The Tsam masked dance, which originated in the 8th century, is one of the important rituals of Tibetan Buddhism. It is performed by young lamas wearing costumes and masks representing different apostles and demons, animals, or real people.

The dance primarily features characters from Buddhist legends, as well as animals symbolizing good and bad influences. For example, the Garuda and lion (powerful creatures of the air and earth), the deer (symbol of beauty in the animal kingdom), and the raven (the diviner).

Mongolian Tsam dances carry significant artistic value. They incorporate elaborate dances, music, and luxurious costumes, and serve a didactic purpose by depicting scenes or characters from Buddhist parables. More importantly, however, the ritual dance is believed to bring good fortune to the community.

During the 19th century, more than 500 of Mongolia's 700 monasteries had their own version of the ceremony. The ornate costumes and papier-mâché masks used in Tsam dances in the early 20th century were preserved in several museums, most notably the Choijin Lama Museum in Ulaanbaatar. Recently, these costumes have also been used to revive the Tsam ceremony, which had ceased during the socialist period.