Chapter 19 Genghis Khan Festival and Naadam Games

March 21st of the lunar calendar is the period for the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, Yuan Taizu Genghis Khan, commonly known as the "March Meeting". Mongolian compatriots all go to his mausoleum to pay homage to him.In the 23rd year of the Republic of China, because of the issue of transporting Mengniu to Hebei, the author was sent to the Bailing Temple to discuss the transportation and sales with De Wang under the orders of the Ministry of Finance. Yuan Taizu, named Temujin, was a great hero in history, with outstanding martial arts, he was the hero of a hundred generations, the kings and ministers regarded him as the co-lord, and he was honored as Genghis Khan.During his expedition to Xixia, he died of illness from falling from a horse in Qingshui County, Guyuan, Gansu Province. His mausoleum is in Yijinhuoluo Banner of Ikezhao League.He died in Qingshui and was buried in Ejin Horo Banner. There is also a touching legend: once when he passed by Ejin Horo during an expedition to Xixia, the saddle fell to the ground, and his attendants tried to pick it up, but he stopped him.He said: There is no reason to land, and things happen for a reason.He looked around and thought that there are mountains, rivers and grasslands here, and it is a good place to bury his bones. "After I die, I will use this place as a place to sleep with me!" After finishing speaking, he ordered his left and right to dig the ground and bury the saddle , piled up into a big soil, named "Selter Laugai".Genghis Khan passed away, and according to his will, the kings transported his body from Qingshui County to Yijin Horo, a plateau in Ordos, for burial.

This cemetery is built on the forbidden land with beautiful forests, green lake water, and Chongyuan.Stepping into the front hall, you are faced with a huge portrait of Genghis Khan. This generation of arrogance, with dazzling eyes, shining eyes, silver beard and floating chest, is still awe-inspiring.It is said that this portrait is the meticulous work of Gulayant, a counselor who has followed him for many years, so it is very vivid. Unfortunately, photography is not allowed in the hall, and it can only be seen by visitors.On the altar table, besides the gold-coated and silver-painted Zun Yi sundial and you, there is a weapon that is said to be Genghis Khan's most convenient weapon for beheading the flag.Two air-conditioned sabers, and red tasseled yellow cups erected on both sides of the portrait, the "Sulu Ding" (meaning spear in Mongolian) that Mongolian compatriots consider sacred.

There is a legend about "Sulu Ding": Once Genghis Khan was defeated in the battle of Tula River. At that time, he knelt down and begged for help from the heavens. Suddenly, he saw a big black "Sulu Ding" flying from the sky. He was very happy. , I stretched out my hand to catch it, but the "Sulu Ding" was hanging in the sky and could not come down.Genghis Khan quickly made an oath that he would use a thousand sheep for sacrifices in the future, so that the "Sulu Ding" would come down and help him break out of the siege.Therefore, every year at the Genghis Khan Festival, the Mongolian people have the custom of using Dasmen (goat skin) to worship the "Sulu Ding". Sing the sacrificial poem "Sulu Ding".When Mr. Wu Liqing (Zhongxin) presided over the Mongolian and Tibetan Committee, someone once translated Mongolian into Chinese, not only with beautiful words and sentences, but also with a strong voice. Unfortunately, it has been many years and I can no longer recall it.

In the middle of the palace bedroom, three yellow silk buildings (called Lingbao by Mongolian people) are displayed side by side. Inside the bag are the coffins of Genghis Khan and his two wives. It is said that the coffins are made of silver, surrounded by gold carving patterns, and inlaid with pearls and gemstones. .There is a wooden frame behind the spiritual bag, on which is placed a patent leather saddle with intricate painting, which is of course the bridle of Genghis Khan's war horse during his lifetime.From the apse through the east and west courts, it is the east and west side halls.

