deel with a very fine pattern of silk with a golden thread and a sable collar. It was damaged by robbers and was badly damaged, but it has been repaired and displayed in the exhibition hall. Archaeological excavations have shown that rock finds, such as those on top of high mountains and rock gorges, have not fallen into the hands of looters. One of the most interesting relics found in the rock burial is the Zhujan saddle found in the Xiongnu Hall of our museum in Myangad soum, Khovd. This saddle is considered to be the oldest saddle found not only in Mongolia but all over the world.
Written sources also confirm that the Xiangbi was founded after the Xiongnu, but no artifacts dating back to that time have been found. Our researchers found graves belonging to the Xiangbi period in Airgiin Gozgor, Jargalant soum, Orkhon aimag. Excavations are in their seventh year this summer. Xiangbi monuments are mostly found in Inner Mongolia. This study proves that the Xiangbi also lived in present-day Mongolia. In other words, the research work of our researchers is successful.
-How is the National Museum working during this epidemic?
-It will not work during strict detention. We believe that the museum will be able to operate at a time when the quarantine regime has been reduced by one step. Unlike museums and other theaters, which are not crowded in one hall, but flow through large auditoriums, it is possible to build a space of four meters between people and work with 25 percent of its capacity. so we are working normally on winter days during working days. All of our halls have exhibitors, organizers and interpreters, so you can not only present your exhibits, but also keep a distance.
-Thank you for the interesting interview.
-Thank you. Happy International Museum Day to all Mongolian museum staff and visitors.
International Museum Day is celebrated worldwide on May 18 each year. For this anniversary, we spoke with I. Budbayar, Head of the Policy and Planning Department of the Mongolian National Museum.
-Happy International Museum Day. What events are organized by the industry for Museum Day?
-In our country, the museum industry celebrates International Museum Day every year. The International Museum Council is celebrating this year under the theme "The Future of Museums: Refresh and Imagine." On the occasion of Museum Day, the Mongolian National Museum is conducting a series of interviews through its website to inform the public about the museum's development, trends and museums.
-This building of the Mongolian National Museum is the first museum building in our country. It is said that the Revolutionary Museum first opened its doors in this building. Start with this story?
"Yes." The Revolutionary Museum was first opened in 1971 on the 50th anniversary of the People's Revolution in this building of the present-day Mongolian National Museum. At that time, a museum was established to glorify and publicize the events of the People's Revolution of 1921 and the activities of the revolutionary figures. This is the first museum building in Mongolia.
-When was the first museum established in our country?
-It is believed that the modern museum in Mongolia was established in 1924. After the People's Revolution, the Institute of Scripture of the time began collecting valuables related to the history and culture of the Mongols, but the event was first introduced to the public in December 1924. At that time, Erdene Jonon van Shirendamdin bought a house and collected the artefacts and opened the first exhibition. It is believed that the foundation of a modern museum or the Mongolian National Museum was laid in Mongolia.
Since then, it has been renamed the Mongolian National Museum, the Mongolian Revolution Museum, the D.Sukhbaatar Museum, and the Kh.Choibalsan Museum, and in 1956 the White House opened its doors to the Chinggis Khaan Museum. The State Central Museum had an exhibition fund that combined cultural and natural heritage. In 1991, the government decided to diversify the museum to world standards, splitting the Central State Museum into the Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of History. The Museum of Natural History remained in its old white house, and the National Museum of History moved to its current location.
The National Central Museum was established in July 1991 when the State Central Museum moved its historical and ethnographic treasures to its current location with exhibits and staff. From then until 2008, it was known as the National History Museum. In 2008, the state and local museums were reorganized into museums responsible for providing research and professional guidance. In connection with this, Government Resolution No. 129 changed the National History Museum to the Mongolian National Museum.
-How often are museum exhibits updated? How new will the exhibit be when you visit the museum 3-4 years later this year?
