Dr.Sc.Phil. I. Zhamyandagva¹
Dr.Sc.Phil. D. Bayarlakh^1
1Mongolian State University of Education, Ulaanbaatar

Keywords: ethnic wrestling, archery, horse races, personality development.

Background. Since science, technologies and cultures are being increasingly globalized nowadays, it is only natural that every nation strives to protect its cultural and historical heritage. Even the leading Eastern and Western scientists tend to define education as the “cultivation of love to the Motherland and nation in people” (Kautilya), “ability to meet and cope with challenges and problems in life” (Mahatma Gandhi, Jadambaa et al., 2011). The Mongolian nation has always given a high priority to ethnic wrestling, archery and horse races in its cultural tradition praised in the national tales, legends and heroic epics. The ‘three manly contests’ are deeply rooted in the national history and traditions and therefore are commonly perceived by the local male population as the necessary contributors to the maturing and bodybuilding process associated with dexterity, endurance, courage and ethics development process that forms a basis for the arts and culture of human relationship in the interpersonal, social and environmental domains (B. But-Erdene, 2015). Ancestors of the Mongolian nation made their living by hunting and cattle-breeding, with the best hunters being highly honored for their success. It was traditional for them to perform thanksgiving ceremonies when they danced and soared like powerful predatory birds, mimicked their contests for life with wild animals, made blows and throws, demonstrated their perfection and luck in archery and otherwise showed their skills, courage, power and pride for their families. It is highly probable that this ethnic tradition could have given rise to the modern physical exercises and contests. It is presently assumed by some researchers that the modern physical practices could originate from the primary survival skills including races, jumps, climbing, throwing, punching, wrestling skills, archery etc. Skills in traditional martial arts and archery have always been highly appreciated, developed and praised; and with time have evolved into national sports and highly valued historical heritage.

Nowadays the ‘three manly contests’ on the whole and ethnic wrestling in particular are viewed as the core events of the Mongolian national festivals and commonly loved not only as the practical physical exercises designed to test strength, skills and agility but also as the real treasures of the Mongolian culture, historical arts and traditions flavored by ancient rituals, garments, ceremonies and regulations.

The national art of archery as one of the ‘three manly contests’ known to have a long and stormy history consecrated by the centuries-long bag sharing tradition and thanksgiving ceremonies addressed to the heaven and generous gods of nature. The ancient bow hunt has evolved with time into national festivals with their traditional dances, songs, rituals and contests in archery.

Since ancient times Mongols were highly knowledgeable in their traditional cattle- and horse-breeding and masterly selected the best racing horses, trained them for traditional contests and festivals, competed for the much coveted titles and honor; and the competitions evolved with time with time into the Folk Festival Naadama with its core ‘three manly contests’. The national culture further developed and kept up by the festivals may be perceived as the key element of the ethnic mental and physical education and personality development process. The Mongolian physical education tradition with its ethnic wrestling, archery and horse races was naturally developed by the ancient Nomad civilization with its organic natural lifestyles. This physical education tradition was harmoniously supported by the narrative national culture with its picture expressions retained in the ancient legends, epics and stories that always give a top priority to personal physical progress, fair and healthy lifestyles driven by the relevant personality development and cognitive agendas. We have collected the relevant practical material for the study from the traditional tunes of praise, legends and epics to analyze the traditional education and development process driven, symbolized and indoctrinated by the ‘three manly contests’.

Objective of the study was to analyze the cultural and developmental aspects of the national Mongolian contests in archery, horse races and ethnic wrestling known as the ‘three manly contests’.

Study results and discussion. The ethnic wrestling tradition is known to originate in the ancient states that existed in these lands to evolve with time into the presently popular forms somewhere in the ХIII century, in the period of the Great Mongolian Empire (D. Sereeter, H. Choyzhilzhav, 2010). The Mongols’ Sacred Revelation of that time mentions the names Zutgel, Chilenger and Belgutey known as the greatest and popular wrestlers; and the name of Buri wrestler greatly honoured by Kublai Khan; praises the outstanding strength, skills, willpower and body build of Otchigin and many other wrestling champions and even touches upon their success stories (H. Choyzhilzhav, 2010, p.5). It was commonly acknowledged, as verified by the historical records, that every Mongol should be highly skillful in horse riding, archery and wrestling, with the ‘three manly contests’ traditionally appreciated for their spirit of unity, mutual respect and synergy, and as the personality development and bodybuilding tools particularly important for the underage and junior groups. It has always been traditional and obligatory for the Mongolian children to master horse riding since 5-6 years of age and archery from the age of 7-10, with their skills in both of the disciplines tested in traditional contests when they reached 13 years (H. Otgonbayar, 2008). It should be mentioned that the ongoing globalization trends are naturally countered by the growing national pride in, great reverence to and studies of the national traditions and histories. Such studies have been run by national researchers including P. Dagvasuren, G. Batsukh, D. Sereeter, H. Bayanmunkha and B. But-Erdene who have comprehensively analyzed the history of ethnic wrestling, horse racing and archery traditions based on the Mongols’ Sacred Revelation, Altan Chobchi epic etc.

