Mongols

The Mongols are an East Asian ethnic group native to Mongolia and China, especially in Inner Mongolia and other regions. They also live in parts of Russia, such as Buryatia and Kalmykia.

The Mongols share a common heritage and ethnic identity. They speak languages known as the Mongolian language. Their traditional homeland has a rich history, especially during the time of the powerful Mongol Empire.

Definition

The term "Mongol" refers to several groups such as the Khalkha Mongols, Buryats, Oirats, and Kalmyks, along with many Southern Mongols like the Abaga Mongols, Aohans, Asud, Baarins, Chahars, Kharchins, Khishigten, Khorchins, Naimans, Ordos, Tumed, Urad, and Üzemchins.

The name "Mongol" first appeared in records from Tang China in the 8th century. It later became a term for many tribes united under Genghis Khan in the thirteenth century.

History

Main article: History of Mongolia

See also: Genetic history of East Asians

The Mongolic peoples have a long history linked to ancient groups from Northeast Asia. They lived as pastoralists, which means they raised animals and moved with their herds. Their way of life came from both Ancient Northeast Asians and Western Steppe Herders.

Over time, Mongolic groups were connected to many ancient peoples, including the Scythians, Magog, and Tungusic peoples. Early Chinese records say their ancestors were the Donghu, a nomadic group in eastern Mongolia and Manchuria. These groups lived near the Xiongnu, though scholars still debate who the Xiongnu really were.

In the Chinese classics

See also: Timeline of Mongols prior to the Mongol Empire

Early Chinese texts talk about the Donghu people living north of Yan between 699 and 632 BCE. Some unofficial sources say they might have been around as far back as the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BCE), but they are not mentioned in Shang oracle bones.

The Xianbei people were part of the Donghu group and later formed their own identity. They began in the Zhukaigou culture in the Ordos Desert, where they traded with the Shang dynasty. After the Donghu were defeated by the Xiongnu, groups like the Xianbei and Wuhuan survived and kept their traditions.

Mongol Empire

Main articles: Mongol Empire and Northern Yuan

The Mongol Empire started in the early 13th century under Genghis Khan. It became one of the largest empires ever, stretching from the Adriatic Sea to Indonesia and from Japan to Palestine. The Mongols ruled as emperors in China, padishahs in Persia, and great khans of the Mongols. They controlled areas including Russia, China, and parts of Central Asia.

After the empire broke up, many Mongolic groups adopted the cultures around them. But some kept their language and traditions, especially in Mongolia. The Mongol people faced many difficulties over the centuries, but their heritage continues today.

Northern Yuan

After the fall of the Yuan dynasty in 1368, the Mongols kept ruling in northern China and the Mongolian steppe. The Oirats challenged Mongol leaders, causing splits between Western and Eastern Mongolia. Leaders such as Taisun Khan and Esen Taish tried to bring the Mongols back together, but outside powers like the Ming dynasty often got involved.

Qing era

See also: Mongolia under Qing rule

During the Qing dynasty, Mongol areas came under Chinese control. The Qing forces took Inner Mongolia by 1635, and later conquered Western Mongol areas like the Dzungar Khanate. Even though groups such as the Khalkha and Oirats resisted, the Qing took control of most Mongol lands.

Post-Qing era

With the end of Qing rule, Outer Mongolia declared independence. But it had difficulties with both China and Russia. In 1921, Mongolian forces with Russian help freed Ulaanbaatar. Mongolia later became an independent nation, though it kept close ties with the Soviet Union. Over the 20th century, Mongolia worked to maintain its cultural identity while managing relationships with Russia and China.

Language

Main article: Mongolic languages

Mongolian is the main language of the Mongols. It is the official language of Mongolia and also an official language in China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Many Mongols also speak other Mongolic languages such as Buryat and Oirat, and they may also speak Russian or Mandarin Chinese when talking with people from other groups.

The Mongolian language has faced challenges, but many Mongols still work hard to keep their language and culture alive, even in places where other languages are used more often.

Religion

Main articles: Buddhism in Mongolia and Mongolian Shamanism

The Mongolic peoples first practiced Mongolian shamanism. They later met many different religions. Some chose Buddhism, while others followed Confucianism, Daoism, or Shamanism.

Many Mongols turned to Buddhism, especially after the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism became the country's religion in 1576. Today, Tibetan Buddhism is the most common religion for Mongolic peoples. Many also still hold Shamanistic beliefs. Some groups adopted Islam or Christianity, especially in areas close to other cultures. During a time when religion was limited, people still kept their beliefs in private. Now, many Mongolic peoples say they are atheist or agnostic, but most practice Tibetan Buddhism mixed with Shamanistic traditions.

Kinship and family life

See also: Society of the Mongol Empire

Traditional Mongol families were organized to give men and older family members important roles. In these families, men were the leaders, and families lived together in homes where fathers and older male relatives had the most authority. When a son got married, he would receive some of the family's animals and land, with the oldest son getting the largest share. The youngest son stayed with his parents and inherited the family home after they passed away.

Beyond the family, Mongols also had larger groups called clans. These clans were based on shared ancestry, with members tracing their family back to a common ancestor. The clans had a clear order of importance, with some families considered more senior than others based on their lineage. This system helped organize social life and relationships among Mongol communities.

Royal family

The royal clan of the Mongols is the Borjigin clan. It started with Bodonchar Munkhag around the year 850. This family had many leaders called Khans and princes for Mongolia and nearby lands until the early 1900s. All the Great Khans of the Mongol Empire, including Genghis Khan, were from the Borjigin clan.

The Khongirad clan was closely linked to the Borjigin. They provided many empresses and consorts. Other clans joined the royal family through marriages, connecting the Mongols to many different cultures and royal families around the world.

Historical population

The Mongols are an ethnic group from East Asia. They mainly live in Mongolia and parts of China, such as Inner Mongolia. They also have communities in Russia, in places like Buryatia and Kalmykia. The Mongols are part of a larger group called the Mongolic peoples. This group includes other people such as the Oirats and Buryats. Sometimes these groups are thought of as separate from the Mongols, and sometimes they are considered part of them.

The Mongols have a rich history. They were very important during the time of the Mongol Empire, one of the largest empires in history. Their culture and traditions remain important in the areas where they live.

Main articles: History of Mongolia, Mongol Empire

Geographic distribution

Today, most Mongols live in Mongolia, China (especially Inner Mongolia), Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and Afghanistan. They belong to many different groups or tribes, such as the Tumed, Chahar, Ordos, Barga, Altai Uriankhai, Buryats, Dörböd, Torguud, Dariganga, Üzemchin, Bayads, Khoton, Myangad, and Zakhchin.

The Eastern Mongols are mainly in Mongolia and include groups like the Khalkha and Buryats. The Southern or Inner Mongols live mainly in Inner Mongolia, China, and include many tribes such as the Abaga, Abaganar, Aohans, and others. The Buryats live mainly in the Buryat Republic in Russia. The Western Oirats are mainly in Western Mongolia and include groups like the Kalmyks in Russia and Oirats in China.