Mongolia - Traditional Games with Anklebones
Precious herd of five types of animals graze filling the steppe. The finest of five delicious foods overflow in the ger. In a cradle of peace, Mongolian steppe, prosperous summer season has arrived.
Honoured cultural worker of Mongolia, journalist Shalmaa Yolk: There are just two types of civilizations in the world. You all know: nomadic and sedentary civilization. During childhood all of mankind was nomadic. They were mobile and moved from one place to another. As the time passed, sedentary civilization has emerged. However, original culture of nomadic people has been preserved alive by only Mongol people who inhabit in the bosom of Central Asia.
Mighty great marksman of Mongolia and master of sports, Doljid Baskhuu: When Mongols domesticated small sized animals and when Mongols started to hunt. It started at that time.
Honoured cultural worker of Mongolia, journalist Shalmaa Yolk: Nomads tend to livestock and that becomes the main source of making their living. So, these virtuous animals have been feeding nomadic people for generations till now. Therefore the support organ, ankle bone which is the most mobile, where the good fortune is kept, symbolizes growth and has been highly respected.
Some scholars agree that one of the land areas where people was originated is Central Asia, specifically, modern territory of Mongolia. Anyhow the earliest genuine evidence that humans domesticated wild animals and engaged in pastoralism clearly remained in petrogylphs. During all the periods of since that time, livestock has been the main source of livelihood of the steppe nomads. All the raw materials coming from the livestock, the ankle bone especially is the symbol, game, main tool for unlocking mind’s lock. This has been recorded in the unique historic and literary heritage The Secret History of the Mongols when Temuujin Chingis Khaan and Jamukha performed a rite to become blood brothers.
Mighty great marksman of Mongolia Doljid Baskhuu: It would be correct to talk about the time when people started to hunt. This is because the white tailed gazelle’s ankle bone is very pretty. People started playing with there ankle bones.
This is hind leg shin bone of sheep that plays the most valuable role in ankle bone games.
Honoured cultural worker of Mongolia, journalist Shalmaa Yolk: Mongols do not wake up every day and kill, butcher their livestock like bloodthirsty killers. Of course they are used for food they greatly recpect animals and have special technique for butchering Most important rite is when a new baby is born one sheep must be butchered for the mother to have new mutton soup. The shin bone of that sheep is usually preserved.
After giving birth a mother is given fresh mutton soup immediately to regain strength. This tradition has been observed since the ancient times. When doing so the sheep’s thigh meat and the shin bone are cooked. The reason for that is the hind leg shin bone possesses the quality of being most tender, delicious and nutritious. After drinking the fresh soup in about 3 days baby’s umbilical cord drops away completely then the mother consults the astrologer monk for the best time of the day and performs the rite of washing the baby. For this rite apart from the hind leg shin bone soup, piece of soil from which baby’s umbilical cord was pressed with and undamaged fresh grains and rice are prepared. These symbolizes the completing the missing, filling the half empty, the prosperity, to live a solid, forthright, long life.
After the rite of washing the baby is complete, the host of the family, baby’s father eats the meat clean off the shin bone and offers to the fire. Then he throws the ankle bone until the horse falls. Mongols see symbolism in everything, behind the respect given to the ankle bone there is always the worship of horse who has been the most ancient loyal friend.
Writer and poet Nyamlkhagva Perenlei: I think that in the rituals related to is most valuable and symbolizes the highest and strength. Maybe from all the bones and joints of the animal the only solid mass is the ankle bone. Maybe it is an object that accumulates huge amount of energy and strength.
Honoured cultural worker of Mongolia, journalist Shalmaa Yolk: I am holding ankle bone. It is ankle bone of big sized animal, called Argai. Mongolian children play with it and say Argai Argai bang. So, some people say ankle bone has four sides. However, the ankle bone has exactly six sides which distinguish sky, the earth, water and soil and four directions. You can see one, two, three, four, five, six sides, can’t you? Anyhow, if it falls like this then it is called sheep. This hunched one looks like white sheep and in contrast if it falls like this then it is called goat.
