The vast grasslands are mainly located in the western part of Inner Mongolia. Grassland is the symbol of Inner Mongolia, which has been the place people sing and yearn for since ancient times. "The sky is pale, the field is vast, the wind blows the grass low to see the cattle and sheep", "the beautiful grassland my home, the wind blows the green grass all over the flowers", "the blue sky white clouds floating, white clouds below the horses running". ...... These picturesque descriptions evoke the yearning of many people for the grasslands. Hulunbeier Prairie, Xilingol Prairie, Xilamuren Prairie and other pastoral areas are excellent choices to feel the grassland. The pure and beautiful sky with low clouds, vast and beautiful pastures scattered with points of white yurts, fresh air, sheep and cows, for people who have lived in the city for a long time, this is all so far away and beautiful.
The bleak desert is mainly located in the west. The desert scenery is majestic and magnificent, with a unique flavor. "China's most beautiful desert" one of the Badanjilin Desert, the Tengger Desert, the Kubuqi Desert, such as the resounding sandy bay, have the mysterious flavor of the outside world; and the desert is dotted with oases and lakes, but also precious scenery. In addition, the poplar forests of Ejina, the ice and stone forests of Asghatu, the forest sea of Aershan, and the vast Hulun Lake ...... are all the divine strokes of nature. In ancient times, the Mongols were a nomadic people who made their living by herding and hunting on the grassland, earning them the title of "people on horseback". The people here are simple and enthusiastic, and have retained many of their unique traditional folklore, such as Ovoo worship, Naadam, national costumes, etc., all of which are very different from those in the central inland of a different flavor. Inner Mongolia is "a generation of pride" Genghis Khan's hometown, is Wang Zhaojun out of the way, this land has had Liao, Jin, Yuan and other dynasties of the ups and downs, but also across the Eurasian continent of the origin of the Mongolian Empire. There are a number of famous monuments in the territory, such as the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan, Zhaojun's Tomb, Wudangzhao, Xilituzhao, and the ruins of Liao Shangjing.
Local Characteristics
Uligar
Uligar means Mongolian storytelling, and this art form has existed since the time of Genghis Khan. During the performance, the artist accompanies himself and sings while speaking, and the content is based on myths and folklore, with strong expressive power.
Laughing Yaje
Laughing Yaje is similar to the Han Chinese comic opera, and is a popular art form among the Mongolian people. In the performance, it incorporates Mongolian proverbs, harmonies, folk songs, ballads and other artistic features, and the language is witty, humorous, warm and funny.
Hao Lai Bao
Hao Lai Bao is one of the traditional Mongolian music arts, similar to our quick-phrase book. It is sung in Mongolian, with four or two lines, rhyming, fast tempo, and beautiful lyrics. The length can be long or short, and the content is based on long folk stories and adapted classical chapter and verse novels. The form is divided into single-, double- and group-voiced.
Mongolian folk songs
Mongolian folk songs are divided into two forms of long and short tunes, long tunes with fewer words and longer cadences, the rhythm is more free, singing loud and clear, suitable for improvisation on the vast and boundless prairie. The short tunes have regular rhythm and fixed beats, and the lyrics must rhyme. Mongolian folk songs have a long history, from which we can see the Mongolian people's simple and bold character.
Mongolian dance
is a kind of famous minority song and dance, we can often enjoy in the Spring Festival gala and other large-scale party. It mainly includes traditional saber dance, Ordos dance, chopstick dance, cup and bowl dance, etc. It is fast-paced and enthusiastic.
Men's three arts
Men's three arts are held during the annual Naadam Conference, including wrestling, horse racing and archery.
Wrestling is the men's "three arts" in the most important activity. Genghis Khan was selected as the Mongolian Khan, then wrestling as an important subject of the assessment of the generals, folk wrestling is also listed as the first competition of the festival. Wrestling using a one-time elimination system, wrestlers foot tall boots, wearing wide satin wrestling pants, wearing a "Zhaodege" (a leather shoulder), with its unique style and national colors. In the sound of hymns to imitate ancient knights striding around the field for a week, and then jumped on the field, where the winning wrestler can get prizes, such as a sheep, a few bricks of tea, and even a prize of a gold saddle horse.
