Download Mongolian Culture

MONGOLIAN CULTURE
Nomadic based culture
Like every other nomadic culture, Mongolian culture is well-known for its hospitality. Upon guests’ arrival,
traditional offerings and treats are served - dairy products in the summer time, and meat in the winter.
Traditionally a Mongolian, even during his absence, will leave his ger unlocked, in order to allow any passer-by
to rest and enjoy the treats which are left on the table for visitors.
Mongolians traditionally lead a pastoral, nomadic lifestyle. Because of the climate and short growing season,
animal husbandry defines the nomadic lifestyle, with agriculture playing a secondary role. Nomads raise five
types of animals - goats, sheep, cattle (including yaks), camels and horses - that provide meat, dairy products,
transportation, and wool. Of these animals, the horse holds the highest position in Mongolian tales and legends.
As one of the only remaining horse-based cultures left in the world, Mongolians greatly cherish their horses.
Outside the capital, the horse is still the main mode of transportation and children begin riding as soon as they
can sit up. Nomads are extremely proud of their riding skills and horse racing is a favorite pastime. Believing
the race to be a test of the animal's and not the rider's ability, young children are often the jockeys. The most
prestigious tests of these superb animals are the horse races at the Naadam Festival, Mongolia 's national
games, which takes place each July. Families will travel for days to be able to participate or just attend this
grand event.
Nomadic families follow a seasonal routine, moving the herds to new grazing land based on the time of year,
rather than one of aimless wandering. Historically, each clan had various chosen grazing grounds that were
used exclusively by the same clan year after year. This tradition carries on today and families return to the
same locations at the same time each year, for example, traveling at the end of each winter from a specific
sheltered valley to a particular grazing area on the steppes.
Daily responsibilities are divided evenly among family members and no one person's work is considered more
important than another's. Traditionally, men take care of the horses arid, the herds and make saddles,
harnesses, and weapons. In addition, they hunt to supplement the traditional diet of dairy products. Women
also milk cows, goats and mares (the national drink is airag - fermented mare's milk). Despite their enterprise,
however, Mongolians are not self-sufficient. Since ancient times, they have traded with surrounding civilizations
far grain, rice, tea, silk, cotton and etc. Women's responsibilities include cooking, taking care of the children and
making clothing (the traditional Mongolian costume is the ankle-length silk del).
The Mongolian Ger
With a history of over a thousand years, this portable dwelling made of wood lashed together with leather
thongs and covered with felt is the home of the Mongolian nomads. Easy to erect and dismantle, the ger, its
furnishings, and the stove inside can be carried by just three camels, or wagons pulled by yaks.
The average ger is small but spacious enough to provide adequate living space for a family, is wind resistant,
and has good ventilation. Gers are constructed of a latticed wood structure covered with layers of felt and
canvas. A lattice frame of narrow birch and willow laths is held together by leather strips. The sections are
about 2 meters long and are bound together to form a large circular structure. This collapsible lattice is called
khana. The average ger uses four to eight khana, with six being the most popular size. The door-frame is a
separate unit, as is the ceiling formed from an umbrella-like frame-work of slender poles called uni, which are
lashed to the khana on one end and slotted into the tonoo, a circular frame, at the top. Traditionally, the door
was a felt flap attached to the door-frame, but most nomads now use a carved or painted wooden door. In the
center of the tonoo is a small hole which allows smoke to escape and fresh air and light to enter. Each ger is
heated by a small metal stove fueled with dried dung or wood.
The entrance of the ger always faces south. Once the wooden framework is lashed together, it is covered with
layers of felt and canvas. The felt helps the ger retain heat and the canvas over it sheds rain. Ropes made of
hair and wool hold the thick layer of felt in place. During the summer, one layer of felt is used, but during the
winter, two or three layers are necessary. Travelers to Mongolia will have the opportunity to sleep in traditional
gers while staying with nomadic families or at ger camps. The Mongolian ger has customs attached to it that are
unique; please refer to the guide following this section to learn more about the Do’s and Don’ts inside a ger.
Mongolian Music
Two of the most significant Mongolian art forms are Khoomi singing (throat singing) and the playing of the
Morin Huur or Horse Head fiddle.
Khoomi Singing- The physics of Khoomi singing are still not completely understood, but it’s basic principles
are known. Most natural sounds are composed of a base pitch (fundamental) plus many more tones at higher
pitches (harmonics). Usually our ears zero in on the fundamental and that is the pitch that our mind assigns to
the sound. The fewer the harmonics the “purer” the sound (e.g., a flute does not produce many harmonic
tones), whereas the presence of more harmonics makes the sound “richer”. The human voice is rich with
harmonics. By dividing the mouth into two cavities and modulating the resonant pitches of each, the Khoomi
singer is able to suppress the fundamental or base pitch and amplify one or two harmonics so that our ears
register them as separate tones rather than as one complex tone. It is almost as difficult to describe in writing
what khoomi sounds like as it would be to learn khoomi singing from a set of instructions! The end result is that
you are hearing one person sing in what seems to be two or three different tones or notes at the same time. It
is eerie, and beautiful. As the singer’s rich bass voice sings the words, there will be a whistling overtone and
sometimes a humming mid tone.
Morin Huur- Used in Khoomi singing and in other forms of traditional music, the origins of the Morin Huur lie
with the Chinese two-stringed fiddle. With its typical horse-head carving crowning the instrument, the Morin
Huur plays a major part in all classic Mongolian forms of music. To this day people of all ages play it.
Long Song- The Mongolian long song is a truly nomadic art form. It can be sung without any accompanying
instruments and is very melodic, and the voices of good long song singers can carry over immense distances.
Common themes include nature, family, animals, and epic tales.
Festivals and Holidays
Naadam Festival- probably the most well-known Mongolian Festival. Originating from the beginning of the
previous century, the festival consists of the “three manly sports”- wrestling, horse riding and archery,
accompanies by festivities, eating and drinking, and much socializing. The event is celebrated all over Mongolia,
with the main events taking place in the capital.
Tsagaan Sar- the “white moon” celebrations are celebrated at the Lunar New Year. It is a tradition to climb a
sacred mountain on the first day of the New Year, to welcome the first morning of the New Year on the
mountain peak. On the three following days, Mongolians visit their relatives and friends, and enjoy traditional
food and drink.
Like any other ex-communist country, Mongolia adopted many communist style holidays, such as military day,
revolution day, women’s day, labour day and so on. Today some of them remain non-working days, but have
lost their original meaning.