MONGOLIA
Core of Culture proposes a response to the urgent need to document and preserve Tsam in Mongolia
Since 1990 Buddhist Tsam dance and other practices have begun to take new root in Mongolia.
This is promising, as Mongolia is the final frontier of Buddhist Cham (Tsam) dance, which is found in the Himalayas from Bhutan to Kashmir, in Tibet,
and in the largest Buddhist nation in the world, Mongolia.
This is promising, as Mongolia is the final frontier of Buddhist Cham (Tsam) dance, which is found in the Himalayas from Bhutan to Kashmir, in Tibet,
and in the largest Buddhist nation in the world, Mongolia.
|
These days, mining for rare minerals needed for industry and construction is being allowed and encouraged in Mongolia as never before. Mongolia's rate of economic growth is expected to be twice that of China’s within two years. The heavy and invasive nature of mining, coupled with the influx of foreign workers means Mongolia’s complexion will be changed forever. The time to act is now. In alignment with the goals of the Mongolian National Center for Intangible Cultural Heritage, and legislation declaring ‘urgent’ the need to document intangible culture, Core of Culture is seeking contacts now in order to undertake a rapid inventory of Tsam dance and other practices, return with data, and plan a comprehensive documentation and preservation strategy with Mongolian colleagues and advisors . Core of Culture is the world expert in the documentation and preservation of Buddhist Cham dance. Where UNESCO and other concerns have designated important forms as worthy of attention, they are not equipped to produce world-class documentation or dance archiving, such as Core of Culture can, working in partnership with the Dance Division of the New York Public Library. The dances of Mongolia have not yet been properly or comprehensively documented. In addition to Core of Culture’s team of ancient dance specialists, the fieldwork team includes an expert in traditional horsemanship who has ridden with Nomads in Mongolia, and specialists in Tantric Buddhist Art, which is the style prevalent in Mongolia. Because of this, Core of Culture can inventory and document other traditional Mongolian cultural practices as well, such as equestrian lifestyles, and the practice of making Buddhist art – both affected by the changes swiftly coming in Mongolia. |
 |
Ancient Dance of Mongolia: Mongolian Tsam
 |
In Mongolia, the ritual cham dance of the Vajrayana Buddhist sects was infused with elements of magic and the indigenous traditions of the nomads. More than 500 of the 700 Mongolian monasteries had local variations of the ceremony. Varying accounts sources place the first Mongolian Tsam dance between 1786 and 1811. Although tsam can be admired from an artistic point of view, more importantly, it is a secret Tantric ritual to subdue and purify external environments, eradicate diseases and pain, and spread auspiciousness. It is an internal ritual to purify the spirit, to abandon mental afflictions, and to ease the suffering of all sentient beings. It is a meditation on emptiness. To learn more about Cham around the world, click the link below: Learn more about Cham
|
Based on a tradition going back to the era of Chinggis Khan, the government of Mongolia expresses public commitment to restoring and protecting its natural and cultural resources.
 |
 |
Core of Culture would like to offer it's work as a gift to the people of Mongolia.
The People of Mongolia
 |
Ethnic Mongols account for about 95% of Mongolia's population and consist of Khalkha and other groups, all distinguished primarily by dialects of the Mongol language. Mongol is an Altaic language, from the Altaic Mountains of Central Asia, a language family comprising the Turkic, Tungusic, and Mongolic subfamilies, and is related to Turkic (Uzbek, Turkish, and Kazakh), Korean, and, possibly, Japanese. Among ethnic Mongols, the Khalkha comprise 90% and the remaining 10% include Dorvod, Tuvan, and Buriat Mongols in the north and Dariganga Mongols in the east. Turkic speakers (Kazakhs, Turvins, and Khotans) constitute 5% of Mongolia's population, and the rest are Tungusic-speakers. |
Return to Core of Culture Regions page
