The Naadam Festival: A feast for the grassland nomads

‍Raucous crowds, the sound of hooves clattering, emerald steppes dotted with yurts – for local residents in China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the Naadam Festival is, by all means, the most magnificent event of the year. 

Ethnic Mongolians hold the five-day festival on the fourth day of the lunar month of June annually, paralleling the harvest season in the grassland. The premier summer event kicked off on July 16 this year.

Naadam, also known as “Nair,” means entertainment, and gambling in ancient times, in the Mongolian language, which shed light on the Mongols’ spiritual pursuits for freedom and power through a series of featured events.

Short for the local term “Eriyn Gurvan Naadam,” Naadam refers to “the three games of men” – horse racing, wrestling, and archery – that are all ancient military arts showcasing athletic prowess and skills.

It was included in the first batch of The National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of China on May 20, 2006, and then inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO in 2010.

The riotous festival, by essence, is far beyond a bunch of sports competitions but also serves as a spiritual feast celebrated by the nomads who have had to withstand harsh environments – droughts and severe cold.

A requisite part of warrior culture

The tradition of Naadam can be traced back to the 12th century, with a long history that may date farther back than the Yuan Dynasty (1279–1368) when the first instance of the Mongolian term for "three manly games" was recorded.

According to documents, Naadam originated with Genghis Khan’s establishment of the Mongol Empire. The clan leaders and soldiers, before or after military campaigns, used to gather together and participated in the games to show their power and prowess.

Genghis Khan (1162–1227) believed that the fighting will of his warriors were aroused through competing with each other, a fierce force thus fully prepared to fight for victory.

What’s more, the macho-fixated events are held as the ceremony celebrating the new territory successfully conquered after uphill battles, and sometimes as the inauguration of a clan leader or a khan.

In the earlier time of Genghis Khan’s empire, these typical manly games were unofficial sports, from which only one type of competition, often wrestling, would take place at each event and usually only include warriors. 

It was during the Yuan Dynasty that wrestling, horse racing, and archery were set by the rulers as three basic skills the Mongolian males must handle, which then became an official military and sports fixture. 

Meanwhile, all of the featured events had been integrated into a big festival, which all of the Mongolian nomads were allowed to participate in, and since then, the Naadam Festival had enjoyed overwhelming popularity on the grassland.

Wrestling: A showcase of strength

Wrestling, the dominant sport among the ethnic Mongols, is an indispensable part of the Naadam Festival.

The ethnic Mongolians have unique outfits, rules, and techniques during wrestling matches and develop it as a specific type of Mongolian wrestling.

The wrestlers must wear standard gear including “zodog” and “gutal.” The waistcoat part of a zodog is usually made of cowhide, buckskin or camel skin fixed with bronze or silver, which makes it easier to be grasped by opponents. 

Gutal is a leather boot mostly in traditional Mongolian style where the toe part is slightly upturned. Various auspicious patterns such as a dragon, peacock, flower, and fire decorate the jacket-like costume and the boots.

Renowned participants will wear “jangga,” an awarded necklace with colorful silk ribbons to mark if the wrestlers have won considerable contests.   

After singing the songs of wrestlers three times, the competitors dance instead of walk onto the field, waving their arms in the air like eagle wings. The gestures are inspired by the eagles flying in the sky, which is a symbol of courage for many Mongols.

The most interesting point about wrestling is that the 13 basic actions like pulling and pushing may evolve into more than 100 techniques.

The rules set in Inner Mongolia are different – no holding the crotch, no hitting the face, no kicking the belly or any body part above the knees. And if any part of the body above the knee or the ankle touches the ground, the wrestler immediately loses. 

Horse racing: A showcase of speed

Though local residents in Inner Mongolia have experienced huge changes brought by modernization, horse culture, however, remains the central pillar of most Mongols’ lives.

Thanks to their nomadic lifestyle, horses are a key part of their lifestyle with Mongols proudly claiming themselves to be an ethnic group on horseback. Missing the horse races is unthinkable during Naadam.

The contestants are usually all children aged from five to 13, given the weight limitation of Mongolian horses.

Before each race, the bareback and barefoot jockeys gather on horseback, loudly sing the folk song "Gingo" to cheer up their horses. With a sharp whistle, the line-up horses shoot off from the gate thundering towards the finish line. 

Archery: A showcase of skill

Archery is another source of pride for the Mongols as it is such a time-honored tradition.

Before 800 AD, the Mongols lived according to two models of the economy – the nomadic economy and the hunting one.

