Mongolia

[Kaikitsune Makoto 206]

Mongolia is one huge country and yet very scarcely populated. Quite poverty striken and nomadic way of life . 2.7 million population in a country that has a size of 1.56 million square kilometres. Very rough weather changes as in Gobi desert

it can be -40 in winter and +40 in summer! Gobi desert isn't that much sand actually. Mostly grass and rocks where sheeps are abundand.

Wrestling, archery, horse racing are main sports? I saw a document once where some adventurous humans visited the rural areas of Mongolia. Evidently horses are especially vital in Mongolia and were also when Mongolian rampaged all over the Asia conquring places. Maybe horses are more essential and part of the culture in Mongolia than anywhere else in the world?! What would you estimate, how big proportion of adult Mongolians can ride a horse well? Is it a a "national skill" that you just learn and are expected to learn in Mongolia?

Reading descriptions of how many Mongolians live even in the capital city Ulan Bator (many different ways to spell it have popped up..) in these white tents, it isn't that surprising that internet isn't exactly wide spread there. Of course Mongolia must have higher infrastructure too and have modern stuff especially in big cities. How is it really in Mongolia? One estimation is from 2002 that Mongolia has about 40 000 internet users. Naturally most are in business, education and government. Is the number growing fast?

Buddhism is the main religion and breakfast is the most important meal of the day there. Mongolian diet doesn't have too much vegetables does it? Some traveler once wrote that he was offered a LOT of meat everywhere but didn't see any vegetables.

Well these facts are all from different sources like CIA - The World factbook and Lonelyplanet's destination facts and there seems to be very few Mongolian books translated into European languages despite the fact that there are a lot of books written in Mongolia. Most famous book is this "Mongol-un Nigucha Tobchiyan (The Secret History of the Mongols)". Maybe that would be interesting reading (Laughing...)

Anyways, the point of this post is to ask our Mongolian forum members to give some additional information over your country if you wish! Like is the every day life there calm and done without hurry or is the young market economy bringing more hectic lifestyle there too? And as Mongolians, what would you consider your country's best sides? What do you cherish in it?

As Mongolian sumotori are so familiar sight in ozumo nowadays, it would be interesting to hear a bit more about the country.

What is the average height in Mongolia? Are Mongolian rikishi much taller than average Mongolian male?

[Zuikakuyama 1]

I should also mention that Inner Mongolia, a province within China, has just about as many Mongolians as Mongolia itself.

Some would consider Inner Mongolia to be the more traditional home of the Mongolians, and in fact Genghis Khan was born in inner mongolia.

[MongolPower 0]

Kaikitsune Makoto,

I think you know about Mongolia real well. Mongolians living in city and herders living in country side nowdays differs so much. As far as internet connection is concerned in the city there are many internet cafe where you can pay about 50cents an hour. Therefore, internet users are far more in numbers than those who have their own internet connection. In the country side some places don't even have electricity so you get the idea.

Grown up Mongolians pretty much all can ride horse. But I think that will change in the future because nowadays kids don't ride horses that much.

I would say dinner is the most important meal. Many people skip breakfast or just have some milk tea.

Mongolian rikishi are taller than average men. Maybe 10cm. But they are not any taller than our national wrestlers at all.

There are many Mongolians in Southern Mongolia. All Mongolians call it Southern Mongolia. Inner Mongolia is Communist Chinese term. They speak same language with somewhat different accent. But nowadays you will encounter some Mongolians in Inner Mongolia who can't speak fluently. Chinese is their main language. Chinese Communist regime made them minority in their own land.

Zuikakuyama,

Genghis Khan was born in place called Deluun Boldog which is located in Khentii Province of Mongolia.

Edited March 2, 2004 by MongolPower

[Guest Mongoruzan]

Hi all!

Mongolpower's comments are correct and precise, I agree with them completely.

I just want to stress that fact that there are two different worlds in Mongolia - urban and rural Mongolia. Due to the VERY different lifestyle and level of development, rural and urban Mongolians are different physically and mentally. Rural Mongolians are shorter, darker and maybe a bit stronger than urban Mongolians. Urban Mongolians are a bit less hospitable than nomads (well, it is like that in every country!) and of course far better educated.

