the sacred union of the east: spiritual and geopolitical utopia of nicholas roerich
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The Sacred Union of the East: Geopolitical Utopia of Nicholas Roerich
Andrei ZnamenskiThe University of Memphis
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Nicholas Roerich (1874-1947)
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US Department of Agriculture “botanical expedition,” 1934-1935
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Botanical Expedition with a Geopolitical Twist
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Louis Horch, rich patron Master Building, 1929
Beacon for Humankind in Manhattan
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TheocracyBlueprint for a new orderCarrier of the highest spiritualityFrom Siberia in the north to the Himalayan mountains in the southEconomic foundation: cooperativesIdeology: universalist religion (Theosophy + Buddhism)
The Sacred Union of the East (Kansas, the Great Plan, the New Country)
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FDR Secretary of Agriculture, later VP
Agriculturalist, reporter
Frustration about mainstream Christianity and cut-throat competition
Interested in cooperatives
Light from the East Dreams of New Order(Novus Ordo Seclorum)
Henry Wallace
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Sparks to help launch the Scared Union of the East Mongolia and Manchuria, the “Power keg” of
Asia (1930s) Invaded by Japan (1931): autonomy for
Mongols Rise of Mongol Nationalism Revolt in Red Mongolia against
communism (1930-1931 Inner Mongolia against Chinese land
advances (1930s) Rise of popular prophecy about the
Shambhala War and the end of the world
Why East Asia?
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Nicholas Roerich, “Armageddon”
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Courting “white” Russians in ChinaCourting Mongol nationalist leaders, Inner MongoliaMilitary reconnaissance of Manchuria/Inner Mongolia
Roerich in China: Gathering the Russian-Mongol “Shambhala Army”
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Context: Spirit of Time (Zeitgeist), 1920s-1930s
“Big is Beautiful” Social engineering by a state “Worship” of Science Cultivating community Cult of enlightened master (e.g.
Mussolini, Stalin, FDR)