What is the most valuable development value among Inner Mongolia’s cultural tourism resources?

The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region borders Mongolia and Russia to the north, and spans almost the entire China from east to west. It is the largest province in my country across longitudes. Inner Mongolia is not only blessed with rich natural landscapes, but also has rich ethnic customs.

The vast grasslands are mainly distributed in the western part of Inner Mongolia. Grassland is the symbol of Inner Mongolia and has been a place that people have praised and yearned for since ancient times. "The sky is blue, the fields are vast, the wind blows the grass and you can see the cattle and sheep", "My home is the beautiful grassland, the wind blows the green grass and there are flowers everywhere", "The blue sky is filled with white clouds, and horses are running under the white clouds"... these are like The picturesque description arouses many people's fascination for the grassland. Hulunbuir Prairie, Xilingol Prairie, Xilamuren Grassland and other pastoral areas are excellent choices to experience the grassland. The pure and bright sky is filled with low clouds, the vast and lush grassland is dotted with white yurts, the air is fresh, and there are flocks of cattle and sheep. For people who have lived in the city for a long time, all this seems so distant and beautiful.

The desolate deserts are mainly distributed in the west. The desert scenery is majestic and has a unique charm. The Badain Jaran Desert, one of the "most beautiful deserts in China", the Tengger Desert, Xiangsha Bay in the Kubuqi Desert, etc. all have a mysterious style beyond the Great Wall; and the oases and lakes dotted in the desert are even more... A precious scenery. In addition, the Populus euphratica forest in Ejina, the Ashatu Ice and Stone Forest, the forest sea in Aershan, and the vast Hulun Lake... are all the wonders of nature. The Mongols were a nomadic people in ancient times. They made a living by grazing and hunting on the grasslands, earning them the title of "a nation on horseback." The people here are simple and enthusiastic, and they still retain many unique traditional folk customs, such as offering sacrifices to Aobao, Naadam, national costumes, etc., all of which have unique customs that are very different from those in the interior of the Central Plains. Inner Mongolia is the hometown of Genghis Khan, the "genius of a generation", and the place where Wang Zhaojun came out of the fortress. This land has witnessed the turmoil of the Liao, Jin, Yuan and other dynasties, and is the origin of the Mongol Empire that spans the Eurasian continent. There are many scenic spots and historic sites in the territory, such as Genghis Khan's Mausoleum, Zhaojun's Tomb, Wudangzhao, Xili Tuzhao, Liao Shangjing Site, etc.

Local Characteristics

Uligal

Uligal means storytelling in Mongolian. This art form existed as early as the era of Genghis Khan. During the performance, the artist accompanies himself and speaks and sings at the same time. The content is mainly based on myths and folklore, and is very expressive.

Xiaohe Yare

Xiaohe Yare is similar to the cross talk of the Han nationality and is an art form that the Mongolian people love to hear and see. The performance incorporates Mongolian proverbs, jokes, folk songs, ballads and other artistic features, and the language is humorous, warm and interesting.

Haolaibao

Haolaibao is one of the traditional Mongolian folk arts, similar to our Allegro. The artist raps in Mongolian, with four sentences or two sentences per verse, paying attention to rhyme, brisk rhythm and beautiful lyrics. The length can be long or short, and the content is mainly folk tales and adapted classical chapter novels. The forms include single mouth, double mouth and group mouth.

Mongolian Folk Songs

Mongolian folk songs are divided into two forms: long and short. The long tune has fewer words and a longer tune, and the rhythm is relatively free. It can be sung loud and melodious, and is suitable for singing on the vast prairie. Impromptu song. The rhythm of the short tune is regular, the beat is fixed, and the lyrics must rhyme. Mongolian folk songs have a long history, from which we can see the simple and bold character of the Mongolian nation.

Mongolian dance

It is a famous ethnic minority song and dance that we can often enjoy at large parties such as the Spring Festival Gala. It mainly includes traditional saber dance, Ordos dance, chopstick dance, cup and bowl dance, etc., with bright rhythm and lively and unrestrained style.

The Three Men's Arts

The Three Men's Arts are held during the annual Naadam Conference, including wrestling, horse racing and archery.