As Genghis Khan unified the scattered Mongolian tribes, the Mongols gradually transitioned into the complete nomadic model, but kept exercising their archery skills to defend against foreign and animal attacks.

Therefore the archery match is also highly valued as a celebration for the ethnic group. Both males and females can participate in the matches regardless of their age.

There are three types of competitions – short-distance archery, long-distance archery, and horseback archery – where the archers must bring their own bows and arrows as well as horses to join.

The line-up of archers all wear the silk and brocade “deals," the traditional Mongolian robes, embroidered with gorgeous patterns in a riot of colors.

Source:China Global TV Network

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My life as a contortionist

I was 11, maybe 12 years old, when I first realised I could be a contortionist.

I grew up in Ulan Bator, the biggest city in Mongolia. In Mongolia, over the last 40 years, many more girls want to become contortionists, like girls over here go to gymnastics or ballet. Some of the world's top acts come from my country, performing everywhere from the Bolshoi in Russia to Monte Carlo and Cirque du Soleil.

I was inspired by watching my aunt Ione. She is a wonderful contortionist, very clever and elegant, and I wanted to be like her. I have idolised her since I was little and I always wanted to do this, to follow in her footsteps.

My auntie helps me a lot, still, with my act - she is always there to advise me on how to do things better. She is married to Beau, who runs Zippo's Circus, and she is very helpful to me as I travel round the country with them.

Travelling around the world was my dream. I wanted to be able to see places and experience things and, in particular, I wanted to come to the United Kingdom.

I have travelled all over the United Kingdom and have performed in Switzerland, too, and I love it. I love life with the circus, the people are very friendly and helpful and the audiences are wonderful. (Scottish audiences are the best, of course.)

I remember my very first show, in Turkey, when I was quite nervous. It all went so fast, though, once I went into the ring, that I hardly had time to be scared. Now I am never nervous when I perform. It makes me very happy, doing what I do, and it is good fun.

I have no idea what I will do when I am no longer working as a contortionist. I do not like to think about it, I just want to keep working. It is hard work, staying supple, but so far I do not feel as if it is any harder now, as I get older, than it ever has been. But I have to practise and practise, all the time.

I have to train every day, doing exercises like handstands, splits and press-ups, to build up my strength, flexibility and balance.

This year, I have added a new trick to my act - I fire an arrow from a bow, with my feet, while I am doing a handstand. It is a trick I taught myself. I always want to do exciting things, new things, that keep the audiences impressed.

I can also wrap myself up into a bottle. I am tall, at five foot eight inches, and it is quite a small bottle. That is how I make my entrance, into the ring - I'm Odka, the girl in the bottle. Audiences love it.

Being part of Zippo's Circus is incredible. Sometimes, after the shows, the little girls who have been watching me come to meet me and show me how they can bend and move. I see them practising and it is lovely to think I inspire them.

Contortionists work hard to impress. I think people are fascinated by us, because we do things that no-one else can do - we achieve what seems impossible.

Zippo's Circus is at Queen's Park Recreation Ground until Sunday and then Victoria Park from June 16 until 21, Battery Park in Greenock from June 23 to 28, Zetland Park in Grangemouth fom June 29 until July 1 and then touring Scotland. See www.zippos.co.uk

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Mongol Monsters: The Country’s Giant Heritage

By CATE CADELL

Mongolia has a heritage of monsters. In 1971 a fossil of a velociraptor and a protoceratops locked in deadly combat was discovered by a Mongolian-Polish team in the Gobi desert. The famous discovery was among the many hundreds of prehistoric artifacts discovered in Mongolia, including a dinosaur egg that still contains an embryo.
The Cretaceous period in Mongolia was a predator's wonderland. According to fossil evidence, the area was a historical and natural anomaly in that were more predators than herbivores. Even Mongolia's plant eaters had a fierce reputation.
Among them was Erlikisaurus, a huge clawed Theropod that inherited its namesake from the Shaman demon - Erlik,  who according to mythology was cast into the underworld as the deity of evil.

