Mongolian culture

Mongolia Monday- 20 Questions for Mongolphiles Quiz: Results!

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Chinggis Khan statue east of Ulaanbaatar

Here are the answers:

Part 1:

1. Who demonstrated the strength in working together using arrows?- Hoelun, the mother of Chinggis Khan

2. What form does the tea used for milk tea traditionally come in?- Bricks or blocks

3. What side of a Mongol horse does one always mount from?- Left

4. Mongolia became independent in the early 20th century from what other country?- China

5. What two animals do the Mongols claim descent from?- Wolf and deer

6. What was the real name of the “mad monk of the Gobi”-  who wrote the famous poem “Perfect Qualities”?- Danzanravjaa

7. What is the traditional greeting when approaching a herder’s ger?- Hold the dogs!

8. From what people did the Mongols get their classical vertical script?- Uighers

9. Why did the Mongol army leave Europe and return to Mongolia?- To elect a new Khan

10. Who created and bestowed the title “Dalai Lama”? For bonus points, what does the world “Dalai” mean?- Altan Khan; “ocean”

Large ovoo along main road south out of Ulaanbaatar

Part 2:

1. What is a “morin khuur”?- Horse-head fiddle

2. From what people did the Mongols get their classical vertical script?- Uighers (my apologies for missing that I’d used this one in the first 10)

3. What are each of the four sides of a sheep’s anklebone called?- Sheep, goat, horse, camel

4. Name the Five Snouts.- Horse, cattle, sheep, goat, camel

5. Which ikh khan founded Kharkhorin?- Ogedei

6. Which direction do gers always face?- South

7. Who is the lead singer of Hurd? For bonus points, what does his name mean?- Chono: wolf

8. What is the name of the mountain where Temujin took refuge?- Burkhan Khaldun

9. What are The Three Manly Sports?- horse racing, wrestling, archery

10. Name the two main political parties in Mongolia.- Democratic party and Mongolian People’s Party (I was a little flexible on this one since there have been fairly recent name changes. The MPRP changed its name last year. The other party is referred to in the media as the Democrats. But I knew what you meant)

And the winner is…..Carole Hollrigel! But it was close. Only two points separated her from the next closest entrant.

Thank you to those who entered!

Mongolia Monday- Proverbs About Being A Mongol

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Buddhist priest chats with two women, Baga Gazriin Chuluu mountain blessing naadam, July 2009

There are many proverbs in Mongolia concerning good and bad character traits. Many are meant to teach children how they are expected to act. Others are intended as reminders about how to get along in life.

A good character and name is very important and is shown (or not shown) in one’s actions:

Take care of your deel when it is new
Take care of your name when it is clean

Person who has bad character loses his name
Person who works hard will tell his name

Being humble is considered a very good character trait:

A large sea is calm
A knowledgeable person is humble

Many proverbs encourage people to work hard and finish what they start:

If you are bold, work will be finished
If you are persistent, happiness will come

Mongolia Monday- 5 Mongol Proverbial Sayings

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Grandmother and grandson, Sept. 2008

I’ve come to believe that one way to learn about someone else’s culture is to find out what some of the popular proverbial sayings are. Mongolia is no exception.

A Mongol Facebook friend has been posted proverbs from what seems to be a new book. Fortunately, he has translated them into English, which means I can read them myself and share them with you.

Sunset, Khomiin Tal. Zavkhan Aimag, Sept. 2006

If the mind is clean, fate is good (Sanaa sain bol zaya sain)

Greed keeps men forever poor, even the abundance of this world will not make them rich.

Wise men talk about ideas, intellectuals about facts, and the ordinary man talks about what he eats.

Ovoo, Hangai Mountains, July 2010

One who has strong body will be a warrior for a generation
One who has a great wisdom will be a hero for thousands of generations~Injanashi

Easier to love a dead hero than a live king

Main temple, Gandan Monastery, Ulaanbaatar, Sept. 2006