Wrestling is the most important activity among men's "three arts". After Genghis Khan was elected as the Great Khan of Mongolia, wrestling was designated as an important subject for the assessment of soldiers. Folks also listed wrestling as the first competition of the festival. Wrestling adopts a one-time elimination system. Wrestlers wear high riding boots, wide satin wrestling pants, and "Zhaodege" (a kind of leather waistcoat) on their upper body, which has its own unique style and national color. In the midst of hymns, they imitate ancient knights who strode around the arena and then jumped onto the stage. The winning wrestler will receive prizes, such as a sheep, a few bricks of tea, or even a golden-saddled horse.

Horse racing is also a highlight of the festival and attracts the most attention from tourists. There are children participating in the horse racing. The riders are lined up. Everyone wears colorful belts and colorful scarves on their heads. They are very handsome. People use horse racing to show off their horses and their outstanding riding skills. Horse racing is divided into running horse racing and walking horse racing. There can be hundreds of people racing. The one who reaches the finish line first will become the most praised athlete on the grassland and can win prizes. Adults can only participate in horse walking events with superb equestrian skills, which require horses with steady steps, good movement and fast speed.

Archery is an entertainment competition that combines ancient Mongolian military combat and hunting of wild animals.

Archery is divided into two forms: static archery and mounted archery. The bows and arrows used in static archery are not limited in style, weight, length, pulling force, and distance. Mounted archery requires horseback riding and archery. A skilled rider can hit the target with every shot and win over the audience. Cheers. Morin Qin

It is the most representative national musical instrument of the Mongolian people. It is named after the top of the piano rod is decorated with a horse head. The Morin Khuur has a simple structure, consisting of a slender body and a bow. It can be used not only for solos, but also for ensembles and concertos. The sound quality is rich, broad and melodious, and the artistic expression is extremely strong.

The legend of the matouqin

According to legend, a long time ago, there was a little shepherd boy named Su He on the grassland. He took good care of a lost little white horse. At the Naadam Conference one year ago, Su He and his little white horse came out on top. Unexpectedly, the overbearing prince wanted to take possession of this horse with windy hooves. The little white horse abandoned the prince and wanted to return to the country. At the little master's place, the cruel prince sent someone to shoot the little white horse to death. Su He was so grieved that he made a harp out of the bones of a white horse and carved a horse head in the shape of a little white horse on the top of the harp pillar. From then on, the horse head was closely associated with the matouqin. Sacrifice to Aobao

Aobao is Mongolian, meaning pile or drum. Aobao is generally built on higher hills and is mostly made of piled stones. It is generally in the shape of a round package or a domed square base, resembling a beacon tower. There is a long pole stuck at the top, with livestock horns and scripture flags tied to the top of the pole, and various silk strips hung on it. Some of the bags contain grains, some contain bows and arrows, and some contain Buddha statues. Most Aobao are single individuals, but there are also 7 or 13 Aobao that form a group. The main Aobao in the middle is larger than the surrounding ones. After Aobao was built, nearby residents would come here every year to worship and pray for the prosperity of humans and animals. Sacrifice to Aobao is the most solemn and popular sacrificial activity of the Mongolian people. On May 20, 2006, this folk custom was approved by the State Council and included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage lists.

Historical origins: The Mongolian people have many traditional sacrificial activities, such as offering sacrifices to heaven, fire, ancestors, Aobao, etc. Among them, offering sacrifices to Aobao is the most important sacrificial activity and is one of the manifestations of the prairie people's admiration for nature. In the early days, the Mongols believed that heaven and earth were the source of human survival, and they especially worshiped them. Since there are no idols for the gods of heaven and earth, people pile up Obos to symbolize them. By offering sacrifices to Obos, they pray to the gods of heaven and earth to bless the world with good weather, prosperity of cattle and sheep, and peace and prosperity for the country and the people. There is another saying: It is said that in ancient times, the vast grassland was so vast that the directions and roads were difficult to identify and the boundaries were easily blurred, so people built piles of stones as signs. Aobao appeared in this way, and later it was gradually regarded as the residence of various gods and was worshiped and enshrined. In the past, each league banner, sumu and temple in Inner Mongolia had their own public obaos. Wealthy families also had their own obaos, and each obao had its own name. Aobao is a sacred place in the eyes of Mongolian herdsmen. In ancient times, whenever people traveled far, wherever they passed by Aobao, they would dismount their horses and pay homage to Aobao, praying for safety. You also need to add a few stones or handfuls of soil to the Aobao, and then get on the horse. In the Qing Dynasty, there was a custom of holding an Aobao ceremony every year on a tribal basis.