For millions of years, the Mongol heritage of mega-monsters has been upheld. Last year, the world's largest fossilized spider was found in the Gobi desert. The giant arachnid had a leg span of over 15cm and was related to the modern day Golden Orb spiders. The 165 year old specimen was preserved on a bed of volcanic ash; suggesting that she was victim of a large scale natural disaster like many other animals of the day.
In the past, Mongolia's monsters have drawn some of the world's most famous explorers, including the original Indiana Jones, Roy Chapman Andrews. During the Soviet era, authorities restricted who could scour the Gobi - meaning that Polish and Soviet explorers were privy to some of the country's most amazing finds.
The period also promoted the education of Mongolian naturalists and paleontologists, who were taking on the jobs usually delegated to foreign funded academic and museum groups. Rinchen Barsbold is perhaps the most influential paleontologist Mongolia has produced. His work on identifying feathered dinosaurs was extremely influential in historical and evolutionary terms.
It's not just  Mongolia's prehistoric giants that draw so much attention however. The country is still home to many mythical and actual monsters.
The most disputed case of a currently living monster is the Mongolian Death Worm. The Hollywood style giant is locally called олгой-хорхой (olgoi-khorkhoi), and though its existence is still heavily contended, first and second hand reports from local tribesmen are frightening.
The mega-worm is described to be thick and pink. It’s between 2 and 6 ft long, while hysterical reports have put it at 10 ft. It has been said that the monster is able to spew a deadly corrosive acid and also has the potential to electrify its victims. locals have reported camels falling dead on the spot, while others have claimed that whole hunting parties were attacked and killed.
During his time as a paleontologist in the Gobi desert, Roy Chapman Andrews set out to verify the existence of the monster; setting a trend for many naturalist and documentary makers after him. In his 1926 book On The Trail Of Ancient Man Andrews was able to collect many detailed accounts of the creature but doubted its existence in conclusion.
It has since been a favored topic of conspiracists and super naturalists, who believe mining activity in the Gobi will reawaken the monster. Scientists have not been able to rule out the possibility that a similar creature may exist, considering that much of the desert is unexplored, and parts near the Mongol-Chinese border are restricted.
In his 2009 documentary Lair of the Red Worm New Zealander Richard Freedman also documented many accounts and sightings. He managed to conclude that sightings had peaked in the 1950's and that there had been a decreasing amount of reports since then.
Without crossing the borders of mythology and speculation, Mongolia is still home to some of the worlds current living monsters. The country's mega-fish are particularly well known, being the biggest freshwater fish in the world.
The Taimen is the world's largest trout, growing over two meters in length and weighing nearly 100 kilograms. The population of Taimen in the Eg and Uur rivers is one of the biggest in the world due to the fact that there has historically been very little fishing culture among the herders in those areas.
Many fear that new interest in fishing culture will severely deplete the last healthy reserve, with the slow growing fish taking years to regenerate, living to over 50 years of age.
In 2009, a joint project between the World Wildlife Fund and Craig Miller Productions created the documentary Creating a Lasting Sanctuary for the Mighty Taimen. The documentary was a finalist in the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival and showed how the health and prevalence of the Taimen as the key predator could indicate the overall health of the 3000 mile long Amuur river.
Mongolia’s rivers are also famous for their giant Greyling and Lenok; providing one of the most challenging and remote fishing opportunities in the worlds and one of the final reservoir of modern river giants.
While the giants of Mongolia's future may be technological and economic, the country's modern outlook could mean that much more will be uncovered about past and present giants. Whether that means excavating groundbreaking prehistoric discoveries, disproving the existence of killer Gobi worms or even just providing a sustainable future for the Amuur Taimen, Mongolia’s heritage of monsters will surely continue.

Source:UB Post

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European Union Film Festival in Mongolia

The first European Union Film Festival is to take place in Ulaanbaatar and Erdenet from November 10-14, 2010. The Film Festival is organized by the Delegation of the European Union for Mongolia in partnership with the German Goethe-Institute, Liaison Office in Mongolia, Urgoo Cinema in Ulaanbaatar and “Uurkhaichin” cultural center in Erdenet.

The EU film festival asks EU Member States to showcase one recent, popular and successful film. Such a wide and diverse selection will enable the Mongolian general public to discover the new faces of European cinema.

Ten EU member states that were chosen to participate in the Festival are mainly countries having an Embassy in Mongolia and maintaining strong political, economical and cultural ties with Mongolia for many years. Those countries are Belgium, which holds the rotating EU Presidency at the moment, Germany, France, the UK, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Italy and Holland.

Each country will show one movie, mainly very new productions which have been successful in their own countries, including thrillers, comedies, and drama. All movies are shown in their original language with Mongolian subtitles.

