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Mongolian Traditional Crafts: An Introduction
A plain-language overview of Mongolia's main handicrafts, from felt and leatherwork to metalwork, textiles and painting, and the households that keep them going.
People and Culture
Traditional Crafts and Arts
Handmade objects, music, clothing and artistic traditions.
Buddhist Thangka and Temple Art
How Mongolian thangka scrolls are made, why they follow strict rules, and how to read common symbols, deities and colors when you see them in a temple.
Cashmere and Wool: Mongolian Textile Heritage
Why Mongolian cashmere is tied to goat herding, how the fiber is combed in spring, and how sheep wool, camel hair and cashmere fit into household and trade.
Felt Making: How Wool Becomes a Ger Covering
How Mongolian families beat, layer, wet and roll sheep wool into thick felt for ger coverings, floors and boots, and why it takes neighbors to do it.
Long Song and Urtiin Duu Traditions
What makes Mongolian long song so slow and ornamented, what the lyrics are about, how it differs from short songs, and where you may hear it sung.
Mongolian Hats and Boots Explained
Why traditional Mongolian gutal boots curl up at the toe, how hats differ by season and occasion, and the customs attached to wearing and handling both.
Mongolian Script and Calligraphy
The vertical traditional Mongolian script, its roots in the Uyghur alphabet, why Cyrillic replaced it in daily use, and where you can still see it and its calligraphy.
Silver, Leather and Metalwork Traditions
Decorative metalwork and leatherwork on Mongolian saddles, bowls, knives and jewelry, who makes it, and what common patterns are generally understood to mean.
The Deel: Traditional Mongolian Clothing
The deel is Mongolia's long wrap robe. Learn how it is cut, why the sash matters, how it changes by season and region, and when people wear it today.
The Morin Khuur Horse Head Fiddle
Meet the morin khuur, Mongolia's two-stringed horse head fiddle: how it is built and played, the legend of its origin, and its place in music and ceremony.
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More in people and culture
Nomadic Culture Herding life, the ger and the customs of the steppe. History and Heritage From early steppe peoples to the Mongol Empire and modern Mongolia. Food and Drink Traditional dishes, dairy, tea and meals as guests. Festivals and Traditions Naadam, the Lunar New Year, music, art and spiritual life. Steppe Peoples and Dynasties Peoples, states and turning points before and after the Mongol Empire. Language and Everyday Life How people speak, live, work and celebrate day to day. Traditional Sports and Games Wrestling, archery, horse racing and the games families play.