One of the most popular entertainments among the urban youth are nightclubs/discos. (I am a trance fan myself)

Russian was the most common foreign language due to the Soviet influence. Nowadays it is English.

I think the ability to adapt to changes is one of the best sides of a Mongolian.

One of the things that I value in Mongolian lifestyle is the freedom. Mongolia is a young, rapidly changing country...there are plenty opportunities to realize oneself.

And the worst thing in Mongolia is the poverty... :-P

[aderechelsea 124]

I am planning a trip to Asia later on the summer that will include Turkey,Northern Iran,Turkmenistan,Uzbekistan,Kazakhstan and possibly Mongolia (it is a bit far but it is worth a visit i believe. it is the home of Asa,Shuzan and Tenho after all)...........

My trip will be by train,bus,hitchike and on foot........

Anyone interested in providing me shelter along the way is welcome ...... :-P

[Zenjimoto 40]

As an ardent Vexillophile, I also have to remark that in my opinion, the Mongolian flag is one of the most beautiful national flags in the world! :-P

Cheers

Zenjimoto

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

:-P Yeah, that's a kickass flag.

[Takanobaka 0]

Thanks for the info. I'm in the (very) early planning stages of a trip down the trans-siberian from Moscow to Beijing, via Irkutsk and Ulan Bator (probably a few years away, when I can get a month and a half off from work :'-( ). Anyway, it's nice to hear somewhat about the way things are there from natives as opposed to guidebooks.

If any of you have any more tidbits, or maybe even recommendations of things a tourist would have to see while there, feel free to provide and I would greatly appreciate it!

Chelsea boy (side thought...I wonder if that has the same connotation in London as it does in New York...in NYC it usually means a young muscular gay male, simply because part of Chelsea is a primarily gay neighborhood), that sounds like a very interesting trip you have planned there and quite an adventure to boot! Definately keep us updated about it, or at least let us know how things went after you're done...

[Kotoseiya Yuichi 3]

Chelsea boy (side thought...I wonder if that has the same connotation in London as it does in New York... (...))

I doubt that. (Laughing...)

[Guest Mongoruzan]

Actually the correct spelling of our capital is Ulaanbaatar. (Ulan Bator is Russian spelling, that was used back in Soviet era)

Yeah, Trans-Siberian route is cool... I took it many times. You might get bored on the 4th or 5th day, actually. Having playing cards or a board game is essential.

Hmm....have never thought of our flag from aesthetic point of view...

(Laughing...)

Thanx, guys!

[aderechelsea 124]

@ Takanobaka

>(Eating...)

I am not a "Chelsea boy" but a CHELSEA FAN.

When you visit London please (for your own sake) don't call Chelsea fans, "chelsea boys" beacause they will kill you for sure............. (Laughing...)

and don't worry.... i will keep you informed when i will visit Asa's home (if it is possible).............. ;-)

[Takanobaka 0]

@ Takanobaka

>(Eating...)

I am not a "Chelsea boy" but a CHELSEA FAN.

When you visit London please (for your own sake) don't call Chelsea fans, "chelsea boys" beacause they will kill you for sure............. (Laughing...)

and don't worry.... i will keep you informed when i will visit Asa's home (if it is possible)..............  ;-)

Oh, quitcher whinin' and slam back another VB ya bloody hooligan!

(Bleh!)

Actually, I have to like just about anyone who hates Man U and the Arsenal, even though I don't really have a preference in Premier League...

Edited March 3, 2004 by Takanobaka

[aderechelsea 124]

Actually, I have to like just about anyone who hates Man U and the Arsenal

Ok now i officially love you (in an all manly and by no means gay way....... (Laughing...) )

[Zentoryu 154]

Actually, I have to like just about anyone who hates Man U and the Arsenal

Ok now i officially love you (in an all manly and by no means gay way....... (Punk rocker...) )

This is way off topic, but I was wondering what a Chelsea fan like yourself thought of the rumours surrounding David Beckham about his possible return to England to play for Chelsea next season.

Edited March 4, 2004 by Zentoryu

[aderechelsea 124]

(Punk rocker...)

