Mongol Culture
The Military
The military was a major aspect of Mongol life. The only reason that Chinggis Khan was able to unite the many Mongol tribes and invade China was using his brilliant military genius. (1) All Mongol men were expected to serve in the Mongol army once they reached the age of 14 years old (2), and many women also were very ruthless and trained warriors. Some even fought in the wars alongside men. (3)
George Vernadsky explains in "The Mongols and Russia" how even non-trained women accompany men on their military campaigns, and demonstrate partnership between male and female Mongols: "He [Chinggis Khan] ordered women accompanying the troops to do the work and perform the duties of the men, while the latter were absent fighting." (4) |
Mongol Dwellings
Mongolian yurts have been a feature of life in Central Asia for at least three thousand years. (5) To this day, the doors of yurts always face south, as noted by Italian merchant Marco Polo:
"Their huts or tents are formed of rods covered with felt, and being exactly round, and nicely put together, they can gather them into one bundle, and make them up as packages, which they carry along with them in their migrations, upon a sort of car with four wheels. When they have occasion to set them up again, they always make the entrance front to the south." (6)
The yurt was a practical way for the Mongols to retain their nomadic lifestyles while still being comfortable and practical wherever they settle.
"Their huts or tents are formed of rods covered with felt, and being exactly round, and nicely put together, they can gather them into one bundle, and make them up as packages, which they carry along with them in their migrations, upon a sort of car with four wheels. When they have occasion to set them up again, they always make the entrance front to the south." (6)
The yurt was a practical way for the Mongols to retain their nomadic lifestyles while still being comfortable and practical wherever they settle.
Artwork
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/yuan/hd_yuan.htm
|
During the Mongol Empire, especially during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 CE) paintings and artisan crafts (jade, textiles, porcelains/ceramics, bronzes) flourished.(7) Artisans were able to gain freedom from corvée (unpaid) labor(8), and they also achieved higher social status than before the Mongols came into power.(9) The Mongols did not have their own artisan class, so they used local artisan help on their massive building projects such as the building of the cities of Khara Khorum (1st Mongol capitol), Shangdu (Xanadu), and Daidu (present day Beijing.) (10)
Foreign [Chinese] artisans also assisted the Mongols in making weapons. (11) When Chinggis Khan was attacking cities, he spared the lives of artisans with particularly useful skills, and captured them. (12) When the armies were faced with large, walled cities, captured Chinese artisans helped the militaries create a whole arsenal of siege weapons. (13) |
Written Language
During the Yuan Dynasty, Kublai Khan wanted to create a new written language that better represented the Mongols and the conquered people, and was unique to this period. (14) He commissioned the Tibetan "Phag-pa Lama" to create this language.(15) Around 1269 this language was completed, and came to be known as the "Square Script," because of its square-like shaped characters.(16)
However, despite Kublai Khan's efforts to convert the public to this new language by promoting it in schools,(17) passing laws, and edicts, the script was only ever used on official seals and documents, paper money, and a few porcelains. (18)
However, despite Kublai Khan's efforts to convert the public to this new language by promoting it in schools,(17) passing laws, and edicts, the script was only ever used on official seals and documents, paper money, and a few porcelains. (18)
Clothing
This photo shows the traditional Mongol garb called a caftan, which all people wore, but details differed based on gender and status. (19) Unmarried men and women wear their caftans with two belts and a sash, which the women would remove one they were wed. (20) Fancy detailing was added to the collar of high status women and they wore a long train and full sleeves. (21)
The material of the garb also varied based on wealth and status: caftans ranged from silk, brocade, cotton, and valuable furs to leather, wool, and felt for the less wealthy. (22)
The material of the garb also varied based on wealth and status: caftans ranged from silk, brocade, cotton, and valuable furs to leather, wool, and felt for the less wealthy. (22)
Footnotes:
(1) Dr. Gombyn( Sukhee, "Personality Profile: Great Chinggis Khan and His Military Genius," Pointer Journal of the Singapore Armed Forces. (Singapore Ministry of Defense, 2006.) Web. 16 Nov. 2014. <http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/publications/pointer/journals/2006/v32n2/personalityprofile.html>.
(2) Robert Marshall, Storm from the East, From Genghis Khan to Kubilai Khan, (University of California Press, 1993.) from "The Mongols: How Barbaric Were the 'Barbarians'?" (The DBQ Project) 2005, Document B.
(3) Per Inge Oestmoen, "Women in Mongol Society," Mongolian Women, January 23, 2001. Accessed November 16, 2014. http://www.coldsiberia.org/monwomen.htm.
(4) George Vernadsky, The Mongols and Russia, (New Haven and London, Yale University Press) 1953. 105.
(5) Mr. Enkhtuvshin, "History of Yurts," Original Mongolian Yurts. Accessed November 16, 2014. http://mongolian-yurt.com/Yurt-history.html.
