The Dynamics of Evolution of Traditional Religious Views of Mongolian Peoples in the Vector of Buddhist Theory and Practice

The article is devoted to the problem of evolution and transformation of traditional beliefs of Mongolian peoples under the cross-cultural influences of the neighboring peoples and their cultures. The main idea of the article is expressed through materials which have been collected by the author during the field work from the beginning of 1985 till the 2009 watching the lifestyle of the Mongolian peoples in three large territories of Russia, Mongolia and Inner Mongolia of the People`s Republic of China. The author concludes that the pre-Buddhist religious traditions of Mongolian peoples were not shamanistic, as many researchers supposed, but represent a clear and orderly religious culture, called tengrianism. Moreover, the vector of changes in traditional religious rituals of the Mongolian people under the influence of Buddhist theory and practice is considered in the article.