Art Council of Mongolia, Culture Naadam Project

Art Council of Mongolia, Culture Naadam Project

Art Council of Mongolia, Culture Naadam Project

Art Council of Mongolia, Culture Naadam Project

On the eve of the lunar new year / Tsagaan Sar/, Mongolian children play constructing Multicolored Turtle under the guidance of adults. The multicolored turtle consists of 92 ankle-bones. 36 anklebones are laid as a back of the turtle with 6 layers in each direction. In the four ends of shanks there are located 16 anklebones, and 4 clubfoot are presented by 5 and total 20 anklebones. The organs of the turtle are represented by the following number of anklebones: neck is 6, mouth is 3, eyes are two, ears are two, tail is three, kidney is two, heart is two, and bladder is two, and anklebones respectively. Kidney, heart and bladder are represented by vivid colored anklebones. They are lain on the back of the turtle. The person who had a same year with the coming new year has a priority to start the game.

On the eve of the lunar new year / Tsagaan Sar/, Mongolian children play constructing Multicolored Turtle under the guidance of adults. The multicolored turtle consists of 92 ankle-bones. 36 anklebones are laid as a back of the turtle with 6 layers in each direction. In the four ends of shanks there are located 16 anklebones, and 4 clubfoot are presented by 5 and total 20 anklebones. The organs of the turtle are represented by the following number of anklebones: neck is 6, mouth is 3, eyes are two, ears are two, tail is three, kidney is two, heart is two, and bladder is two, and anklebones respectively. Kidney, heart and bladder are represented by vivid colored anklebones. They are lain on the back of the turtle. The person who had a same year with the coming new year has a priority to start the game.

In autumn, when the surface of the water freezes for the first time, the opening games start. In most cases, the games start when the river surface freezes completely and turns into ice. And the last anklebone shooting on the ice game of the year is played when in the spring when the ice starts to melt. This last game is considered of great importance, therefore food is prepared and locals gather to celebrate the festive shooting. The shooters sit in a circle on the ice and draw lots to decide with whom they will become a team. This practice called “shugshikh” and it’s done by gathering and mixing the bullets of each player in a “deel” (Mongolian traditional cloth) and picking them one by one to decide who will be teammates. Two people team up, and each player shoots 36 bullets.

In autumn, when the surface of the water freezes for the first time, the opening games start. In most cases, the games start when the river surface freezes completely and turns into ice. And the last anklebone shooting on the ice game of the year is played when in the spring when the ice starts to melt. This last game is considered of great importance, therefore food is prepared and locals gather to celebrate the festive shooting. The shooters sit in a circle on the ice and draw lots to decide with whom they will become a team. This practice called “shugshikh” and it’s done by gathering and mixing the bullets of each player in a “deel” (Mongolian traditional cloth) and picking them one by one to decide who will be teammates. Two people team up, and each player shoots 36 bullets.

In the culture of Mongolians, some of the bones of the animals are used and respected in the worship, ritual and traditional games. The anklebone of animals is one of these respected bones. Since Mongols have domesticated the livestock animals, they have created the culture of the anklebone as well. There are about 120 variations of anklebone games, such as “Horse race”, “Milking mare”, “Catching anklebones”, “Anklebone guessing”, “Flick anklebones”, “Throwing a khomboroo”, “Set four difficult”, “Birth of Camel”, “Multicoloured turtle”, “Anklebone shooting”, and so on. Playing games with anklebone is helpful to the nurture of children, and it gives them a chance to check their speed and sight, and let them recognize the appearance, age and sex of animal, and to learn the insight to love and protect animals, and to develop their language and mentality. Additionally, this game has an effective influence to the growth of creative and nurtured person through mother language, folk literature and folklore.

In the culture of Mongolians, some of the bones of the animals are used and respected in the worship, ritual and traditional games. The anklebone of animals is one of these respected bones. Since Mongols have domesticated the livestock animals, they have created the culture of the anklebone as well. There are about 120 variations of anklebone games, such as “Horse race”, “Milking mare”, “Catching anklebones”, “Anklebone guessing”, “Flick anklebones”, “Throwing a khomboroo”, “Set four difficult”, “Birth of Camel”, “Multicoloured turtle”, “Anklebone shooting”, and so on. Playing games with anklebone is helpful to the nurture of children, and it gives them a chance to check their speed and sight, and let them recognize the appearance, age and sex of animal, and to learn the insight to love and protect animals, and to develop their language and mentality. Additionally, this game has an effective influence to the growth of creative and nurtured person through mother language, folk literature and folklore.

Mongolian traditional games in Shagai or anklebone of sheep. There are four positions of anklebone each of which has its own name: horse, sheep, goat and camel. Mongols have about 100 variations of anklebone games. For example, there are “Horse race”, “Catching anklebones”, “Anklebone guessing” “Flicking anklebones”, “Multicolored turtle”, “Anklebone shooting” and etc. Mostly children play these games, but sometimes adults are also involved in them. Among games in Shagai most popular is anklebone shooting.