Mongol Culture and Religion: The Power of the Eternal Blue Sky
The culture and religion of the Mongols is prominently featured in FM Deemyad’s new historical novel, The Sky Worshipers.
More than seven hundred years ago, those who lived in the region known today as Mongolia worshiped the natural elements that shaped the geography of their habitat, provided their only means of sustenance, and at times threatened their very livelihood. Rivers, mountains, and especially the Eternal Blue Sky were the deities that, in their eyes, determined their destiny and subjected them to their wraths.
The nomadic traditions of Mongolians, their love of nature, and their close relationship with their animals have endured throughout the centuries, and hunting games using falcons, hawks, and eagles are still practiced in rural regions of the country, sometimes attracting foreign visitors. Eagles are trained for months for the hunt. When ready, a small hood is placed on the heads of the birds and only removed at the commencement of the hunt. Then the eagle is allowed to spot its prey and kill it. Participating in horse races also remains to this day as a source of entertainment.
Tent-like structures known as “ger,” which means home, can still be seen in Mongolia’s landscape. On special occasions many still prefer wearing the traditional Mongolian outfit, a long robe-like topcoat, held together by a cloth belt, called “deel”. The food continues to be mostly meat, milk, and cheese, with fermented milk called “airaq” being the main alcoholic beverage.
Tent-like structures known as “ger” still dot the Mongolian landscape.
Ancient Mongolians believed that the spirit of their ancestors turned into mythical creatures, and Genghis Khan was known as the embodiment of the power of the Eternal Blue Sky. Today, the majority of the citizens of Mongolia are Buddhists (particularly Tibetan Buddhism), a religion that became widespread in that region since the sixteenth century. The Buddhist monks remain celibate and avoid marriage, spending their entire lives in the monastery. They do have their influence, however, on the political landscape of the country.
Kublai Khan, the Grandson of Genghis, played a key role in the spread of Buddhism to Mongolia. where the religion came to be known as “Shira-in-Shashin” or “Yellow Religion.” Communist pressures, particularly during the Cultural Revolution in China, diminished the role of Buddhism in the region, but since 1990 when there was a setback to communism, Mongols have returned to their Buddhist faith. Nowadays, hundreds of temples and monasteries welcome Buddhists of Mongolia and neighboring regions.
Read our blog post about Genghis Khan’s legacy.
Data vary, and according to internet sources, about three to six percent of the population is Muslim, with an even smaller number practicing Christianity. Shamanism, once the prevalent religion, barely exists, with only a few adhering to such beliefs. Mongolian admiration for Genghis Khan, however, has recently increased with more and more people seeking the advice of Shamans for their day-to-day lives, to heal the ailing, to know what fortune lies ahead, and to communicate with the spirits of their lost ones.
Genghis’s insight in honoring the clergy regardless of their faith and exempting them from taxation, his open-minded attitude toward Muslims, Christians, Jews, and Buddhists, allowing them to worship freely, will certainly be remembered as his lasting legacy even though he remained a sky worshiper to his last breath.
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F.M. Deemyad is the author of the The Sky Worshipers , a historical saga that tells the story of Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire as viewed through the eyes of three captive princesses. Born in Kermanshah, Iran, Deemyad grew up in Tehran attending bilingual schools run by Christian and Jewish minorities. At an early age she was exposed to the English language and, through her father’s guidance, she learned to love classic literature. Deemyad received a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from John Hopkins University. More of her work and writing can be found at her website, candleandquill.com.
