Traditional Mongolian culture and customs

Mongolian Folk short song

From ancient time folklores had come along and sung with short melodies, their authors were unknown, and today it is named the short folk song. Each song has its uniqueness that reflects its nations or tribes, and homeland features.

There are also “Khuree song” (Khuree is the previous name of Ulaanbaatar) beyond the songs of Khalkh, Buryat, Uzemchin, Bayad, Kalmyk, Khotogoid, Dariganga and Tsahar tribe.

“Khuree song” had started to spread widely in 1900-1930s, mostly sang with shanz (musical instrument with three strings) and many songs such as “Yanjuur tamkhi”(means cigarette), “Khukh trogon tsamts” (Blue silk shirts), “Gangan khul”, “Jiijuu khot”, “Kheyenkhuar”, “Zuun langiin joroo luus” were accessible to people.

Folk short songs do not have sharp rhythm, which makes it easy to sing. During official ceremonies, even family gathering, wedding ceremonies, these songs are not sung by people. However, people sometimes sing this kind of songs at the end of such a ceremony.

Folk song has been developing for their meaning and found its shape for past years. The song called “Ulemjin Chanar” praised the beauty of women by five sense of human which are smelling, looking, hearing, tasting, and touching, also the author of the song Danzanrawjaa said “if you sing the song for a once is equal to reading Green-Goddess for 1000 times.

Mongolian Long Folk song

Mongolian folk long song is once in billions. The song is the melody that made from the daily life of nomadic people. It does not have one person as a songwriter for everyone is.

In 2005, Folk long Mongolian song was registered for UNESCO as Top Artistic Patrimony. Mongolian long folk songs are divided into three different groups, sagittal, mixed and recurrence.

According to research, there are over 6000 long folk songs, although 60 of them are sung currently. The soul of long folk song is the way of breathtaking. Singing the song requires a wide range of voice and strength. The words of the songs have such a deep meaning and teachings for the young generation.

Fight phrase is one of traditional verbal patrimony; it helps children’s memory, thinking and development of tongue.

Mongolian Blessing & Praise

Blessing is a prophecy of goodness and happiness in their daily life and work, but praise is a poem that praises any achievement and success in their life. They sing praise during a ceremony to express their joy and emotion. Blessing and praise are a particular poem that is sung in ceremony and holidays.

Blessing and praises are divided into a few groups, such as; sacramental (wedding, holiday), livestock and hunting, sacrifice, historical event. They start it with the phrase “Zee” and ends it with the phrase. A short blessing is written in 2-6 words. Mixed blessing is written in 2-3 verses.

The Traditional Dancing

Mongolian traditional dancing is one thing that cannot be separated from Mongolians’ uniqueness of expression of their emotion. For central Mongolians’, the dance is an expression of nobility, the modesty of Mongolians, but for western Mongolians, such as; Zakhchin, Torgud, Uriankhai, Durvud, Khoton, Bayad and Uuld tribes’ dance mostly uses the movement of the shoulder, breast.

The Khuuchir

Khuuchir is one of the stringed instrument which has been used by ancient Mongolians. Khuuchir has many other names for western Mongolians, they call it Hyalgasan khur and eastern Mongolians call it Aralt Khur. An ancient Khuuchir used to have a single string, however, it became 4 stringed instruments eventually. Mongolian khuuchir has toreutics, ears for tune and head as a horse. It is made of wood and 80cm length and bag for khuuchir is made of baby camel or snake’s fur.

The Khel Khur

Khel khur has ordinary shape and extraordinary melody. The bone Khel khur was found from the tomb in Altanbulag province of Tuv aimak which proves that it has been used during BCIII-I by Hun. It kept its original shape and characteristics even though it went through a lot of developing stages. The instrument is called Khel Khur, for it has a part that is called Khel (tongue) in the middle which makes a sound. Khel Khur is the main instrument for worldwide shamanism, therefore khel khur is international instrument.

The Yatga

Yatga is another ancient stringed instrument. According to the Chinese source, ancient Huns used two types of musical instruments that are kun-hou and hu-kun-hou. Yatga is one of the kun-hou instrument and hu-kun-hou includes other stringed instruments. The Yatga has been used for so long time. During Yuang dynasty (the 1270s) they kept different kinds of yatga when they established orchestra. Yatga has 13 strings that all of them has a different thickness.

The Shudarga

Shudarga is 3stringed music instrument that has been used during the wedding ceremonies of dynasties in the XIII century. The instrument is used as a background sound of singing, dancing and reading fairy tales. Shudarga’s main body is circular that is connected to a long neck. In the top, it has a square shaped head. It has been imported from China since the XIX century. Mongolians invented 5 musical notes for Shudarga, and developed the way to play it.

Horn trumpet

In 1965, Inderee.T made horn trumpet by brass. There much other horn trumpet in the other area of the world. Mongolian horn trumpets keynote is G. It has a major and minor role in a national symphony.

Additional information

If you want to make a Khuvsgul lake tour, we are the Mongolian travel agency, can create your unique trip in Mongolia. We also have other Mongolia tours, and while you travel, you can try the Khuvgul with other destination, local nomadic family and we can help you create a tour for you.

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We offer you the below tours:

• Khuvsgul lake tour (including Tsaatan community)

• Discover the vast Gobi desert and sand dunes

• Horseback riding trail

• Visit the national park

• Discover the Khuvsgul lake

• Discover the Mongolian culture

• Horse or camel tour

• We also work with a local travel agency such as eagle hunting show

We are Enza Tours LLC, the official tour operator and we create Mongolia tours.

Our customers will discover the nomadic Mongolian people, the great Gobi desert, reindeer community, ancient Mongolian capital, Mongolian customs and traditional Mongolian food. In addition to that beautiful nature will amaze the customers.

Our Tour Guides: Our experienced staffs are working in the inbound tourism field for recent years continuously. Guides are all professional people who speak fluently English, German, Spanish. Our guides have a broad knowledge of the customs, history and culture of Mongolia. Some of our guides had been living in Europe and Asia countries. For this reason, you can communicate with them easy and open.

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