Sacrifice activities: Due to the different customs and habits of herdsmen in various regions, the time and form of offering sacrifices to Aobao are not exactly the same. The sacrificial time is usually in late May or early June of the lunar calendar, and sometimes in July or August, but these are the seasons when water and grass are abundant and cattle and sheep are fat. Some regions offer solemn sacrifices, and some regions jointly offer sacrifices. Xilingol League is an area with relatively complete historical relics of Aobao worship customs.

The scene of the sacrifice is grand and lively. Herdsmen from hundreds of miles around will come to Aobao by car, horseback, car or tractor, carrying hada, mutton, milk wine and other sacrifices. During the sacrifice, khatas and sacrifices are first offered, and in some places lamas are asked to chant sutras and pray. Afterwards, everyone knelt down and worshiped, then added stones or repaired it with wicker sticks, and hung new prayer flags, five-color silk strips, etc. In the end, those who participated in the sacrificial ceremony had to circle Aobao three times from left to right, pray for blessings and prosperity for both humans and animals, and scatter the milk, wine, butter, snacks, candies and other sacrifices they brought to Aobao.

After the ceremony, traditional cultural and sports activities such as horse racing, archery, blue throwing, wrestling, singing, and dancing were held. Some young men and women sneak out from the crowd, go hiking, talk to each other, talk about love, and make appointments to see each other again. This is the "Aobao meeting".

Nadamu

"Nadamu" is a transliteration of Mongolian, meaning "entertainment" or "game". The Naadam Conference is a grand gathering of Mongolian, Ewenki, Daur and other ethnic minority people living in various parts of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It is held roughly every year in the seventh and eighth months of the lunar calendar, the season when water and grass are luxuriant and cattle and sheep are fat. There are singing and dancing entertainment, wrestling, archery, horse racing and other competitions at the conference, among which competition accounts for a large proportion. In ancient and modern Naadam events, wrestling, horse racing and archery competitions, known as men's "three arts", were held; contemporary Naadam also added women's and youth wrestling, polo, equestrian and other competitions, and also held material exchanges. Activity.

The historical origin of Naadam

Naadam is ancient and sacred in the hearts of the people in Inner Mongolia, and it has a long history.

As early as the beginning of the 13th century, the Mongolian leaders held a large-scale Naadam. Historically, Naadam initially only held a certain competition of archery, horse racing or wrestling. The earliest record of Naadam activities is the "Genghis Khan Stone Inscriptions" inscribed in 1225 AD, which mentions: Genghis Khan conquered Khwarezm. To celebrate the victory, a grand Naadam Conference was held at the Suqi Sea in Bukhas. Archery competition. In addition, there are several mentions of archery competitions in "The Secret History of Mongolia". Horse racing is described in the Mongolian literary masterpiece "The Biography of Geser" and other folk epics. Wrestling is the most common, and most Naadam conferences mainly focus on wrestling matches.

In the Yuan and Ming dynasties, archery, horse racing and wrestling were combined to form a fixed form of the "Three Men's Arts" competition in Naadam. The "Nadam" congratulations at that time said: "The sound of the fiddle is melodious and melodious; the pure white hada is sparkling; the three traditional 'Nadam's are performed continuously; the Mongolian warriors are on the field in full team." From the above records and From the descriptions of Naadam in other folk tales and epics, it can be seen that Naadam plays an important role in the lives of the Mongolian people.

In the Qing Dynasty, Naadam gradually turned into an organized and purposeful recreational activity regularly convened by the government, and its scale, form and content have all developed. At that time, the Mongolian princes held the Naadam Conference once every six months, one year, or three years in units of sumu (equivalent to a district), flag, and alliance, and awarded rewards and titles to the winners of the competition in different levels. However, due to the manipulation of the princes and nobles at that time, the prince's wrestlers, horse racers and archers often won the championship at the Naadam Games.

After the establishment of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Naadam truly became a grand gathering for the majority of herdsmen. Every July and August, the vast grasslands of Inner Mongolia, from Hulunbuir to Horqin, from Xilingol to Ulanqab, hold the annual Naadam event. During the conference, farmers and herdsmen from all over the country rode horses and drove cars, bringing furs, medicinal materials and other agricultural and animal husbandry products. Crowds of people gathered in the conference square. And a white yurt was set up on the green grassland around the venue. This is a grassland event that integrates culture, sports, economy, trade, and tourism, fully displaying the style of the grassland people and the style of Inner Mongolia.