Ethnic wrestling tradition implies that only healthy, strong, sharp-sighted, highly gifted, fast responding, appealing and masterful in the wrestling ‘soaring’ technique person has a chance to win the traditional wrestling competitions. Every wrestling rule, ritual and every detail of the traditional garments is designed to catch the sight and win respect and love of spectators by their appeal, among other things, to the genuine ancient heritage of the nation embodied in the specific mix of artistic and sporting symbols and traditions.

Strength, spirituality, endurance, high tolerance to stresses and challenges, fairness, respect and genuine freedom are the most praised personality qualities cultivated by the Mongolian sporting traditions and associated in the folk legends and epics with the strongest creatures of the animal world including eagle (khan gar’d) and falcon (khartsaga). Thus the strongest wrestlers are traditionally praised by the following verbal formulas: khan gar’d shig deveed; khartsaga duulen barildazh; and khamag olnoo bayasgagch (Shardargochoo, 1961, p. 5-7).

According to the Mongolian folk epic Eriyn Sayn Khan Kharanguy once upon a time the wrestlers’ garments were made of the skins of the strongest beasts as provided by the following traditional verbal formulas: er chadaltay khuchit bokhchuudiyg; erkhiyndee erchimtey; elgendee shuustey; khuchit bokh erdemt eriyg; and yalgan khovguundee ogov (Mongols’ Sacred Revelation, 1957, p. 85).

These and other historical materials show that the Mongols have always appreciated their genuine traditional lifestyles organic for the natural environments, highly valued physical strength and willpower, and have always cared for one another (er chaadal means ‘strength’, and er chadaltay khuchit bokh means the ‘strong wrestler’). The ancient art and tradition of the elite wrestlers’ actions being designed to mimic movements of animals with the wrestlers’ competitive accomplishments praised by the relevant traditional verbal formulas and expressions leaving a wide room for creativity – have always been developed and protected as the national cultural heritage.

Horse races have been greatly loved and respected by the Mongols, with all of them taking great pride in their own horses, always prepared to compete in the age-specific horse races and praise the speed and strength of their racers (Purev-Ochir, Bayasgalan, 1991, p. 10). The Mongolian nation has accumulated a vast experience in the horse breeding, selection and training for contests since the Nomadic tribe lifestyle cannot be imagined without horses, horse breeding culture and horse racing events. The fastest horses have always been praised and associated with falcons in the following traditional verbal formulas: oh, shuigun modon dundaas; olon agsan bugyn shinzhetey; ogtorguyn michid dundaas; and badran garsan tsolmon shinzhetey. The expressions referring to the fastest horse’s beauty and strength are widely associated with the beauty and generosity of universe, its elements and natural environment, with shuguyn mod meaning ‘thick forest’, buga meaning ‘dear’, and ogtorguyn michid meaning ‘constellation’; with the relevant artistic and expressive tools being indicative of the highest reverence to nature and its powers in the Mongolian tradition seeking to unite with these sacred powers via the ethnic physical and cultural education and tradition.

Archery in its traditional Mongolian version is highly reputable the world over. The centuries-long traditional shooting procedure is supported and illustrated by the ritual three-stage tunes performed in different styles. The tunes praising the best wrestlers, racer horses and shooters are performed loudly in one breath to inspire the athlete and motivate him for success, with the best shooters praised by the following standard ancient verbal formulas: erchit numaa khovchdood bosokhod; alsyn odod uulgaa aldaad; egshig tatsan khongor uuhaign; and khatan tuul saatan sonsov.

