A Song Arising From Contemplation

The fifth Noyon Hutagt, Danzanravjaa (1803-1856) is arguably Mongolia’s most influential Buddhist poet. A fervent nationalist, born during a time of political upheaval, his powerful and determined personality, melded with his deep understanding of Buddhist practice, is reflected in his lyrical and subversive style. Formally recognized as the “drunken” manifestation of the Noyon Hutagt lineage, Danzanravjaa frequently outraged the Buddhist establishment, as much with his explicit disdain for alcoholic and sexual sobriety, as with his scathing attacks on the pretentiousness and arrogance of monastic cliques. Barely known outside Mongolia, Danzanravjaa’s poems show how one man’s compassionate and honest investigation of the human condition can resonate deeply with the experience of a contemporary western audience. Simon Wickhamsmith is a scholar and translator of Mongolian literature and literary culture.