Horse racing is also a wonderful part of the festival, attracting the attention of tourists. Horse racing with small children to participate in, the riders lined up, everyone tied a colorful belt, head wrapped in colored scarves, very handsome. People show off their horses and steeds through horse races to demonstrate their outstanding riding skills. Horse racing is divided into horse racing and horse racing, horse racing can be up to hundreds of people, the first to reach the finish line, the grasslands to become the most acclaimed athletes, can win prizes. Adults can only participate in the horsemanship of the horse race, the requirements of the horse steady, good trend, fast speed.
Archery is a set of ancient Mongolian military combat, hunting and trapping wild animals in a recreational game. Archery is divided into two forms of static shooting and riding shooting, static shooting of the bow and arrow style, weight, length, tension are not limited, the distance also varies; riding shooting requires horseback archery, skillful riders can be a hundred shots, won the audience applause. The Horsehead Harp
is the most representative national musical instrument of the Mongolian people, and is named after the horse's head that adorns the upper end of the harp. The horse-head qin is a simple instrument, consisting of a slender body and a bow. It can be used for solo performance as well as repertoire and concerto, with a thick, broad and melodious sound and strong artistic expression.
The Legend of the Horsehead Harp
It is said that a long time ago, there was a little shepherd boy named Suhe on the grassland, who took good care of a lost little white horse. In a year's Naadam conference, Su and his little white horse won the first prize, who knows, the brutal king but to force the occupation of the four hooves of the colt, the little white horse dumped the king, want to go back to the little master, the cruel king sent people shot the little white horse. Su and grief, with the bones of the white horse for a qin, and in the top of the qin column in accordance with the appearance of the small white horse carved a horse's head, and from then on and the horse head qin form and shadow together. Worship Ovoo
Ovoo is the Mongolian language, meaning pile or drum bag. Ovoo are generally built in the terrain of the higher hills, more than with the accumulation of stone and become, generally presented as a round bag or dome square base, shaped like a beacon. Top inserted a long pole, the head of the pole tied to livestock hair horns and scripture flags, hung with various colors of silk cloth. Some of the package placed grains, some placed bows and arrows, some buried in the statue of Buddha. Ao general more than a single body, there are 7 or 13 side by side to form a group of Ovoo, the middle of the main Ovoo than around the larger. After the construction of the Ovoo, the residents of the neighborhood will come here every year to worship and pray for the prosperity of people and animals. Ovoo worship is the most solemn and warm and common Mongolian ritual activities, May 20, 2006, this folklore approved by the State Council included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list.
Historical origin: There are many traditional Mongolian sacrificial activities, such as sacrificing to the sky, sacrificing to the fire, sacrificing to the ancestors, sacrificing to the Ovoo, etc. Among them, sacrificing to the Ovoo is the most important one. Among them, sacrificing Ovoo is the most important sacrificial activity, which is one of the manifestations of prairie people's reverence for nature. Earlier Mongolia thought that heaven and earth is the source of human survival, especially to worship. Because there is no idol of heaven and earth God, people will pile up Ovoo to symbolize, through the sacrifice of Ovoo to pray for heaven and earth God blessing on earth, cattle and sheep prosperity, the country and the people in peace. There is another saying: it is said that in ancient times, the vast grassland is boundless, the direction of the road is difficult to identify, the border is easy to blur, so people built a pile of stones, as a sign. Ovoo so appeared, and then gradually be regarded as the residence of various gods and sacrifices and offerings. In the past, Inner Mongolia alliance banners, soums and temples have their own public Ovoo, rich people also built a family Ovoo, each Ovoo and their respective names. Ovoo, in the Mongolian herdsman seems to be a sacred place. In ancient times, whenever people went out on a long trip, wherever passing through the place of the Ovoo, are to dismount to the Ovoo worship, pray for peace. Also add a few stones or a few handfuls of soil to the Ovoo, and then cross the road on the horse. To the Qing Dynasty, there is a tribal unit, held once a year the custom of sacrificing Ovoo.
Sacrificial activities: due to the different customs of the herdsmen in various regions, the time and form of sacrificing Ao Bao is not exactly the same. Sacrifice time is generally in late May and early June of the lunar calendar, there are also in July and August, but are rich in water and grass, cattle and sheep fat season. There is a region alone sacrifice, there are several regions joint sacrifice. Xilin Gol League is sacrificing Ovoo custom historical remains more complete area.
