The Mongols are also known as Mongolians. They mainly live in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Mongolia and Russia. A small number of the Mongols can be found in China’s Xinjiang Autonomous Region, Heilongjiang Province, Jilin Province, Liaoning Province and some other provinces. The total population of Mongols in the world is around 10 million. The Mongol-Chinese accounts for 60 percent of the total population. The Mongols speak their native language, which belongs to the Altaic Language Family. In the 13th century, the ancient Mongols created the Mongolian writing system. The Mongolian Ethnic Group is the tenth largest minority of China.
The History of Mongolian People
The Mongol was initially a nomadic tribe that grazed their animals in the Hulun-Buir Grassland. They migrated to and settled down on the western Mongolian High Plateau in the 7th century. Gradually, the Mongols developed into many clans and tribes. In the early 13th century, Temujin unified the whole Mongolian High Plateau and founded the Mongol Khanate. He was conferred upon with the title of Genghis Khan. Temujin waged a series of wars against the Kingdom of Jin(1115-1234) from 1211 to 1215. He also launched military expedition to the west in 1219. His troops took over the Central Asia and the southern Russia. Genghis Khan passed away in 1227. The sons of Genghis Khan followed their father’s steps in the subsequent 30 years. They conquered many countries in Middle East, Siberia, Eastern Europe. The Mongol Empire comprised four vassals, namely Gedei Khanate, Chagatai Khanate, Kipchak Khanate and IL-Khanate.
In the year of 1260, Kublai succeeded to the throne of Mongol Empire and moved the capital from Helin to Beijing. He renamed his country as the Yuan Empire in 1272. Kublai Khan waged a war against the Song Kingdom, and unified the whole China in 1279. The Yuan Dynasty was overthrown by Zhu Yuanzhang’s rebel forces in the year of 1368. Zhu Yuanzhang was the founder of the Ming Dynasty(1368-1644).
During the Ming Dynasty, over 20 garrisons were set up in the homeland of Mongols. The chieftains of Mongol tribes were appointed as commanders by the central government of the Ming. In the early 15th century, Wala Mongols and Tatar Mongols pledged allegiance to the Ming Empire. The former occupied the west part of Mongolian High Plateau, and the latter controlled the east.
In the year of 1644, the Jurchens established the Qing Empire(1644-1911) and unified the whole China. After the Dzungar Mongol Rebellion was crushed, the Qing emperors tightened their control over the Mongols. The land occupied by Mongol tribes were divided into prefectures.
After the Qing Dynasty was overthrown, people in the Outer Mongolia sought for independence. The Outer Mongolia declared its independence in 1921 and joined the United Nations in 1961.
In 1947, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region was founded. It is the first autonomous province of China. The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region lies in the northern part of China. It covers an area of 1.18 million square kilometers(455,600 sq.mi). Its altitude ranges from 900 meters(2,953 feet) to 1,300 meters(4,265 feet) above sea level. The population of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is around 25 millions. The inhabitants are mainly the Mongols, the Han people, the Manchus, the Hui people, the oroqen people and Korean-Chinese.
Mongol’s Culture and Tradition
The Mongols are straightforward and warmhearted. They always provide visitors with the best accommodation that the hosts can offer. A yurt is a portable, felt-covered tent traditionally used by the Mongols. Their staple food include beef, mutton and dairy produce. Tea is indispensable. The Mongols usually brew tea with milk and salt. Sometimes they also drink the black tea.
The Mongols are known as Men on Horseback. They are proud of their excellent horsemanship and their talent for archery. In addition, the Mongols are also good wrestlers. Nadam Fair is one of the grandest festival celebrated by the Mongols. Nadam means games and recreations in English. It is held once a year in July or August. At the celebration, the natives dress in a traditional way and participate in the horse race, the dance, the archery and the wrestling.
The Mongols used to be followers of Shamanism. Lamaism spread among the Mongols in the 13th century. During the Yuan Dynasty, Lamaism was officially recognized as the state religion of the empire. Nowadays, most of the Mongols practice Lamaism.
The Mongols are good at singing and dancing. Haolaibao is a type of ballad popular among the locals. Performers often sing while playing musical instrument. The most famous musical instrument played by the Mongols is the so-called horse-head fiddle.
Mongolian Folk Costume
The Mongols are usually dressed in a fur coat in winter and a cotton robe in summer. Both the coat and the robe are sewn with a red or green waistband. Their favourite colors are red, yellow and blue. Both man and woman like to have a cone-shaped hat on. Boots are the most common footwear of the Mongols. The girls usually wear ornaments which are made of agate and coral.
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Author: Tina Luo
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