The Opening Night of the event will start on Wednesday, November 10, at 8 pm at the Urgoo Cinema

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Jackie Chan Blogs About Charity Trip To Mongolia

LookToTheStars.org recently reported on Jackie Chan's charity trip to Mongolia. The action star has now blogged on his visit.

“Upon arriving in the Chinggis Khaan Airport, I was greeted by so many people, children and adults alike,” wrote the star. "I was excited to be here for the first time – especially for something that I love to do, which is charity. Mongolia has some of the worst air pollution in the world and even before I landed, I could see the smog. The new government wanted to do promotion for clean air and asked me to help out. I didn’t just want to come to Mongolia to do one thing, so I asked if I could do charity as well.

“A lot of people said to me, “Jackie, thank you for coming to Mongolia.” I said, “Why not? The planet belongs to us. I am the citizen of the world.” When I am in Mongolia, I am Mongolian. If I am in Beijing, I am Beijingnese. Ha ha. If every person thought that they belonged to the planet, they would treat every country as if it were their own country. They would treat people as their own people, no matter if they were white, black, red or yellow. Also if we belonged to the planet, we would treat the environment better too."

To read Jackie’s full blog and see his personal photos of the trip, click here
source: http://www.looktothestars.org

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Cow intestine appetizers and other cultural surprises

A crash course in Mongolian nomadic life is an eye-opener for American student
By Catherine Meyer (Duke Univ.) Student Correspondent Corps

MUNGUNMORIT, Mongolia — My host’s 3-year-old daughter grabs the cow intestine and shoves it into her mouth. She turns to me and smiles, offering an uneaten piece with her chubby fist.

It finally hits me: I’m in Mongolia.

After having spent barely more than a week in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, my study abroad program sends me out to live with a nomadic family in the countryside as a crash course in traditional Mongolian culture.

My host family lives in a circular felt tent called a ger and herds cattle, moving to a new location about four times a year in search of better grazing. While their homes lack running water, many nomadic families now have electricity and television.

A nomad herder with his ponies

Thanks to solar panels and satellite dishes installed around the countryside about 10 years ago, they don’t have to rely on candlelight come evening and can follow the latest news without traveling to the nearest city. Yet life is still difficult for these families, and, as I am discovering, it is especially tough for a foreigner like myself who has never lived in this sort of culture with its harsh physical demands.

People never knock on the door before entering a ger, and with neighbors constantly coming and going, I am puzzled to figure out how to get dressed without causing a local scandal. I already get stared at enough as neighbors pile into the ger to see the funny American girl who wants to pet the livestock and wears her winter coat indoors.

Every daily task in Mongolia is a challenge, and sometimes a frightening one. My first time on a horse becomes a panicky situation as the horse gets spooked by a guard dog and starts galloping toward the mountains. I hold on for dear life as I shout a few choice words that I’m glad my host father cannot understand.

The father of the host family gallops after me and grabs the reins of my horse, pulling it to a stop. The stunned expression on my face makes him chuckle, and I later discover that because of this fiasco, I am prohibited from holding the reins of my own horse for the rest of my stay.

Even going to the bathroom is a treacherous task. Toilets are little more than a pit in the ground with two parallel boards of wood to stand on as you squat over it. At night, the boards freeze over with ice and I pray that I don’t slip, as one misstep would land me face first into the poop pit.

As I settle in, I also learn that life moves a bit slower in the country. At times, the pace drives me crazy as I find myself at a loss for things to occupy my time. I would be happy to help my host parents with their daily chores, but because I am their guest, they refuse my offers.

My host’s little daughter entertains herself by running around the inside of the ger in circles, taking periodic breaks to open the door and squeal at the guard dog.
source: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/study-abroad/100907/mongolia-nomads-culture-mongolian-herds-herdsmen-ger

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Wounded heart (Шархадсан Сэтгэл) sung by Oirad-Mongolian singer Homba

I recently came across this song sung by Oirad-Mongolian singer Homba. Little is known about Homba. The song is called Sharhdasan setgel (Шархадсан Сэтгэл) or Wounded Heart. He sings in beautiful western Mongolian accent. The clip is made from "I Love You" (Би чамд хайртай) movie's new version made by Hero Production.

I think Homba is from Xinjiang area of China where significant number of Torgud and Durvud Mongolians still live. His accent is very pure Western Mongolian.Here is the lyrics of the song. It is a love song.