I will gladly go to Stamford Bridge and kill him if you are asking me........

i hate his guts and i don' think we need him that much.

(Applauding...)

Sorry guys for the off-topic posts......

Back to the topic...... MONGOLIA RULES !!!!!! (in sumo at least....... (Laughing...))

[Zenjimoto 40]

(Punk rocker...)

Sorry guys for the off-topic posts......

Back to the topic...... MONGOLIA RULES !!!!!! (in sumo at least....... (Applauding...))

Yeah, I think this thread breaks the record for offtopicness... all the way from Mongolia to gay football fans (Laughing...)

[QttP 0]

Yeah, I think this thread breaks the record for offtopicness... all the way from Mongolia to gay football fans (Punk rocker...)

So, what's your favorite salty snack?

[Takanobaka 0]

Yeah, I think this thread breaks the record for offtopicness... all the way from Mongolia to gay football fans (Applauding...)

So, what's your favorite salty snack?

Definately hot sweaty men (in a manly but by no means gay kind of way)(Punk rocker...)

I think I'm starting to lose my mind...

[Zenjimoto 40]

Yeah, I think this thread breaks the record for offtopicness... all the way from Mongolia to gay football fans (Laughing...)

So, what's your favorite salty snack?

Definately hot sweaty men (in a manly but by no means gay kind of way)(Punk rocker...)

I think I'm starting to lose my mind...

Ummmm.... yeah. :-)

But at least you somewhat stayed on-topic as far as the forum goes, and slightly on-topic in a weird way, as there were previous discussions on gayness in this thread - albeit off-topic ones! :-P

Btw, I really like these Japanese rice crackers:

And variations thereof! (Applauding...)

Cheers

Zenjimoto

[aderechelsea 124]

(Clapping wildly...) (Applauding...)

this thread is starting to be mind boggling................

stop posting about gay men or salty snacks or salty gay men or gay snacks or whatever.........

the topic is MONGOLIA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Blinking...)

[Usagi 31]

Okay, some questions about mongolian wrestling.

As far as I know there are two different styles, an inner mongolian and an outer mongolian style of wrestling. The style practiced in Mongolia is next to horse riding and archery one of three traditional sports, that a very popular in Mongolia.

Question No. 1: Now is this sytle called Boke or Bayirldax?

Once a yeart there is the national championship called Naadam. The winners of the first round proceed, the others are out of the tournament. Who manages to win 5 bouts in a row gets the rank of a Nachin (falcon), who wins 7 bouts in row gets the rank of Zaan (Elephant), who wins the Tournament gets to be called Arslan (lion). Who manages to win the tournament twice gets the rank of Avarga (titan).

I quote:

"The ranks in Mongolian Wrestling are awarded only once a year after the Naadam competitions. Once promoted the ranks will not be taken back. In district level the highest rank is"sumiin Zaan", in province level "aimgiin Arslan" and in national level "Avarga". Whereby the lowest ranking in upper level is higher than highest ranking in level below. So that for example "ulsiin nachin" is higher rank than say "aimgiin Arslan" although "Arslan" by itself is higher than "Nachin". If the "Avarga" keeps winning in Naadams, they are awarded with epithets added to the title. So one of the greatest Mongolian wrestlers of all time Khorlogiin Bayanmunkh born in 1944, has a collection of titles which runs as following: Pleasure of the Leader, The bright Remarkable, Chief of the Naadam, The Perfect among ten Thousand, The Great Flame, The Glory of all, The Clear and Beautiful, The Firm and Loyal, The Everlasting Pleasure, The Outstanding Notable, The Invincibly Powerful, The Really Outstanding, The Truly Faithful, The Happiness of Many, The Nation-wide-invincible-Titan."

Source:

http://academ.hvcc.edu/~kantopet/student_w...atar/ranks.html

Now here is question No. 2: I understand that there is only one tournament to get the national ranks/titles, but how many tournaments are there in a year at all, and do the stars of Mongolian wrestling participate regulary?

The goal is it (similar to sumo) to throw the opponent down to the ground (as well as in ancient Greek and German form wrestling). There is no rink, so this is the only way to win.

