MONGOLIA

Mongolia

The impact of Mongol culture and history on modern popular culture can be seen in several instances in contemporary art, Hollywood films, literature, news media, video games and other arenas of popular culture.

From the borrowing of traditional Mongolian costumes, facial makeup and hairstyles by George Lucas and costume designer Trisha Biggar for the Star Wars films to book jacket covers by designer Tibor Kalman, Mongolian culture and history occupies a distinct place in modern cultural history.

Tofalaria - The Land of the Tofa People

The Tofa are an ancient minority people living across from the northern-most parts of Mongolia between Tuva and Buryatia. Numbering only a few hundred now, the Tofa as a people might become obsolete within the next decade according to some scholars. Their language in now spoken only by a few dozen elderly Tofa and will most likely die out with them. The ancient Tofa traditions of herding reindeer and hunting for food and hides is part of a way of life that has reached the end of its road in a final meeting with modernity.

The Historical Role of Women in Mongolian Society and Culture
The role of Mongolian women in Mongolian society and culture has been prominent in large part due to the need for sharing the Mongolian nomadic life style's strenuous herding and household workloads in an extreme climate. Mongolian women have been known historically for their physical strength, bravery, and devotion to family.

From the earliest Mongolian history available to us we can see the deep bond between Mongolian women and their children. In the most important Mongolian historical account available to us, 'The Secret History of the Mongols' written in the thirteenth century, we can read of numerous episodes in the life of Chigghis Khan and his family where the actions of his mother and wife were pivotal to his life and those of his descendants.

Chinggis Khan's deep love and respect for his wife Borte is depicted through the telling of several historical passages in 'The Secret History of the Mongols'. We see the powerful influence of Khubilai Khan's mother in his development and eventual rise to power and rule over all China.

During the period when Mongolia was under Soviet influence, Mongolian women had good access to education and training in many fields including areas which were the traditional sphere's of male dominance. Mongolian women today are prominent in many fields including,science, government, education, international relations, and business.

Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia's capital city has existed in name since 1639. Originally Ulaan Baatar meaning 'Red Hero' was located at the monastry of Da Khuree about 421km from modern-day Ulaan Baatar. This nomadic national capital has been moved from several locations more than a dozen times. Today more than a million people live in Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia's largest city.

Billboard for Mongolian Historical Opera in Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
Mongolian traditional culture has evolved and adapted to modern audiences in Mongolia by appealing to Mongolian people's interest in historical dramas which have the universal themes of love stories, heroes, heroines, and windswept landscapes.
The success of these historical period dramas on Mongolian television, on stage, in film and even opera conveys the lasting power of ancient traditional symbols andhistorical characters. Mongolian culture has thus far managed to combine some of the old cultural themes for modern Mongolians, thus preserving what is classical form and presenting it through very modern production media and methods.

Time will tell if these ancient themes will be able to attract the young Mongolian audiences which comprise the majority of Mongolia's population.