-All museums renovate the exhibition. It is important to present interesting and informative exhibits to the audience. So we replace the exhibits in the hall with the exhibits in the collection. On the other hand, the storage environment for exhibits in Mongolia does not meet the required standards. There are more than 80 museum buildings nationwide, of which more than 50 are non-dedicated or rented. Since the humidity and heat of the collection building do not meet the storage requirements, one of the ways to improve the storage conditions of the exhibits is to rotate the exhibits in the exhibition hall. For these two reasons, Mongolian museums update their exhibits from time to time.
In January 2021, Mongolia passed the Law on Museums. How will this law contribute to the development of the museum?
-The Law on Museums creates a legal environment for the museum's exhibition plan to be approved and updated every six years. Our museum has 60,170 exhibits, nine permanent exhibition halls and one temporary exhibition hall. Eight percent of the exhibits are on display in existing halls. Ninety percent of the exhibits are in the treasury. There are 24 local museums, 12 state-owned museums, and more than 80 museums nationwide, including private and corporate museums. Of these, more than 30 percent of Mongolia's museum heritage is in our museum.
-What is the current level of Mongolians' perception of museums? How would you describe the meaning and significance of the museum?
-The museum is a cultural and scientific organization that searches for and finds historical and cultural heritage, and has the main function of registering, restoring, studying, promoting and disseminating its findings. On the other hand, the museum makes a valuable contribution to the intellectual development and education of the people by explaining the national values and distinctive features of the country based on the rare and valuable exhibits and artifacts of that time. upbringing and national immunity. This is the main task of the museum. It is also the largest realistic presentation to promote national identity, history and culture to foreigners. When you go abroad, you go to the museum and get acquainted with the history and culture of the country and its people. Therefore, the importance of the museum is invaluable. Previous figures show that our museum is visited by 160,000 people a year. Of these, 40 percent are tourists and 60 percent are domestic audiences. 60-70 percent of the domestic audience are children and youth.
-Is it because the majority of museum visitors in our country have children that it is free for children?
-Of course, it is free for children. The museum law states that children under the age of 16, people with disabilities, and the elderly can visit the museum free of charge. For the first time, the law provides for free public museums of all types, including public, private, local, and corporate.
The museum is legalized as a non-profit organization engaged in cultural and scientific activities. Therefore, the museum has age-appropriate educational programs for children and youth. For example, there are educational programs for middle school students that are relevant to the subject of history. It is more interesting for children to be introduced to the lessons learned in the classroom through exhibits and artifacts.
Every museum has an educator. The exhibits are small for children and used in trainings. We also aim to make the museum a second non-formal learning environment by inviting well-known scholars to give lectures.
-How do you decide on the financing of your activities related to exhibition reform and educational programs?
-As the museum is a non-profit organization, it is financed from the state budget. However, the government has decided to return the proceeds from 2018 and use them to improve its operations. This is a great decision that has greatly contributed to the development of the museum. As for our museum, we collected 750 million MNT in 2019 and returned this income. spent on work such as. These investments are not included in the state budget.
-Nowadays, foreign museums are using their technological advantages in their activities and exhibitions. How is the Mongolian National Museum paying attention to this issue?
-Now the museum exhibits are placed in a glass case and a brief description is given. As mentioned above, 92% of our museum's exhibits are kept in our collection. Due to the limited space, it is possible to show the hidden exhibits in digital and virtual form using the advantages of technology. During the quarantine, we exhibited many exhibits with photos and addresses, and access was high. There is also a need to introduce virtual technology in the permanent showroom.
As a starting point, we are working with the private sector. A group of young people have been working for more than two years to launch an online museum called the Rust Museum. They are working with us to place an online museum of Mongolian-era artifacts in the Empire Hall of the Mongolian National Museum for the first time. From the e-museum, which will be available to the public in June, we are working on our future directions and work plans. Mongolia is at the beginning of a new stage in the development of museums. It is worth mentioning that the establishment of the Ministry of Culture, government support and investment in cultural and arts organizations such as museums, libraries and theaters provide opportunities and encourage us to work.
-What is the level of security of the museum exhibits?