By Battsetseg

Шархадсан Сэтгэл

Оосор бүчгүй хүний орчлондоо
Од сар шиг гэрэлтэхийг боддогсон
Учрах хүсэлтэй энэ шөний
Ороогдсон хайрдаа сөрдөн сууна би

Санаанд шингэсэн чамайгаа бодохоор
Сарний гэрэлд сэтгэлээ би нуухгуй
Шархдсан сэтгэлдээ өөрөө уяраад
Шөний огторгуйг бараадан зогсдог би

Бодсоноор болдоггуй тоостой хорвоодоо
Булбрай чамайгаа санан санасаар
Хамтдаа явсан дурсгалдаа согтууран
Ханийн хүслийг мөрөөдөж суудаг би

Сэтгэлд шингэсэн чамайгаа бодохоор
Сарний гэрэлд сэтгэлээ би нуухгүй
Шархдсан сэтгэлдээ өөрөө уяраад
Шөний огторгуйг бараадан зогсдог би

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In Mongolia, the Horse-Headed Fiddle Rides Again

The Tumen Ekh folk dance and music ensemble in 2006.

ULAN BATOR, MONGOLIA — In the two decades since the Soviet Union dissolved and Mongolia became an independent democracy, the country has struggled to resuscitate cultural traditions lost during its many years as a Soviet satellite.
“Stalin wanted to bring Russian culture to Mongolia and destroy Mongolia’s national ambition,” explained the poet G. Mend-Ooyo, speaking in the book- and calligraphy-filled office of the Mongolian Academy of Culture and Poetry, of which he is president and founder. “He couldn’t do it completely, but from 1940 to 1990 we were far from our culture. We used Russian script, we couldn’t mention the name ‘Chinggis Khaan’ [Genghis Khan], we didn’t know our own history.”
Efforts to revive the nation’s traditional culture have borne mixed results, bogged down by factional bickering, philosophical disagreements, budgetary restraints and habit. So, while Genghis Khan is once again a household name, the Soviet-imposed Cyrillic alphabet continues to replace the flowing Uighur script that the great Khan himself is said to have borrowed for his people. Surnames — which were abolished by the Soviet-backed government in the 1920s — are still rarely used, despite government mandates to revive them. (Instead, the initial of the father’s first name is often added to given names for official usage.)

There is, however, one area in which near unanimity of purpose has enabled major progress: the revival of the morin khuur, or “horse-head fiddle.” The general revival of the instrument has been bolstered by the government, which went so far as to issue a decree aimed at restoring its special role in the nation’s cultural life. In Mongolia’s music schools, the number of morin khuur students has increased significantly, as has production of the instrument.

A two-stringed bowed instrument with a scroll in the shape of a horse’s head, the morin khuur both springs from Mongolia’s nomadic heritage and embodies it.

“Mongols really like horses,” explained B. Bayaraa, a dean at the Mongolian University of Culture and Arts. “The morin khuur really reflects the feeling, the spirit of the Mongols — it was the main musical instrument.”

The origins of the morin khuur are hazy, but legends recounting its creation all center on a herder’s abiding love for a horse who dies. To numb his grief, the herder is said to have fashioned a musical instrument from the animal’s carcass, covering a wooden frame with its skin, crafting strings and a bow from its tail hair, and carving the scroll in its image. When the instrument was finished, he played upon it the sounds his beloved steed once made as it galloped over vast green steppe, whinnied on a frosty starlit night, or snorted and shook dew from its mane in the first rays of the morning sun. Soon, there was a morin khuur in every ger (or yurt) in the land.

“Every family used to have a morin khuur as a kind of altarpiece — it was a sacred part of the household,” said B. Sharav, a composer at the Mongolian State Theater of Opera and Ballet, who as a child was taught to play the instrument by his father and grandfather and as an adult has written orchestral concertos for it. “This is one thing the Mongols can be really proud of.”

The morin khuur became an integral part of nomadic culture, used to celebrate the beginning of a new year; to mark the end of a long day pounding wool into felt; to break the monotony of herding sheep; to accentuate the joy of drinking fermented mare’s milk — even to encourage a recalcitrant camel to nurse a newborn foal.

The process of making the instrument was gradually standardized. It was determined, for instance, that the thinner of the two strings (which nowadays are generally tuned a fourth apart to F and B-flat) should have about 105 hairs from the tail of a mare while the thicker string should have about 130 from that of a stallion. Goat or camel skin was sometimes substituted for horse hide and the instruments were painted green, to symbolize fertility. A repertoire evolved and the instrument, which is held on the lap as it is played, was used to accompany dance, folk songs and poetry.
The morin khuur’s sound is a part of life,” Sharav said, gesturing toward one propped on a piano in his office. “The head of every household should be able to make a sound on it — the melody of the rhythm of a horse galloping.
As Soviet control over Mongolia tightened, however, the status of the morin khuur was deliberately diminished.

