The Russian Protectorate of Mongolia: 17 Incredible Color Photos of Mongolia in 1913

Here's a series of photographs from the collection of Albert Kahn devoted to Mongolia visited by a photographer Stefan Passe in 1913.

Mongolia declared independence from China in 1911. It was under protectorate of the Russian Empire at the time of Passe’s journey, with full autonomy and own theocratic leaders. But, after only 1 year of protectorate, Russian Empire recognized suzerainty of China over Mongolia. The country from the point of view of a civilized European was a shocking feodalic reservation.

Mongol hunter near Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

National Geographic magazine published this shot with a description: "A Mongolian woman sentenced to starvation death", though this box could be used just as a portable prison popular among nomadic people.

"Two Cossack soldiers in Urga, 1913" - representatives of a minor contingent as the symbol of the Russian protectorate.

Carriage of Stefan Passe between Kykhta and Urga (flags of Russia and France are on the photo).

Mongolian capital - Urga (Ulan Bator today), 23 June 1913.

Urga in 1913

Street in Urga

Temple in Urga

Stupas in a monastic block Gandan in Urga.

Lama

Lamas at the Yellow Palace

Married woman in Urga

Triumphal Gates of the Yellow Palace in Urga.

Badamdorj in vicinity of the Yellow Palace, Urga, 1913

Mongolian yurtas

Nomadic settlement in Inner Mongolia. China, 1912 (a shot from the previous expedition to China).

Two Buryat riders in Troitskosavske (a district town of the Zabaikalsk region, 4 versts from the Chinese border).