The Sacred Union of the East: Geopolitical Utopia of Nicholas Roerich

Andrei ZnamenskiThe University of Memphis

Nicholas Roerich (1874-1947)

US Department of Agriculture “botanical expedition,” 1934-1935

Botanical Expedition with a Geopolitical Twist

Louis Horch, rich patron Master Building, 1929

Beacon for Humankind in Manhattan

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)

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

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?

Nicholas Roerich, “Armageddon”

Courting “white” Russians in ChinaCourting Mongol nationalist leaders, Inner MongoliaMilitary reconnaissance of Manchuria/Inner Mongolia

Roerich in China: Gathering the Russian-Mongol “Shambhala Army”

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)