The official Kalmyk alphabet named Todo Bichig (Clear Script) was created in the 17th century by a Kalmyk Buddhist monk, Zaya Pandit. It was used by Kalmyks of Russia until 1924, when it was replaced by the Cyrillic alphabet, but Kalmyks of China have always used it. In Mongolia the Kalmyk language has no official status and does not exist in written form. The Kalmyks (alternatively Kalmucks, Kalmuks, or Kalmyki) are the descendants of the Oirats, the historic and collective identity of the West Mongolian people. ... A Specimen of typeset fonts and languages, by William Caslon, letter founder; from the 1728 Cyclopaedia. ... Categories: Buddhism-related stubs | Buddhist terms ... Zaya Pandit I (1599 - 1662) was an Oirat lama of the Geluk school of Tibetan Buddhism. ... 1924 (MCMXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Kalmyk (Kalmuck, Calmouk, Oirat) is the language of the Kalmyks, spoken in Kalmykia (Russian Federation), Western China and Western Mongolia. ...