BUDDHISM AND ORTHODOXY IN BURYATIA: RELIGIOUS INTERACTION IN THE CONTEXT OF RUSSIAN IMPERIAL POLITICS

This paper deals with the problems of religious coexistence in late-imperial Russia based on the case of Buryatia. The only state religion – Russian Orthodoxy – saw its task in converting the non-Russians by all possible means and in shortest time. This policy coincided with the interests of the state, as religious homogenization was considered the most effective way to achieve the desired loyalty and patriotism among all subjects of the Empire. Buddhism, which according to the Orthodox clergy was a so-called foreign religion, presented a potential threat to the state, as its believers could be under influences from abroad. The author argues that the secular authorities both in St. Petersburg and in Eastern Siberia faced a dilemma that consisted in the necessity to conduct Russification among non-Russians and simultaneously to strengthen the borders of the Empire in the East. The Buryat subjects were officially allowed to confess Buddhism, since the authorities, being aware of danger from Qing China, needed a balanced policy towards them to avoid discontent and disturbances. Under such conditions, the Orthodox clergy, missionaries in particular, disregarding the damage their intolerance could cause to the state’s interests, became opponents to Siberian officials, accusing them of supporting Buddhism and Buddhist priesthood instead of rendering all possible assistance in the Christianization of non-Russians.