The sacrifice is a grand and warm scene, within a radius of hundreds of miles of herdsmen will be carrying Hada, mutton, milk wine and other offerings, sitting in the Lele car, horseback riding, or by car, tractor rushed to the Ovoo. During the sacrifice, they first present the hata and offerings, and in some places, they also ask the lama to recite sutras and pray. After the crowd kneeling, and then to the Ovoo to add stones or wicker to repair, and hang new streamers, colorful silk cloth. Finally, the people who participate in the ceremony should be around the Ovoo from left to right three times, praying for blessings, blessing people and animals, and will bring the milk, wine, cream, snacks, sugar and other offerings scattered to the Ovoo.
After the ceremony, the traditional horse racing, archery, throwing Bru, wrestling, singing, dancing and other cultural and sports activities. Some young men and women sneak out of the crowd, hiking and playing, pouring out their hearts, talking about love, to meet the date of goodbye. This is the "Ovoo meeting".
Nadam
"Nadam" is the Mongolian translation, meaning "entertainment" or "game". Naadam Assembly is living in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of Mongolia, Ewenke, Daur and other ethnic minorities people's grand gathering, roughly in the lunar calendar every year in July and August, the season of abundant grass, cattle and sheep fat and strong. There are songs and dances, wrestling, archery, horse racing and other competitions, in which athletics accounted for a large proportion. In ancient and modern Naadam event, are to be held in the men's "three arts" wrestling, horse racing and archery competitions; contemporary Naadam also increased the women, juvenile wrestling and polo, equestrian and other competitions, while also holding material exchange activities.
The historical origin of Naadam
Naadam is ancient and sacred in the hearts of people in Inner Mongolia, and it has a long history. As early as the beginning of the 13th century, the Mongolian people by the chiefs to hold a larger scale Naadam. Historically, Naadam at first only held archery, horse racing or wrestling of a competition. The earliest record of Naadam activities is "Genghis Khan's Stone Text" inscribed in 1225 A.D., which mentions that Genghis Khan conquered Khorezm, and in order to celebrate the victory, a grand Naadam assembly was held in the place of Buhasuqihai, at which archery competitions were held. There are also several references to archery competitions in the Secret History of Mongolia. In the Mongolian literary masterpiece "Gesar biography" and other folk epics, horse races are depicted. Wrestling is the most common, and the general Naadam conference is mostly dominated by wrestling competitions.
Yuan, Ming Dynasty, archery, horse racing and wrestling combined together, since the formation of Naadam on the "men's three arts" competition in a fixed form. At that time, "Naadam" said in the words of praise: "the sound of the horse-head qin, melodious and beautiful; white and immaculate hada, glittering; the traditional three 'Naadam', one after another; the Mongolian Rex, the whole team on the field. " From the above records and other folk tales epic portrayal of Naadam, can be seen in the Mongolian people's life Naadam occupies an important position.
By the Qing Dynasty, Naadam gradually became an organized and purposeful amusement activity convened by the official on a regular basis, with development in scale, form and content. At that time, the Mongolian princes to sumu (quite a district), flag, alliance as a unit, half a year, a year or three years held a Naadam Assembly, and the winner of the competition in a hierarchy of awards and titles. But at that time, due to the manipulation of the princes and nobles, the Naadam meeting often by the king's wrestlers, horse racers and archers won the championship.
After the establishment of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Naadam really become the majority of herdsmen's own event. Every July and August, from Hulunbeier to Horqin, from Xilingol to Ulanqab, the vast Inner Mongolian grasslands are to organize the annual Naadam event. During the General Assembly, farmers and herdsmen from all over the world riding horses, driving cars, with fur, herbs and other agricultural and animal husbandry products. Groups of people gathered in the square of the General Assembly. And in the green grassland around the venue set up white yurts. This is the integration of culture and sports, economic and trade, tourism in one of the prairie event, showing the prairie people's style and Inner Mongolia's style.