“There were purges and the abandonment of traditional instruments in the 1930s,” explained Ts. Ariunbold, director of foreign affairs at the College of Music and Dance in Ulan Bator.

Echoed his colleague, N. Ganchimeg, deputy director of the college, “This was within the stream of abandoning our traditions — instead classical music was promoted.”

The morin khuur was not completely cast aside — the College of Music and Dance continued to teach it, alongside violin, cello and other Western string instruments — but it lost its central role in Mongolia’s musical life.
Its comeback began in the general flowering of traditional culture that accompanied democracy. The instrument got a considerable boost in 2002 when then-president Natsagiin Bagabandi issued a presidential decree aimed at re-establishing its lost primacy.

“The regulation says that every household needs to have a morin khuur and the head of the household needs to know how to make a sound on it,” Ariunbold said.

Though the decree — which also established a state morin khuur on which the national anthem is to be played on special occasions — is non-binding, it has been broadly propagated and appears to have widespread support.

“We have so many requests to study the morin khuur,” Ganchimeg said. “The policy has really had a big impact in society.”

Of the 170 College of Music and Dance students who play traditional instruments, 50 major in morin khuur; the College has an accomplished morin khuur ensemble that performs works by Mongolian and other composers in a recital hall lined with portraits of Bach, Mozart and Beethoven on one wall and Glinka, Tchaikovsky and Mussorgsky on the other.

The situation is similar at the Mongolian University of Culture and Arts, and many government-sponsored activities have been implemented to support the decree.

“There is a Golden Autumn competition that encourages composers to write for the instrument,” said Bayaraa, of the University of Culture and Arts. “And every two years there is a morin khuur competition. Many people participate — including amateur players from abroad. There is a symposium on techniques, music, and research. We also invite the people who make morin khuur to share their experiences.”

Modern technology has been used to update the instrument, which now often has an all-wood sound box — the leather changes shape when taken to more humid countries — and synthetic strings. Although the instrument is widely used in rock, folk rock and jazz ensembles that play in Ulan Bator’s clubs, amplification comes from a microphone rather than electric pickups on the instrument itself.

Efforts to revive the morin khuur at home have been so successful that many of its advocates have set their sights on promoting it overseas, noting that its sound is comparable to that of the cello and that it blends well with Western orchestras.

source: http://www.nytimes.com

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Performance of Childrens dance group "Ih Mongol" of Bayanzurkh district

Ih Mongol-amateur childrens dance group under the cultural center of Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar performed in Nairamdal, children camp on Aug 2, 2010. I happened to film this dance. Ih Mongol means "Great Mongol" and the children performed very well. The lead dancer-little boy was amazing. The children danced "Bielgee" western Mongolian folk dance. We wish best success for the talented kids of "Ih Mongol" childrens group.

Улаанбаатар хотын Баянзүрх дүүргийн Соёлын ордны дэргэдэх Хүүхдийн " Их Монгол" хамтлагийн тоглолтоос. Тус хамтлаг 8-р сарын 2нд Найрамдал лагерийн хүүхдийн амралтын 7-р ээлжийн нээлтэд тус бүжгийг сонирхуулсан юм. Авьяаслаг хүүхдүүдэд цаашдын уран бүтээл, хичээл сурлагад нь өндөр амжилт хүсьё.



By Ganbat, editor of Mongolianviews.com

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Mongolian studies being promoted abroad

Dr. Anna Tsendiin continues in her father’s research

In the past, Mongolian studies were centered in Russia but now are moving in the direction of Hungary, Germany and within Russia to Buryatia. Dr. Anna Tsendina, a professor and researcher of Institute for Oriental Cultures and Antiquity, Russian State university for the humanities, characterizes the direction and orientation of Mongol study in this way. According to her findings, Mongol study or the investigation and research of Mongolian history and culture has been seriously weakened.
Anna is the daughter of well-known Mongolian liguist and writer Tsendiin Damdinsuren . The Mongol Messenger talked with Doctor Anna Tsendina about the past, present and future of Mongol study and her research works.

-Your book, “Tsendiin Damdinsuren”, is devoted to the centenary anniversary of your father. What kinds of research are covered in your book?