Question No. 3: It's not allowed to punch the opponent but how about slapping with the open hand?

Question No. 4: Is it allowed to grap the opponents leg with the hands or is it only allowed to work leg against leg?

Final question: With the outstanding success of Mongolian Rikishi and the booming interest in Sumo in Japan, in which way does this affect the interest in Mongolian wrestling aswell among viewers as among young guys. Do kids that were practicing Mongolian wrestling once now start to fight as sumotori instead?

I'd be very pleased if any of the Mongolian sumo-fans could give any information.

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

Khorlogiin Bayanmunkh born in 1944, has a collection of titles which runs as following: Pleasure of the Leader, The bright Remarkable, Chief of the Naadam, The Perfect among ten Thousand, The Great Flame, The Glory of all, The Clear and Beautiful, The Firm and Loyal, The Everlasting Pleasure, The Outstanding Notable, The Invincibly Powerful, The Really Outstanding, The Truly Faithful, The Happiness of Many, The Nation-wide-invincible-Titan

:-| :-P (Eh?)

Awesome!

Whoever thought up "The Really Outstanding" must have really been out of creative ideas that day (Laughing...)

[BuBa 72]

I'll try to answer your questions in very brief, because I am kinf of in hurry.

Excuse me for that.

Q1 Now is this sytle called Boke or Bayirldax?:

We call it b

Edited March 11, 2004 by BuBa

[MongolPower 0]

In Mongolian wrestling grabing opponent's leg or legs is allowed. But Southern Mongolian style of wrestling doesn't allow that. Legs with legs and hands with hands. Also the uniform they wear are different.

Titles of Mongolian wrestling to match with Sumo titles.

Shonhor- given to winner of national youth naadam 128 participant Asa was a shonhor-comparable to National High School Champion.

Sumiin nachin-given runner up of district naadam, 64 participant , there are some 300 districts in Mongolia-comparable to Jonokuchi champion

Sumiin zaan-given to winner of district naadam-comparable to Jonidan Chamption

Aimgiin nachin-given to wrestler who is among unbeaten 4 in province naadam, 128 participants, there are 21 provinces in Mongolia-Sandanme Champion

Aimgiin zaan-given to runner up in province naadam-Makushita Champion

Aimgiin arslan-given to winner of province naadam-Juryou Champion

Ulsiin nachin-given to wrestler who is among unbeaten 16 in national naadam, 512-1024 participants, annual event July 11-13-comparable to lower Maegashira

Ulsiin hartsaga-given to wrestler who is among unbeaten 8 in national naadam-comparable to upper Maegashira

Ulsiin zaan-given to wrestler who is among unbeaten 4 in national naadam-comparable to Komusubi

Ulsiin garid-given to runner up in national naadam-comparable to Sekiwake

Ulsiin arslan-awarded to winner of national naadam-comparable to Ozeki

Ulsiin Avarga-awarded to 2 time winner of national naadam-comparable to Yokozuna but the one never again wins champtionship after the promotion like Wakanohana

Ulsiin Dayan Avarga-awarded to 3 time winner of national naadam-Proven Yokozuna

Ulsiin Darhan Avarga-awarded to 4 time winner of national naadam-Really proven yokozuna like Takanohana

If one wins more than 4 champtionships somewhat glorifying epithets add to the title.

National naadam is held only once in a year it is quite difficult for one wrestler win more than 12. So far 12 championship is the maximum one wrestler have won.

Asashoryu's father is Ulsiin zaan, his oldest brother is ulziin garid, his older brother is ulsiin nachin.

Asasekiryu's father is ulsiin nachin.

Hakuho's father is ulsiin darhan avarga.

Tokitenku's father is ulsiin nachin.

Ama's father is ulsiin zaan.

I believe wrestling is something pretty much runs in the family.

I just tried to match titles so you may disagree with me. If so correct me. It turned out not very presentful so sorry! I don't know how to put it in tables.

Edited March 11, 2004 by MongolPower

[Onnagumo 4]

It turned out not very presentful so sorry! I don't know how to put it in tables.

No problem, MongolPower. IMHO, this is very interesting nevertheless. Thank you for taking the time to write it! :-)