Airag is the fermented beverage from mare’s milk. This element includes a traditional method of making airag, its related equipment and objects such as khokhuur (cowhide vessel), buluur (paddle) and khovoo (kibble), and associated therewith social customs and rituals. The milking season for horses runs from mid June to early October. Daily milk yield of mares varies from 3 to 6 liters. The basic technique of making airag consists of milking mares and cooling fresh milked milk, and repeatedly churning milk in a khokhuur with starter left inside to assist its fermentation. The liquid must be churned 5000 and more times to make good fermented blend of airag. Mare’s milk undergoes fermentation by lactobacilli and lactic acid streptococci, producing ethanol, lactic acids and carbon dioxide. The airag - mildly alcoholic white beverage emits a delicious smell and its pleasant taste can make your mouth watery. For making the khokhuur, first, the cowhide is soaked and hide’s filament is removed, then it is dehydrated in the wind and fumigated. In such process, the cowhide turns to a white flexible leather. The khokhuur is made from this white leather and consists of mouth neck, corner, body and cords. The buluur is long-handled wooden paddle which is used for churning airag in khokhuur and furnished with bored blade of board at the end. Khokhuur can hold 40 to 100 liters of airag. Airag is used and served as a main and holy drink during various fests and in making offerings and ritual blessings.

Mongolia 2019

Practices of breeding ships and cows in the mountain places during the summer. Ships and cows’ owner will spend the summer in the ayloq and prepare butter, dry chees and other milk food.

Craft of making zin (saddle). Saddles are made from wood of strong trees and it is covered with skin of cows.

National Intangible Cultural Heritage, Republic of Korea Yangju Sonorigut is a shamanic performance held to pray for the peace of the village and a good crop. It is said that the performance is associated with Gamaksa Shrine, which locals in Yangju regard as the shelter for the local guardian. Some people say that it was part of the ritual of a farming society to pray for a good crop. Sonorigut appears to stem from the respect for oxen and horses, and for heaven. It has also been handed down in Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, Gangwon-do, Chungcheong-do, Hwanghae-do, and Pyeongannam-do. Songs sung during the performance include Nuga nareul channa (Who Is Looking for Me?), Mabu nojeonggi (Journey of the Wagon Drivers), Bomul taryeong (Song of Treasure), Mabu daeryeong insa (Greetings of the Wagon Drivers), Soui meori chirye (Ox Head Adornment), and Jeol taryeong (Song of the Bow). The features of performance are refined gasa (narrative songs) and a large scale.