In his last years, my father studied much the Shambala. He investigated and studied whether Shambala was a real land, whether there was any historical foundation for that, or was it an abstract idea. He wrote several articles that were included in the book. My father and researchers from a number of countries were involved in comparable research. In my book,I included articles of foreign researchers who had a similar theme as my father’s. My father’s own letters and reminiscences are an important part of the book.
-How should we understand the Shambala?
-Historic foundations for the existence of Shambala have been found. Shambala is related with the sutra of the time wheel. Unfortunately my father didn’t complete his study.
-Russia is one of the countries traditionally engaged in Mongol studies. What is the situation today?
-Mongol study in Russia is powerful. Russia became interested in Mongolia, and began studying Mongolian language and Mongol sources 200 years ago, around the end of the 18th century. St.Peterburg has a rich Mongol book collection. By the end of the 19th century, there were many reputed Mongolian scholars who relied on this collection. None of them were left after the turbulent years of the 1930s. Oriental study suffered greatly in this period as well. Certain parts of traditional studies have been interrupted and a new direction appeared. This was the investigation of the new era. Everything related with the past was considered as capitalist and outdated. It was so difficult for me in 1984 to defend my scientific thesis on religion, but only because I was the daughter of a celebrated scientist would they allow me to defend my thesis. Today Mongol studies are developing, but with the proportion changed. In the past, Mongol studies were strong in Russia and America. But today, the centre of Mongol study moved from Russia to Hungary, Germany and within Russia to Burytia. As far as Russia was concerned, the biggest research centers and institutes operate in Petersburg, Buryatia and Kalmyk republic. While classic Mongol studies develop in Saint Petersburg, contemporary Mongol studies dominate in Moscow.
I wouldn’t say that Mongol studies are being liquidated, but the classic study of Mongolia or the investigation of the Mongolian history and culture has significantly shrunk in Russia and Europe. I think the situation is different in Japan and China.
-What is the reason for that and what steps should be taken to develop it successfully?
The policy of the State is important. For example, Russia is not paying due attention to humanitarian branches, nevertheless it is interested to study Mongolia. However, because of insufficient wages and finances, many of those who would otherwise continue with Mongolian studies go into other fields. The Mongolians themselves must influence Mongol study. I think that people who want to write about Mongolia and to study this country can be found without difficulty.
-What are you studying now?
-Together with Mongolian researcher R.Otgonbaatar, we started a project to study new manuscript discoveries that were found in North Mongolia.
Inner Mongolian resource study continues because there is more funding from a variety of sources and almost all their original texts are being investigated and published.
But the original texts, literature and the book printing blocks which are available in Khalkh Mongolia were not investigated. So, I intend to work on the general characteristics of the original texts.
source: The Mongol Messenger

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Kazakhs maintain culture and tradition in Mongolia

ULAANBAATAR: Mongolia is largely a homogenous country, but pockets of ethnic minorities can still be found on its vast landscape.

The numbers of one such minority - the ethnic Kazakhs - appears to be fast dwindling.

In the outskirts of Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar is a Kazakh community.

The 800 families living there are mainly miners who migrated from western Mongolia since the 1940s.

Even though many of them have never lived in Kazakhstan, they have maintained traditional Kazakh customs, lifestyles and traditions.

One of these is a household which produces traditional Kazakh carpets and embroidery.

Tulkbai Sailau, Kazakh minority in Mongolia, said: "I have lived in this area for over 40 years. I have five daughters and a son. All my daughters know how to sew and knit."

Mongolkhan Aksakal, Kazakh religious leader, said: "Kazakhs moved to Mongolia a long time ago so they preserve the culture and tradition much better than those in Kazakhstan. When they go back to Kazakhstan, they teach their tradition and culture to Kazakhs living in Kazakhstan."

There are regular interactions and exchanges between Mongolian Kazakhs and those living in Kazakhstan.

Mongolian Kazakhs are predominantly Muslims, but many were unable to practice their faith during the Soviet era, because of Stalin's crackdown on religion.

More than 200 years ago the advance of the Russian empire troops had forced many people from Kazakhstan to settle down in neighbouring countries, including Mongolia where they have formed a tightly-knit community.

But with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, the ethnic Kazakhs in Mongolia have also been swept up in the sea of changes.

One of the key changes includes an incentive scheme by the Kazakhstan government to attract ethnic Kazakhs around the world to return to their ancestral country.

The scheme is aimed at boosting Kazakhstan's economic growth and to address an earlier demographic imbalance, where ethnic Kazakhs were a minority in their own country.

