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Statue of Damdin Sükhbaatar

The Statue of Damdin Sükhbaatar is a monument to the Mongolian revolutionary leader Damdin Sükhbaatar, located on Sükhbaatar Square in the center of Ulaanbaatar. It is described as the first national monument of the Mongolian People's Republic. The original monument was created by Soviet artist K. I. Pomerantsev and later moved to the Military Museum. The current statue was designed by Sonomin Choimbol, who led a sculpting team including M. Jamba, A. Davatseren, and D. Damdima. The monument was installed on June 8, 1946, for the 25th anniversary of the People’s Revolution. It was reconstructed in 2010–2011, when the statue and related elements were recast in bronze in Beijing.

Statue of Damdin Sükhbaatar on a stone plinth with people posing on the steps below it.
The Statue of Damdin Sükhbaatar stands on a large plinth in central Ulaanbaatar, with visitors posing on the steps below.
September 2011 © · CC BY 2.0
Bronze statue of Damdin Sükhbaatar on a rearing horse, with one arm raised and a sword in hand.
The Statue of Damdin Sükhbaatar shown from a low angle, depicting him on a rearing horse.
September 2012 © · CC BY 2.0
Statue of Damdin Sükhbaatar on a stone plinth in a paved square with tall glass skyscrapers behind it.
The Statue of Damdin Sükhbaatar stands in a paved square with modern skyscrapers in the background.
September 2014 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Damdin Sükhbaatar statue standing in a wide public square with pedestrians and modern buildings in the background.
The statue of Damdin Sükhbaatar in Chinggis Square, framed by the surrounding plaza and city skyline.
August 2015 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Soviet stamp showing the Damdin Sükhbaatar monument, a state emblem, and a building silhouette with Cyrillic text.
A Soviet stamp depicting the Damdin Sükhbaatar monument alongside the Mongolian state emblem and government buildings.
July 1961 © Post of the Soviet Union (E. S. Bulanova). · Public domain

Identification

TitleStatue of Damdin Sükhbaatar
TypeMonument / statue

Iconography and meaning

Snow lions meaningA tribute to Buddhist art; such lions usually support the thrones of Buddhas and Chakravartins and symbolize protection from harm in all directions
Quoted inscription text"If our people unite their thoughts, unite all forces, and go toward one goal, then there will be nothing unattainable, nothing that they will not know and accomplish!"
SubjectDamdin Sükhbaatar

Historical context

Historical significanceThe first national monument of the Mongolian People's Republic

Location and ownership

LocationSükhbaatar Square, central Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Site significancePlaced at the site where, according to recollections, Sükhbaatar delivered a speech immediately after the capture of Urga by the Mongolian People's Army in 1921
Earlier monument at the siteThe first monument to D. Sükhbaatar in Mongolia, created by Soviet artist K. I. Pomerantsev
Earlier monument formA stupa-shaped stele with reliefs depicting scenes from his life
Square nameSükhbaatar Square was renamed after Sükhbaatar

Creator

DesignerSonomyn Choimbol
TrainingStudied in the Moscow workshop of S. D. Merkurov
Sculpting teamSonomyn Choimbol, N. Zhamba, A. Davatsären, and D. Damdima
Design approvalFinal design approved by the Politburo of the Central Committee of the MPRP

Discovery and provenance

Number of preliminary sketchesSeven
Material transportGranite chips were transported from 70 km away in the direction of Darkhan

Materials

Current materialBronze
Additional elements materialNatural stone
Original materialArtificial granite made from cemented granite chips

Technique

Construction problemThere was not enough plaster in the capital for the project
Workshop difficultyThere was no workshop in the capital large enough for a monument of this scale
Production difficultyUlaanbaatar did not have a suitable stone crusher for making the granite chips

History and restoration

Reconstruction locationBeijing
Reconstruction supervisionCarried out under the supervision of a group of Mongolian sculptors
Replacement of earlier monumentThe Pomerantsev monument was moved to the Military Museum
Reconstruction materialBronze
Reconstruction scopeThe statue, the stele with a quotation on its front side, and the reliefs on both sides of the pedestal were remade
Reconstruction period2010–2011
Unveiling occasionInstalled before the holiday for the 25th anniversary of the People's Revolution
Completion date8 June 1946

Significance

AwardOrder of the Polar Star, awarded to Sonomyn Choimbol for creating the monument

Physical characteristics

Depicted poseSits on a horse with his right hand raised
PedestalLarge pedestal

Appearance

AttireWears the clothing of a commander-in-chief
Pedestal decorationSnow lions at the base
Reliefs on pedestalReliefs of revolutionary battles
InscriptionAn Old Mongolian inscription quoting a speech by Sükhbaatar