WHY THE CAMEL ROLLS IN THE ASHESA great many years ago, the Buddha began assigning an animal to each of the years of the twelve-year Mongolian calendar. When he had finished assigning eleven animals, the Buddha paused to consider which animal should be allowed the twelfth and final year ( Read more... )

Today I helped a Mongolian electrician (Mr. Batzaya) repair his house in Ulaanbaatar. I gave him a sponsored loan of $25 via Kiva.org - if anyone wants to participate (in helping Mr. Batzaya or someone else), let me know and I'll send you an invite. The first loan is sponsored, as I said, so it's free to make, although registration is required.  ( Read more... )

Some history of Mongolian surnames

Mongolians do not use surnames in the way that most Westerners, Chinese or Japanese do. In the Middle Ages, clan names were sometimes used in a particular morphological form.

The Communist Rule forbade the use of clan names, so patronymics - then called ovog, now called etsgiin ner - were (and still are) used ( Read more... )

Happy National Day of Mongolia!

I wish I had something insightful and interesting to write about Mongolia now, but regrettably I only have some links to some nice contemporary Mongolian music I've found on YouTube. Shame on me! Next year I promise to write extensively about Halha, the main dialect of the official language of Mongolia (Монгол хэл/ ( Read more... )

Happy Mongolian National Day!

Some history of the national anthem of Mongolia at Wikipedia.

I was going to write about the national anthem, myself, but I noticed that the Wikipedia article covered absolutely every fact that I had been planning on sharing. Sürs. I really recommend you check it out - the lyrics they had under the Soviet reign were ( Read more... )

It's the National Day of Mongolia again, people. This time I'm writing about the history of the main local religions (using my memory and Lonely Planet: Mongolia as reference).

( Buddhism )

With Chinggis Khaan. In front of his ger.

Mal süreg targan tavtaiyuu?

(A festival, I love festivals! Drinks all around!)

The Naadam Festival, sometimes called eriin gurvan naadam (эрийн гурван наадам) ("three manly games") is the biggest event to take place in Mongolia each year. Beginning on July the 11th, the National Day, the three-day Festival consists of competing in traditional arts ( Read more... )

The moon, sun, and fire represent the origin of the Mongols.
The rectangles and triangles represent honesty and justice.
The yin-yang symbol [Tao] represents vigilance, for it represents two fish, and fish never sleep.
The two upright lines represent the strength of friendship, for two friends standing together are stronger than walls of stone.
(http ( Read more... )