(6) Marco Polo, "The Travels of Marco Polo the Venetian," (London UK, Adamant Media Corporation) 2005. Ch. XLVII, 123. Edited by Thomas Wright.
(7) Asia For Educators, The Mongols In World History: Culture (Columbia University) 2004. Accessed November 16, 2014. http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/mongols/china/china3_g.htm.
(8) Asia For Educators, The Mongols In World History: For Artisans (Columbia University) 2004. Accessed November 16, 2014. http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/mongols/china/china3_b.htm
(9) Asia For Educators, http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/mongols/china/china3_g.htm.
(10) Asia For Educators, http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/mongols/china/china3_b.htm.
(11) Robert Guisepi, "The Mongols: The Last Great Nomadic Challenges - From Chinggis Khan To Timur" (1992) Accessed November 16, 2014. http://history-world.org/mongol_empire.htm
(12) Ibid.
(13) Ibid.
(14) Simon Ager, "Phags-pa Alphabet." (Omniglot, The Language Encyclopedia.) Accessed November 16, 2014. http://www.omniglot.com/writing/phagspa.htm
(15) Ibid.
(16) Asia For Educators, The Mongols In World History: Culture (Columbia University) 2004. Accessed November 16, 2014. http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/mongols/china/china3_g.htm.
(17) Amalia E. Gnanadesikan, “The Writing Revolution: Cuneiform to the Internet” (Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, 2009) 194.
(18) Asia For Educators, http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/mongols/china/china3_g.htm.
(19) Tsogt Khorloo, "Mongolian Clothing," Mongolia Attractions. Accessed November 16, 2014. http://www.mongolia-attractions.com/mongolian_clothing.html
(20) Ibid.
(21) Leopoldo Costa, "Daily Life in the Mongol Empire." Accessed November 16, 2014. http://stravaganzastravaganza.blogspot.com/2011/03/daily-life-in-mongol-empire.html
(22) Khorloo.
(1) Dr. Gombyn( Sukhee, "Personality Profile: Great Chinggis Khan and His Military Genius," Pointer Journal of the Singapore Armed Forces. (Singapore Ministry of Defense, 2006.) Web. 16 Nov. 2014. <http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/publications/pointer/journals/2006/v32n2/personalityprofile.html>.
(2) Robert Marshall, Storm from the East, From Genghis Khan to Kubilai Khan, (University of California Press, 1993.) from "The Mongols: How Barbaric Were the 'Barbarians'?" (The DBQ Project) 2005, Document B.
(3) Per Inge Oestmoen, "Women in Mongol Society," Mongolian Women, January 23, 2001. Accessed November 16, 2014. http://www.coldsiberia.org/monwomen.htm.
(4) George Vernadsky, The Mongols and Russia, (New Haven and London, Yale University Press) 1953. 105.
(5) Mr. Enkhtuvshin, "History of Yurts," Original Mongolian Yurts. Accessed November 16, 2014. http://mongolian-yurt.com/Yurt-history.html.
(6) Marco Polo, "The Travels of Marco Polo the Venetian," (London UK, Adamant Media Corporation) 2005. Ch. XLVII, 123. Edited by Thomas Wright.
(7) Asia For Educators, The Mongols In World History: Culture (Columbia University) 2004. Accessed November 16, 2014. http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/mongols/china/china3_g.htm.
(8) Asia For Educators, The Mongols In World History: For Artisans (Columbia University) 2004. Accessed November 16, 2014. http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/mongols/china/china3_b.htm
(9) Asia For Educators, http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/mongols/china/china3_g.htm.
(10) Asia For Educators, http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/mongols/china/china3_b.htm.
(11) Robert Guisepi, "The Mongols: The Last Great Nomadic Challenges - From Chinggis Khan To Timur" (1992) Accessed November 16, 2014. http://history-world.org/mongol_empire.htm
(12) Ibid.
(13) Ibid.
(14) Simon Ager, "Phags-pa Alphabet." (Omniglot, The Language Encyclopedia.) Accessed November 16, 2014. http://www.omniglot.com/writing/phagspa.htm
(15) Ibid.
(16) Asia For Educators, The Mongols In World History: Culture (Columbia University) 2004. Accessed November 16, 2014. http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/mongols/china/china3_g.htm.
(17) Amalia E. Gnanadesikan, “The Writing Revolution: Cuneiform to the Internet” (Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, 2009) 194.
(18) Asia For Educators, http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/mongols/china/china3_g.htm.
(19) Tsogt Khorloo, "Mongolian Clothing," Mongolia Attractions. Accessed November 16, 2014. http://www.mongolia-attractions.com/mongolian_clothing.html
(20) Ibid.
(21) Leopoldo Costa, "Daily Life in the Mongol Empire." Accessed November 16, 2014. http://stravaganzastravaganza.blogspot.com/2011/03/daily-life-in-mongol-empire.html
(22) Khorloo.
By Sofia Roth