The scale of Naadam
According to the traditional habits of the Mongolian people, the Naadam Conference has always had a large, medium and small three types. Large-sized Naadam Assembly: five hundred and twelve participants in wrestling matches, about three hundred horses, seven to ten days; medium-sized: two hundred and fifty-six wrestlers, one hundred to one hundred and fifty horses, five to seven days; small-sized: one hundred and twenty-eight or sixty-four wrestlers, about thirty to fifty horses, three to five days.
Folklore
Yurt
The yurt is a place where Mongolians have lived for generations, in fact, it is a wandering tent. Because the Mongolian people take grazing as the main content of life, migrating to live by water and grass, so they created this yurt which is easy to build and dismantle.
The yurt has a history of thousands of years, known as the ancient "dome" or "felt tent". It looks like a rounded spire, generally with willow poles and camel hair rope combination compiled into a yurt pillars, the top and around one to two layers of white thick wool felt cover, the top of the center of the skylight, to facilitate lighting and ventilation. The yurt door is open to the south or southeast, which is related to their religious beliefs.
Lele car
Lele car is the traditional transportation of the Mongolian people, and has a long history. The body is made of birch or elm wood, weighing about 100 pounds, and the load can reach hundreds of pounds or even thousands of pounds. The main feature of the Lele car is the tall wheels, the largest diameter of up to 1.45 meters or so, which is designed to walk in the deep grass and snow for convenience. In the grassland season, herdsmen moving time, you can see a Lele car in the vast pasture meandering, constitute a unique grassland scene.
Mongolian robes
On the grasslands, men and women like to wear robes in all seasons, which is unique to Mongolia Mongolian robes. The robes are wide and girded with a belt, and the styles and colors are different depending on the gender. Generally women wear Mongolian robes than men's narrower, more red, pink, green, sky blue and other main colors, when the festival, but also with onyx, pearls, coral, gemstones, gold, silver, jade and other woven headdresses; men like to wear more brown and blue Mongolian robes.
The belt is an indispensable part of the Mongolian robe, mostly made of cotton, satin, about three or four meters long, and the color of the robe color coordination. In such a windy place as the grassland, the girdle is mainly to resist the wind and cold. Mongolian boots, on the other hand, are designed to facilitate riding as the main purpose, and are characterized by an upward pointing toe section, and the boots are equipped with a felt lining to protect against cold and water.
The meaning of colors
White is a symbol of holiness, which is mostly worn during ceremonies and annual festivals; blue is a symbol of eternity, chastity and loyalty, which is the color of Mongols; red is like fire and the sun, which can give people warmth, brightness and happiness, so they usually wear clothes of this color; yellow is regarded as a symbol of supreme imperial power, which is why it was used to be worn by kings and princes in the past, unless they were living Buddhas or had been given gifts by the emperor. The emperor's gift of princes and nobles, others are not allowed to wear.
Festivals and customs
Chagansa Day December 23 to the entire first month of the lunar calendar every year
Chagansa Day, translated into Chinese as the "white month", also known as the "White Festival". Before and after the Spring Festival in the lunar calendar, the grassland will be held to celebrate the beginning of the new year, fire, birthday, New Year's Eve and other activities, which is the Mongolian Spring Festival - "Chagansa Day".
Fire Festival: The blazing flames symbolize luck and good fortune, and the fire festival is the Mongolian people's prayer for the coming year.
Longevity celebration: it is an activity to pray for the blessing of the elders. On December 25th and 26th of the lunar calendar, the 85- and 73-year-olds are celebrated; from December 27th to New Year's Eve, the 61- and 49-year-olds are celebrated, and when celebrating the birthday of the elders, the younger ones bow to the elders to express their congratulations.
New Year's Eve: New Year's Eve, herdsmen's homes should be placed by the snacks, milk food, candy, etc. put together a flower plate, herdsmen invited each other to drink tea, and in the evening, the whole family gathered together to open the family feast, which is the culmination of the entire festival.
New Year's Eve: New Year's Eve begins on the first day of the first month of the year, the first herdsmen collectively sacrificed Ovoo, and then began to pay tribute to the family within the New Year, need to dress properly, holding a hatta, from the late generation to the elders, and then from the elders to the late generation.