Purev Oyunchimeg, Commission of National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia, said: "By 2008, over 30,000 ethnic Kazakhs moved to Kazakhstan, 368 wanted to restore their Mongolian citizenship while 176 wanted to give up their Mongolian citizenship. Since Mongolia does not recognise dual citizenship, they have to give up their Mongolian citizenship if they leave for Kazakhstan."

Although many Kazakhs say they leave Mongolia for the better prospects in Kazakhstan, some are happy to stay put.

Tulkbai Sailau added: "There is a saying that one's motherland is the place where one is born. I'm happy here even though there are problems like unemployment, and not having access to markets for my carpets and embroidery."

Ethnic Kazakhs in Mongolia say there are few political pressures and hardly any discrimination against their minority status.

And even though many Mongolian Kazakhs are Muslims, they get along well with the predominantly Buddhist Mongolians.

Although Kazakhstan is keen to reach out to its Kazakh Diaspora, economics - and not necessarily cultural identity - will ultimately decide if ethnic Kazakhs choose to stay in Mongolia, or return to their ancestral homeland.
source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com

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Mail for Mongolianviews.com: An appeal-to the people of Japan

We received following e-mail and we are posting it for our readers.
MonInfo staff

AN APPEAL
To the People of Japan

3/19/10

Despite numerous protests against exhibition titled, “Tibet – Treasures from the Roof of World” in major Japanese cities, the Exhibition is still going on in Osaka, and the next venue is Sendai. This has emboldened Chinese communist government to come up with an exhibition on Mongol, “The Legend of Genghis Khan & the Magnificent Mongol Empire” in Tokyo at Edo-Tokyo Museum.

This is a great insult to Tibetans and Mongolians, and freedom loving people of Japan, while the people in these two regions are oppressed and denied of their cultural and religious freedom, the Chinese government is conducting these exhibitions to mislead the Japanese people into believing that they are the benevolent guardians of Tibetan and Mongolian culture. This is their hideous plan to justify their oppressive and colonial rule in the regions.

Unfortunate thing is that this is happening in Japan, that too with the collaboration with Japanese business and media entities. Japan being a strong independent nation, oppressed people in Asia look forward to Japanese leadership in delivering peace and justice in Asia. Collaborating with tyrannical regime does not become of Japanese intellectual and business society.

While we welcome any exhibitions on Tibet, Mongol and Uighur, we urge the organizers to exhibit the true history and current situation in the regions. I request the Japanese business and media entities not to become a tool of Communist propaganda. This is not good for China, Japan, for Asia and for world peace, for that matter.

It must be noted that during the Mongol supremacy in Asia, both China and Tibet came under Mongol influence around 1240-1368 in the name of Yuan dynasty. It was during this time the Tibetan Buddhist masters influenced the belligerent Mongol Kings into Dharma Raja, Religious Kings and Tibet became independent from Mongol in 1350, eighteen years before China was to become free from Mongol rule. Let us see how these historical facts are presented in the exhibition.

I request the people in this free country and media people to hear the both sides of the stories, and support the truth, justice and humanity, not to get deceived by Chinese propaganda.

Thanking you

Lhakpa Tshoko
Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Japan & East Asia
(翻訳: 濱口祐子)

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Korean Entertainers in Mongolia

Korean culture wave is sweeping over urban Mongolia as Korean movies and melodramas and music is getting popular among Mongolians.
Korean actress Jang Seo Hee who played Goo Eung Jee in TV drama “ Wife’s temptation” and actor Ahn Jae Mo who played Kim Doo Han in TV drama “ Rustic Period” arrived in Mongolia and performed in show center “ UB Palace”.


Melodrama “Wife’s temptation” was broadcast on Ulaanbaatar Broadcasting System (UBS), a local TV station during first half of 2009 and was one of highest rated TV drama in Mongolia.
The visit of the Korean entertainers was organized by Korean invested company “ BBQ” which runs a TV shop and restaurants in Mongolia.

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Mongolian Hairdressing blog

Tuya is a hairdresser who owns and runs hairdressing salon " Tuyarakh" in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. What is unique about her is, she keeps a blog about hairdressing in Mongolian. I don't know many other Mongolian hairdressers who writes blogs.
In her blog, you can find pictures about Mongolian hairdressing world and Mongolian celebraties like singer Saraa who is a regular customer at the salon. Check out her blog http://tuyarakh.blogspot.com

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