khuree

Khuree is a Mongolian term traditionally used to denote a Buddhist monastery complex, including temples, monastic residences, and related facilities. The word derives from Mongolian khuree meaning enclosure or precinct, and in historical and geographic usage it can refer to the monastery itself as well as the surrounding settlement formed around it.

Historically, khuree served as religious and educational centers. They housed scriptoria, schools for monks and lay students, and administrative functions for monastic communities. Through the centuries, khuree played a central role in the spread of Buddhism in Mongolia, serving as focal points for learning, culture, and social welfare in their regions.

Geographically, the term is attested across Mongolia and in parts of Inner Asia. In place-names, khuree often marks a town or village whose origins lie in a monastery precinct, and many contemporary settlements preserve that historical association in their names and local memory.

Today, khuree remains part of Mongolia’s cultural and religious heritage. The term appears in historical discussions of Mongolian Buddhism and in the names of monasteries and protected sites. See also Mongolian Buddhism, Erdene Zuu Monastery, and Mongolian toponyms.