Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tribal Mongolia
Mongolia is an ancient tribal society that can be broken down into more
than a dozen ethnic subgroups. To this day, Mongolia still counts around 20
different
undesten
(nations), with numerous subclans. Most of these tribes
are located along the borders of modern Mongolia and in some cases they
spill over the borders into Russia and China. Inner Mongolia (in China) also
has a tribal order that persists today.
THE MONGOLIAN NAME GAME
In the 1920s Mongolia's communist government forbade the use of clan names, a
dedicated effort to stamp out loyalties that might supersede the state.
In the 1990s, after the fall of communism, few families were able to recall their
own clan name. The first phone books featured pages listing just one name. Elec-
tions also proved confusing when six or seven candidates with the same name
would appear on one ballot.
A more serious problem was inbreeding, the result of cousins inadvertently mar-
rying each other. Historians pointed out that this problem could be avoided by em-
ploying an old tradition, which stated that seven generations must pass before a
family member could again marry within their clan.
In order to reverse this trend, the government ordered all citizens to start using
their clan names again. The identity crisis that ensued sparked a boom in amateur
genealogy, with families contacting relatives to uncover possible clan names.
Authorities have encouraged creativity and people who could not retrace their name
simply made one up - usually after a hobby, a profession, favourite mountain or
nickname. Mongolia's lone spaceman, Gurragchaa, named his family 'Cosmos'.
Another clan name currently up for grabs is 'Family of Seven Drunks', which hasn't
had many takers.
Tribal Groups
A thousand years ago tribes regularly squared off against each other in seasonal warfare
and bouts of bride theft. They went by the names of Kerait, Tatar, Merkit and Naiman, to
name a few; linked by culture, they were divided by old feuds and rivalries. The tribes
were united during the great Mongol empire (1206 to 1368) but after its demise they went
back to their periodic squabbles.