Xing Animal Festival every year around the first month and Qingming
Mongolia is a nomadic people, love animals like children. China's ancient times, families are concerned about the prosperity of the people, but for the grasslands on the simple herdsmen, the herd is just as important, because the herd is the assets they rely on for survival. So the first month of the people in the Spring Festival, but also do not forget to give the livestock over the New Year.
The festival is known in Mongolian as the "Malyon new Ao Ruohu", which can also be translated as "Spring Banquet", is a traditional custom of Mongolian herders since a long time ago. There is no fixed date for this festival, but it is held around the first month of the lunar calendar and the Ching Ming Festival in each village. During the festival, men, women and children gather in the field, set up tents and stoves, drive all the livestock to check the fat, study the problem of spring lambing and calving, and give the fat breeding stock to hang the color. Then there will be wrestling, storytelling, singing, Hao Lai Bao and other entertainment, and then some simple banquets will be held to celebrate the festival. At the end of the celebration, there will also be a variety of food for the day will be distributed to everyone to enjoy together.
The Sunit people's Xing animal festival is held on New Year's Eve, there will be a ram to smear painting ceremony of the main event. The Mongolians in Kashketeng Banner, in early February to the livestock New Year's Day, the date is not fixed, you need to make an appointment in advance. On this day, sheep herders, cattle herders, horse herders, camel herders and other meritorious officials are invited into the central yurt, and sit side by side with the respected countryside fathers and mothers. A "nilpa", the person in charge of the general affairs, is chosen to guide them through the ceremonies. The ceremonies are often interspersed with horse races, wrestling, archery and other small competitions to liven up the atmosphere.
Bonfire Festival June 18 every year
Bonfire Festival is a traditional festival of Oroqen people in the north of Inner Mongolia, in which the Oroqen people will light bonfires and collectively around the bonfire, singing and dancing, and have fun all night. Oroqen people have a long history of worshiping the fire god. They believe that the fire has the role of driving away evil spirits and dirt, and the vessels and clothes are put on the fire to bake, which is considered to become clean. On the 23rd day of the Lunar New Year, there is also the custom of sending the fire god to heaven. On the morning of the Spring Festival, offerings are made to the Fire God, kowtowing to the spring fire and praying for blessings. Whenever guests come to pay homage at the Spring Festival, they must first pay homage to the Fire God.
Horse's Milk Festival every summer
Mongolian people herding five animals and milking milk processing of various milk food, is the pastoral production and nomadic life of the important content. Milk food is the main source of diet for herdsmen, so every year when they start to milk the new milk to carry out certain rituals and gatherings to celebrate, hoping to get more and better milk food, which is the ancient and typical horse milk festival.
Every year when they start milking horses in summer and stop milking horses in mid-autumn, the herdsmen hold the Horse Milk Festival. The master first selected the auspicious day, and announced in advance to the public, to the day of the festival nearby herdsmen to participate in the horse milk festival. Two or three days before the festival, the owner will milk the horses to make horse milk wine. Horse Milk Festival day, by the nine riding a white horse rider and the master *** with the ceremony, and sacrifices to the gods of heaven and earth, the master loudly recited horse milk Sacha ritual hymns, the crowd rode around the field three weeks of the end of the ceremony, but also to the stallion and the first colt Department of the Hada for the selection of the pull rituals. Then the crowd gathered to drink horse milk wine, celebrate the horse milk festival, blessing the wind and rain, water and grass is fertile, five animals prosperous, milk and food harvest.
Nadam Prairie Tourism Festival in July and August each year
Inner Mongolia has a rich and colorful ethnic culture, horse racing, wrestling, archery is known as the Mongolian "men's three arts", held in the Naadam Prairie Tourism Festival focuses on displaying the Mongolian national songs and dances, sports, athletics, clothing, food and drink in all aspects of the splendid culture. Nadam, the Mongolian word for "Nadam", is the most famous Mongolian grassland tourism festival. Naadam, which means "entertainment" or "game" in Mongolian, is a traditional Mongolian mass gathering. Naadam started with simple song and dance entertainment, and later added wrestling, archery, horse racing and other competitions, with grand scenes and warm atmosphere. During the festival, visitors can live in the yurt tasting milk tea, but also to participate in the riding and archery songs and dances and other programs, to fully experience the grassland nation's bold and natural ethnic customs.