The scale of Naadam

According to the traditional habits of the Mongolian people, the Naadam Convention has always been of three types: large, medium and small. Large-scale Naadam Convention: 512 people participating in the wrestling competition, about 300 horses, the convention lasts seven to ten days; medium-sized: 256 wrestlers, 100 to 150 horses, the convention lasts five days to seven days; small: one hundred and twenty-eight or sixty-four wrestlers, about thirty to fifty horses, and the meeting lasts three to five days.

Folk customs

Mongolian yurts

Mongolian yurts are places where Mongolian people have lived for generations. They are actually just tents for swimming. Because the Mongolian people rely on herding as their main life content and move around in search of water and grass, they created this kind of yurt that is easy to set up and dismantle.

The yurt has a history of thousands of years and was called "Qionglu" or "Felt Tent" in ancient times. It has a round spire in appearance. It is usually made of willow poles and camel hair ropes to form the pillars of the yurt. The top and sides are covered with one to two layers of thick white wool felt. There is a skylight in the center of the top to facilitate lighting and ventilation. The doors of yurts all face south or southeast, which is related to their religious beliefs.

Lele Cart

Lele Cart is a traditional means of transportation of the Mongolian people with a long history. The car body is mostly made of birch or elm wood, weighs about a hundred kilograms, and can carry hundreds of kilograms or even a thousand kilograms. The main feature of the Lele car is its tall wheels, with a maximum diameter of about 1.45 meters. This design is designed to facilitate walking in deep grass and snow. When the seasons change on the grassland, when the herdsmen move, they can see Lele vehicles meandering on the vast grassland, forming a unique grassland scene.

Mongolian robe

On the grasslands, men, women, old and young like to wear robes all year round. This is the Mongolian robe unique to the Mongolian people. The robe is wide and tied with a belt. The styles and colors vary depending on gender. Generally, the Mongolian robes worn by women are narrower than those worn by men. They are mostly in red, pink, green, sky blue, etc. During festivals, they are also worn with woven agates, pearls, corals, gems, gold, silver, jade, etc. headgear; men mostly like to wear brown and blue Mongolian robes.

The belt is an indispensable part of the Mongolian robe. It is mostly made of cotton or satin, about three to four meters long, and the color is usually coordinated with the color of the robe. In a windy place like the grassland, the main purpose of wearing a belt is to resist the wind and cold. Mongolian boots are mainly designed to facilitate riding. They are characterized by upturned toes and felt lining inside the boots to protect them from cold and waterproof.

The meaning of colors

White symbolizes holiness and is mostly worn during grand ceremonies and auspicious festivals; blue symbolizes eternity, perseverance and loyalty, and is the color representing the Mongolian people; red is Like fire and the sun, it can give people warmth, light and happiness, so you usually wear clothes of this color; yellow is regarded as a symbol of supreme imperial power, so in the past, only living Buddhas, or princes and nobles who have received gifts from the emperor , other people cannot wear it.

Festival Customs

Chagansa Day is from December 23rd to the entire first month of the lunar calendar every year

Chagansa Day is translated as "White Moon" in Chinese , also called "White Festival". Every year before and after the Lunar New Year, fire sacrifices, birthday celebrations, New Year greetings and other activities are held on the grassland to celebrate the beginning of the new year. This is the Mongolian Spring Festival - "Chagansa Day".

Fire sacrifice: The blazing flame symbolizes luck and auspiciousness, and fire sacrifice is the Mongolian people’s prayer for the coming year.

Birthday wishes: It is an activity to pray for the elderly. On December 25th and 26th of the lunar calendar, birthdays are given to the elderly aged 85 and 73; from December 27th to New Year’s Eve of the lunar calendar, birthdays are given to those aged 61 and 49. When the elders wish them a birthday, the younger generation should salute the elders to express their congratulations.

New Year’s Eve: On New Year’s Eve, flower trays made of snacks, dairy products, candies, etc. are placed in herders’ homes. Herders invite each other to drink tea. In the evening, the whole family gathers together for a family banquet. This is also The climax of the entire festival.

New Year greetings: New Year greetings begin on the first day of the first lunar month. First, the herdsmen collectively sacrifice Aobao, and then begin to pay New Year greetings within the family. They need to dress up properly and hold Hada in hand, from the younger generation to the elders, and then from the elders to the younger generations.