References to the stars and constellations in the ethnic tunes praising the best shooters (e.g. alsyn odod means the ‘distant stars’) may be interpreted as indicative of the profound astrological knowledge the Mongolian nation had in the ancient times to associate the relevant notions with the top accomplishments in the ‘three manly contests’, with the traditional spirit of reverence to the natural supreme powers, heritage and heavenly and human support.

On the whole, the traditional contests in horse races, ethnic wrestling and archery are found to provide an efficient toolkit for attention focusing, right thinking, decision-making, verbalizing, cognitive and analyzing qualities and skills, with high endurance and working capacity being developed in a wide variety of weather conditions, with high respect and reverence to the natural environments, cultural heritage, own historical roots, ancestors and families. Traditional horse races, ethnic wrestling and archery are highly beneficial for health and physical progress as they naturally and strongly develop limb, chest, neck and finger muscles, improve the cardiac function, respiratory and nervous systems, prevent many diseases and facilitate the mental and spiritual conditioning and development process.

Conclusion. The ‘three manly contests’ are still highly efficient and beneficial nowadays for at least the following reasons:

• They have always been highly valued and protected and, hence, retained their historical treasures as the unique combinations of artistic, cultural and sporting values;
• The historical garments, ranking tradition, wrestling ceremonies, coaching rules and rituals, standard announcements of the bouts, tunes praising the best wrestlers, traditional speeches and acknowledgements – naturally cultivate the high reverence to the Mongolian cultural heritage in the new generations; and
• The traditional melodic announcements of the racing horses, wrestlers and archers and the tunes praising the best of them are designed to boost their self-esteem; excite and inspire the senior and junior wrestlers for the bouts; help them mobilize their physical resource and willpower; cultivate patience, endurance, love and respect to the Motherland; and motivate them for demonstration of their best physical and mental qualities and skills in the ‘three manly contests’.

References

1. Bat-Erdene B. Osnovnye voprosy razvitiya mongolskoy borby [Basic issues of development of Mongolian wrestling]. Soembo printing. Ulaanbaatar, 2015.
2. Jadambaa et al. Nepreryvnoe razvitie pedagogicheskogo obrazovaniya [Continuous development of teacher education]. Ulaanbaatar: Mongolian State University of Education publ., 2011.
3. Otgonbayar H. Ocherki mongolskoy strelby [Essays on Mongolian shooting]. Ulaanbaatar: Monhiin useg publ., 2008.
4. Shagdargochoo Ts. Sbornik stikhov o trekh igry muzhey [Collection of poems about three manly contests]. Ulaanbaatar, 1961.
5. Purev-Ochir G., Bayasgalan G. Ocherki mongolskoy borby [Essays on Mongolian wrestling]. Ulaanbaatar, 1991.
6. Uranchimeg O., Erdenechimeg D. Fizicheskaya kultura [Physical culture]. Ulaanbaatar, 2005.
7. Choyzhilzhav H. Natsionalny sport [National Sports]. Ulaanbaatar, 2010, 2010.

Corresponding author: ariun_200503@yahoo.com

Abstract

Traditional Mongolian game festivals have always given top priority to archery, horse races and traditional wrestling known as the ‘three manly contests’ deeply rooted in the national history and traditions and commonly perceived by the local population as the necessary contributors to the maturing and bodybuilding process associated with male dexterity, endurance, courage, stamina and ethical development process that forms a basis for the art and culture of human relationship in the interpersonal, social and environmental domains. Objective of the study was to analyze missions of the national contests in archery, horse races and ethnic wrestling commonly referred to as the ‘three manly contests’ by the Mongolians. Based on the study data and analyses, the authors found that the traditional ‘three manly contests’ have preserved, despite the social development challenges, a variety of traditional values in the specific combination of arts, culture and sports; with their traditional garments, ranking standards, wrestling ceremonies, coaching rules and rituals, standard announcements of the wrestlers’ bouts and traditional speeches and acknowledgements. Each of these elements is indispensable for the spiritual uplift, mutual respect of the competitors and their appreciation of the national Mongolian traditions; with the melodic announcements of the racing horses, wrestlers and archers and tunes praising the best competitors designed to boost their self-esteem; excite and inspire the senior and junior wrestlers for the bouts; help them mobilize their physical resource and willpower; cultivate patience, endurance, love and respect to the Motherland; and develop the key physical qualities and skills in the traditional ‘three manly contests’.