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Traditional astronomical knowledge
  • Manage No, Sortation, Country, Writer ,Date, Copyright
    Manage No EE00001026
    Country Mongolia
    ICH Domain Knowledge and practices about nature and the universe
    Address
    throughout the Mongolia
    Year of Designation 1880
Description Based on the recurrence of the sun, moon and planetary motions, Mongolians drew up a table of measuring the time and periods by sixty cycles, periods, years, months, days and nights, hours, and moments while reckoning the number 12 as the basics. Accordingly, the table of the sixty cycles used for their everyday lives. There are many facts that Mongolians have studied the astronomy from the scientific principles since ancient times. For instance, there is a wide spread picture with names of 1400 stars and their locations and descriptions called “Tümen odnii lit (almanac of ten thousand stars)” is being kept at the State central library.
Social and cultural significance Traditional astronomical knowledge widely used today for creation of traditional calendars, for appointing traditional holidays such as Lunar New Year, and other traditional celebrations.
Transmission method by apprenticeship training
Community Buddhist religious schools
Keyword
Information source
National Center for Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture of Mongolia
http://www.ncch.gov.mn