Text for Genghis Khan Exhibit volunteers – Ger (home)
at Discovery Place Charlotte NC
Nomadic families live in felt covered tents called “Gers” in Mongolian – Ger means house/home
in the Mongolian Language – Russian speaking people call them “Yurts”.
The traditional Ger on display is filled with antique objects of traditional Mongolian Nomadic
Herders.
For many centuries before Genghis Khan and up until now many Mongolians live as Nomads.
Mongolian Nomads relocate at minimum three to four times a year with the seasons to find
good grazing areas as well as water for their livestock. They still travel by horse and camel
although now in modern times they use trucks as well. One third of all Mongolians still live as
Nomads. Mongolia is the last horse based culture in the world.
It only takes a few hours to assemble a Ger from its component parts by the Nomadic family.
The weather in Mongolia is very dry, hot in summer and blistering cold in the winter. Additional
layers of felt are added to insulate the Ger in temperatures that can dip below - 50 and
sometimes with wind chill reaching below – 100 with strong winds from the north and west. The wood when it is available, dried animal dung when it is not is used to fuel the stove in the
middle of the Ger.
The traditional robes worn by Mongolians are called Dels, winter Dels are made and lined with
wool for warmth against harsh conditions – silk sashes in various colors serve as belts. In
other times of the year with moderate temperatures Dels are made from patterned silk of
different colors. Traditional Mongolian boots have an upturned toe so as to not disturb the land
as you pass through. Traditional headgear for men and women are embroidered rounded silk
hats - the men will have an upright spire in the center of the top.
Gers always face south in the Mongolian tradition, opposite the fierce winds. The door to the
Ger is the only entrance and exit – it will have a colorful paint scheme.
Traditionally when guests are expected the husband will sit on the north side of the Ger opposite
the door, the wife will be on the right side tending the cooking and the guest will sit on the left side
of the Ger.
For Mongolians of the Buddhist faith, there will be a shrine on the North side of the Ger
opposite the door. There will be paintings called Tankas, depicting Buddhist deities. Mongolian
Buddhism like Tibetan Buddhism has many Gods and fables and respects the Dalai Lama as
Buddha’s holy representative.
Mongolian Nomads are very welcoming. Mongolia is the least populated country in all of the
worlds with only 3 million people in a country half the size of the Continental United States.
Conditions are very harsh. Nomads welcome visitors understanding that the food and shelter
they offer can be life-saving. Visitors are always offered snuff from a man’s fancy curved snuff
bottle.
Visitors are traditionally served sweet camel’s milk tea, dried cheese and in celebration,
fermented mare’s milk, a strong alcoholic drink called Airag.
Nomads churn milk to make butter. They also make their own goat, sheep and yak cheese as
well as yogurt from goat’s milk. Mutton is the staple of their diet. On the open steppe they will
gut the sheep, skin it – heat stones then put the diced meat along with available vegetables and
water back into the skin with the heated stones – sew it up and let it cook like a pressure
cooker until the meal is ready – no pot needed.
While nomads still live with equipment such as you see here, those who can afford it may have
portable solar panels that power electric lights and even satellite TV. Mongolian children are
also avid readers going through many books. Thanks to many regional schools, Mongolia has a
higher literacy rate than the United States.
A favorite game of Nomadic Mongolian children is a form of dice played with sheep ankle
knuckle bones, depending on which side of the knuckle lands upward, a player may win or lose.
Music is a big part of Mongolian life – Men may master throat singing, a strange sounding
combination of two or more harmonies produced at the same time, one of them a low growl
and the other a high whistling sound. Women sing the ‘long songs which have been passed
down for centuries without ever have been written down. They may be the oldest continuously
sung melodies in the world.
Some Nomads learn to play the Morin Khuur - a horse hair fiddle. Genghis Khans army brought
the playing of instruments with a bow to Europe. Before then Europeans only plucked the
strings of their instruments.
Mongolian men carry daggers in their silk belts along with leather containers for dry tinder and a
stone to strike on rocks to start a fire.
In the past nomads carried swords, now many have guns and rifles. Wolves are still a threat to
their flocks. Traditionally some Nomads captured baby Golden Eagles and trained them to hunt.
Mongolian traditional dances and dress costumes are elaborate. Some young girls also train in
the traditional art of contortionism.
Instead of horses some Nomads ride motorcycles; still nomads learn to ride expertly by the age
of five.
Mongolian nomads may have many children. Mongolia has the youngest population in the
world with half of its population under the age of 25. Many young nomads abandon the
traditional way of life and move to the city, Ulaanbaatar, where more than half of all
Mongolians now live.
The traditional ways of the Mongolian nomad will soon disappear.
Contents of a Ger
19th century Ger and content; Collection of Gankhuyag Natsag.
Arag – wooden basket
Savar – wooden shovel fork, Chodor – horse hobble
Bubil khos – horse halter
Kholiin avdar – chest
Khotnii buu – pistol in wooden box
Buu – Rifle
Emeel – saddle
Khazaar – bridle
Shagay khoo khuyag – ankle bone dice game
Bogts – saddle bag
Bogtsos tobloom – shank bone games
Tanka painting – Yamataka
Tanka painting – Tavan Khan
Tanka painting – Dalkha
Tanka painting – Goviin Lkha
Baldn Lkhama with two helpers – bronze statue
White Tara – wood framed Sakhli
Khiimori – wood block print
Takhil shilen – two offering cups
Small silver pray candle holder
Gaval Damara – Buddhist music instrument
Takhliin jijig shiree- small offering table
Tsan/gants – Buddhist cymbals
Avdar – two chests
Unjilaga – cord or curtains
Tulga – fire pit
Togoo – caldron
Galiin khaich – fireplace tongs
Or – bed
Zeeriin arisan devsreg – Antelope skin rug
Khivis – carpet
Khos ertnii gutal – antique boots
Uur – mortar tea and herb grinder
Nuduur – pestle mixer
Gal togoonii iregneg – kitchen cabinet
Khalbaga shanaga – ladle and dipper
Guulin tom dombo – copper tea pitcher
Esgii bogts – two felt bags
Tsar – two trays
Jijig modon tsagsh – small wooden bowl
Chuluun guriliin teerem – mill stone.
By. S.Uzmee