The Animal Raising Festival takes place every year in the first month of the year and around the Qingming Festival

The Mongols are nomadic people who love their animals as much as their children. In ancient my country, every family paid attention to the prosperity of the population, but for the simple herdsmen on the grasslands, the prosperity of the herds was equally important, because the herds were the assets on which they relied for survival. Therefore, when people celebrate the Spring Festival in the first month, they also do not forget to celebrate the New Year for their animals.

The Animal Raising Festival is called "Ma Li Yin Xin Ao Ru Lu Hu" in Mongolian, which can also be translated as "Spring Festival Banquet". It is a traditional custom of Mongolian herders from a long time ago. This festival has no fixed date, but is generally held in each village around the first lunar month and Qingming Festival. During the festival, men, women, old and young gather in the wild, set up tents and cook stoves, drive all the livestock here, check the condition of the animals, study the issue of picking up lambs and calves in the spring, and put decorations on the fat male animals. Then there will be wrestling, storytelling, singing, good luck and other entertainment, and then some simple banquets will be held to celebrate the festival. After the celebration, various foods of the day will be distributed to everyone to enjoy.

The Sunit People’s Animal Raising Festival is held on New Year’s Eve, and the highlight is the wiping ceremony of the ram. The Mongolians in Keshiketeng Banner only celebrate the New Year for their livestock in early February. The date is not fixed and needs to be made in advance. On this day, sheep herders, cattle herders, horse herders, camel herders and other meritorious officials were all invited into the central yurt to sit side by side with respected country elders. Everyone elects a "Nirba", the person in charge of general affairs, who guides everyone in performing various rituals. The ceremony is often interspersed with some small competitions such as horse racing, wrestling, and archery to enliven the atmosphere.

Bonfire Festival is held on June 18 every year

Bonfire Festival is a traditional festival of the Oroqen people in northern Inner Mongolia. On this day, the Oroqen people will light bonfires and gather around the bonfires, singing and dancing. , have fun all night long. The Oroqen people have a long history of worshiping the God of Fire. They believed that fire had the effect of driving away evil spirits and removing dirt. Placing utensils and clothes on the fire to dry them was considered to make them clean. There is also the custom of sending the God of Fire to heaven on the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month. On the morning of the Spring Festival, sacrifices are made to the God of Fire, and during the sacrifice, one kowtows to the spring fire to pray for blessings. Whenever guests come to visit during the Spring Festival, they must first worship the God of Fire.

Mare Milk Festival every summer

Mongolian people herd livestock and squeeze milk to process various milk products, which is an important part of animal husbandry production and nomadic life. Dairy products are the main source of diet for herdsmen, so every year when new milk is milked, certain rituals are performed and gatherings are held to celebrate, hoping to obtain more and better milk products. This is the ancient and typical Mare Milk Festival. .

Every year when mare milking begins in the summer and stops in the Mid-Autumn Festival, herdsmen hold a mare milk festival. The owner first selects an auspicious day and announces it to the public in advance. On the day of the festival, all herdsmen nearby come to participate in the Mare Milk Festival. Two or three days before the Mare Milk Festival, the owner milks the mare's milk to make kumiss. On the day of the Ma Nai Festival, nine knights on white horses and their master held a ceremony together and offered sacrifices to the gods of heaven and earth. The master loudly recited the praise of Ma Nai Sacha, and everyone rode around the arena for three weeks to end the ceremony. Stallions and colts are tied with Hada for selection ceremony. Then everyone gathered to drink mare's milk wine, celebrate the Mare's Milk Festival, and wish for good weather, fertile water and grass, prosperity of the five animals, and a good harvest of milk and food.

The Naadam Grassland Tourism Festival is held every July and August.

Inner Mongolia has a rich and colorful national culture. Horse racing, wrestling, and archery are known as the "three men's arts" of the Mongolian people. The Naadam Grassland Tourism Festival focuses on displaying the splendid culture of Mongolian ethnic songs and dances, sports, competitions, clothing, and food. Naadam, which means "entertainment" or "game" in Mongolian, is a traditional mass gathering of the Mongolian people. Naadam began as a simple entertainment form of singing and dancing. Later, wrestling, archery, horse racing and other competitions were added. The scene was grand and the atmosphere was warm. During the tourism festival, visitors can stay in yurts, taste milk tea, and participate in horse riding, shooting, singing and dancing and other programs to fully experience the bold and natural ethnic customs of the grassland people.