Who Are the Mongols?
The Mongols are a Central Asian people famous for establishing history's largest contiguous land empire under Genghis Khan. Today, approximately 10 million Mongols live divided between Mongolia (3.3 million), China's Inner Mongolia (6 million), and Russia's Buryatia. This division shapes contemporary Mongol experience—Mongolian nationals enjoy independence while Chinese Mongols navigate minority status in a region where Han Chinese now outnumber them. Pastoral nomadism, the traditional economy, persists in Mongolia but has largely ended in Inner Mongolia due to settlement policies. Mongol identity centers on horses, the vast steppe, and imperial heritage.
The Mongolian Script
Traditional Mongolian script, written vertically from top to bottom, was adapted from Uyghur in the 13th century and remains official in Inner Mongolia. Mongolia itself switched to Cyrillic under Soviet influence in 1941, though recent policies encourage traditional script revival. The vertical script carries cultural significance beyond mere communication—it connects modern Mongols to imperial chancellery traditions. UNESCO recognizes traditional Mongolian calligraphy as intangible heritage. In Inner Mongolia, signs use both Chinese and Mongolian scripts, though Chinese increasingly dominates urban spaces.
Nomadic Pastoralism
For millennia, Mongols practiced mobile pastoralism—herding horses, sheep, goats, cattle, and camels across the steppe, moving seasonally between pastures. The ger (yurt)—a circular felt tent—enabled this mobility. In Mongolia, roughly 30% of the population still practices nomadism, though climate change and mining development threaten pastures. In Inner Mongolia, sedentarization policies since the 1950s, fencing of grasslands, and Han agricultural expansion have largely ended nomadism. The loss of pastoral life threatens not just economy but the entire cultural complex built around mobility.
Inner Mongolia Today
China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (established 1947) has experienced dramatic demographic change—Han Chinese now comprise approximately 80% of the population. Mining boom has driven GDP growth but degraded grasslands. Protests erupted in 2020 when authorities mandated Chinese-language instruction in schools, replacing Mongolian. Activists face detention; cultural advocacy is politically sensitive. While official policy celebrates ethnic diversity, practical pressure encourages assimilation. Young urban Mongols increasingly speak Mandarin primarily, threatening language transmission even as population numbers remain substantial.
Naadam Festival
Naadam (meaning "games") is Mongolia's national festival, featuring the "three manly sports": wrestling, horse racing, and archery. Dating to Genghis Khan's era, these skills were essential for warriors. Today's Naadam in Ulaanbaatar draws international attention, with child jockeys racing across open steppe and wrestlers competing in elaborate ritual. Inner Mongolia also holds Naadam celebrations, though more controlled. The festival encapsulates Mongolian identity—pastoral athleticism, communal gathering, connection to warrior heritage. Modern additions include cultural performances, but traditional sports remain central.
References
- Sneath, D. (2007). The Headless State: Aristocratic Orders, Kinship Society, and Misrepresentations of Nomadic Inner Asia
- Bulag, U. (2002). The Mongols at China's Edge: History and the Politics of National Unity
- Weatherford, J. (2004). Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World