-The Law on Museums defines museum security at three levels. First, the lifeblood of the Museum is the security of its treasures. Second, there is a legal requirement that the building be safe and that there be a museum. As part of this policy, many museum buildings are being built in the capital and in the countryside. Third, environmental security is considered. Under this provision, it is prohibited to operate within 500 meters of a museum building, such as a gas station or a centralized landfill.
-There was a case of theft of exhibits from the National Museum. Is there no risk of theft now?
-In 2007, our museum was robbed and several exhibits were lost. The same thing has happened in other museums, and the issue has caused a stir, with special emphasis on museum protection and updated rules. For example, a treasurer should not enter the treasury alone, but only two or three. One treasurer should have 2-3 locks. More than a decade ago, the museum's cameras and alarm systems were not very good. At present, our museum has 108 cameras and all exhibits are under surveillance.
-The Mongolian National Museum has been working intensively in the field of research and has discovered many interesting archeological sites in recent years. Can you tell me about it?
-One of the features of the National Museum is that it has the same departments as other museums, such as the Treasury Department, Security Service Department, Education, Public Programs Department, and Marketing Department, and we are a research organization. There are two professional methodological centers. Conducts historical, archeological and ethnographic research. One of five organizations authorized to conduct archeological research. Every year we conduct excavations in cooperation with foreign universities and institutes. The journal Nomadic Heritage is published regularly to promote these works. The Center for Professional Methodology publishes a booklet called “Museum Studies” and distributes it to local museums and provides professional and methodological advice.
-Two years ago, a 13th century pottery drill and butter were found on Horig Mountain in Khuvsgul province. This research was probably done by researchers at the National Museum?
- Yes. Our researcher, Dr. J.Bayarsaikhan, conducted a survey in Khorig Uul, Mungarag bagh, Ulaan-Uul soum, Khuvsgul aimag, based on information from local people. More than 100 imperial tombs were looted in the area. Our researchers re-excavated the looted area using archeological research methods. Sieves of excavated earth and re-excavation of the excavated pits revealed three pottery drills and one pottery oil that had been stored in the permafrost for 700-800 years. The golden moon, which has long been worshiped by the Mongols, also appeared. Sources say that since the Xiongnu period, Mongolians worshiped the sun in the morning and the moon in the evening, and that the sun and the moon were idols. Evidence of the ancient connection between the Mongols of the Xiongnu period and the Empire is the same sun and moon idols. The Hunnu and Empire Halls of the Mongolian National Museum have identical golden suns and moons found in archeological excavations.
Also found in the tombs of the aristocracy of the Empire were a deel with a very fine pattern of silk with a golden thread and a sable collar. It was damaged by robbers and was badly damaged, but it has been repaired and displayed in the exhibition hall. Archaeological excavations have shown that rock finds, such as those on top of high mountains and rock gorges, have not fallen into the hands of looters. One of the most interesting relics found in the rock burial is the Zhujan saddle found in the Xiongnu Hall of our museum in Myangad soum, Khovd. This saddle is considered to be the oldest saddle found not only in Mongolia but all over the world.
Written sources also confirm that the Xiangbi was founded after the Xiongnu, but no artifacts dating back to that time have been found. Our researchers found graves belonging to the Xiangbi period in Airgiin Gozgor, Jargalant soum, Orkhon aimag. Excavations are in their seventh year this summer. Xiangbi monuments are mostly found in Inner Mongolia. This study proves that the Xiangbi also lived in present-day Mongolia. In other words, the research work of our researchers is successful.
-How is the National Museum working during this epidemic?
-It will not work during strict detention. We believe that the museum will be able to operate at a time when the quarantine regime has been reduced by one step. Unlike museums and other theaters, which are not crowded in one hall, but flow through large auditoriums, it is possible to build a space of four meters between people and work with 25 percent of its capacity. so we are working normally on winter days during working days. All of our halls have exhibitors, organizers and interpreters, so you can not only present your exhibits, but also keep a distance.
-Thank you for the interesting interview.
-Thank you. Happy International Museum Day to all Mongolian museum staff and visitors.