There is a flat area of ​​tens of acres outside the Linggong Palace. After the great sacrifice, the "Zulege" ritual ceremony is held here on May 13 every year. On a golden stake in front of the mausoleum.The ceremony began with Mongolian classical music, offering khatas, lanterns, mutton backs, puff pastry, wine, mare’s milk, fresh fruits, and incense candles in order according to their ranks. Representatives from all over the country brought mare’s milk with them. , poured in a wooden barrel half a person's height, and if it is full, it symbolizes the prosperity of animal husbandry in this year.Then the leading representative picked up a spoon and filled a wooden barrel with it, and poured it into the sky. At that time, the people following behind sang the lyrics of "Praise for Harvest" and "Le Taiping" in unison. At this time, the leading representative officially announced The Naadam Conference began, and the traditional Mongolian open competitions of horse racing, wrestling, and archery appeared one after another.

The people who participate in the horse race are limited to men. Inner Mongolians call the players "Ere Hunaigua Reben", which means competitive warriors.Riding horses in the desert is essential to the daily life of Mongolian men, women and children. All athletes who are particularly skilled in riding will show their skills at the annual meeting.The horse race started, and at one command, the people and horses participating in the race shot out like crossbow arrows, swept across the green grassland like a gust of wind, swung their arms and whipped, and sometimes hid in the stirrups. That would be much more thrilling.The final racer who wins the red flag at the finish line is immediately surrounded by people wearing red horses and arranging flowers. Everyone respectfully calls the first knight of the year and is respected by the clan.

Wrestling is a sporting activity that Mongolians especially love, and it is also the main competitive event at the Naadam Conference.Those who participate in the competition must wear "Zhaodege", which is a kind of waistcoat made of coarse cloth, also called girdle (unlike the short gowns worn by our current wrestlers, once the two of them tear it apart, they will immediately loosen the belt) Slanted), with a number of metal buttons and steel nails nailed on it, it pays attention to one blow, and the girdle fits tightly with the muscles of the body, leaving nowhere for the opponent to pull.A cowhide belt is tied around the waist, red and green shorts are worn on the lower body, and short-tube cowhide combat boots are worn, also known as kicking dead cows.Clothes are embossed with gold and flounder, and decorated to enhance their prestige. Anyone who enters the field wearing this kind of clothes is called "Buhe", that is, a wrestler.This kind of wrestling, regardless of severity, the wisher will end, and if he loses, he will be eliminated. If he is injured and dies on the spot, Buhe does not need to pay for his life.Therefore, the general wrestlers are burly men with strong bodies, so they dare to fight against others.Before entering the field, the two sides sang the pre-match lyrics to each other, and then jumped into the field, expressing mutual humility and saluting the audience.Wrestling is a battle of strength and wit, a game that combines both. When it is time to use strength, it is like a lion fighting a rabbit.The winning side can get the title of "Seyinbuhe" (brave wrestler), and then go to other regions to find opponents to compete. If they win consecutively, he will become a brave and honored warrior who wins the whole territory.

Archery was the main activity of the Naadam Conference at the beginning. More than 800 years ago, the Mongols lived together as a group. There were hundreds of tribes, large and small. Their economic life was divided into nomadic and hunting.After Genghis Khan unified the Mongolian occupation, although the hunting tribes gradually transformed into nomadic ways, the skills of drawing bows and arrows during the hunting period were preserved over the years to prevent foreign enemies from invading or wild beasts from attacking the herds.There are even a very small number of stubborn tribes, because they do not have a large herd, they still rely on bows and arrows to catch small rodents to survive.Since bows and arrows are indispensable weapons in Mongolian life, people also respect those excellent archers, and archers with special skills are also happy to have a chance to perform or compete to show their skills. Therefore, until the 13th day of the fifth lunar month in the twenty-fourth year of the Republic of China, archery has always been one of the main events at the Naadam Festival, which is regarded as a carnival by the Mongolians.

Although it has been many years, but every time Genghis Khan Memorial Day and the Naadam Conference, all kinds of lively scenes will come back to my mind.