Current Position:Home > Folk Customs |
Mongolian yurt | 发布时间:2014/1/20 15:11:38 作者:ftwljsb 点击数: 500 |
1. Name and origin of the Mongolian yurt
At first, there were two kinds of Mongolian yurts, one was carried on cart and movable, and the other could be dismantled and erected on the grassland directly. The Mongolian yurts carried on cart were different in size. Smaller one could be dragged by one cow or horse, while larger one needed to be dragged by two cattle. During finding suitable houses for themselves, the Mongolians, after hundreds of years of scrabbling and based on the wickiup, finally built the house suitable for pastoral nomadism and migration all over the year and resisting the cold weather of the northern plateau and found the Mongolian yurt which could endure the tests of nature. 2. Characteristics of the Mongolian yurt The Mongolian yurt is warm in winter and cool in summer. Since ancient times, the Mongolian area has been very cold, “the coldness of Mongolian area can crack the horn of sheep of three-year-old”. The Mongolians live in the yurt from generation to generation and nobody has ever hurt by cold, because, firstly, there is fire inside the yurt. There are plenty of cattle and sheep manure in the pastoral area, and as long as the fire is burnt, it will be warm. Secondly, the felt yurt is thickened outside in winter and a layer of felt is tied inside to obtain better wind resisting performance. Thirdly, they warm the yurt, close the cover, block the door, and cover with sheep skin quilt and fur gowns when sleeping, how can it be cold? Fourthly, they can sit around in the yurt to warm the kang and fire outside. If the yurt is too hot, regulate the temperature through the top felt; in hot summer, the Mongolians erect felt yurt on the broad highland and sit inside the yurt drinking and singing, with the fragrance of flower and cool wind blowing on the face and aroma of cream coming with the air, it feels like the Asgard. Because the Mongolian yurt is spherical and mainly white, it has great glistening effect. A skylight can be opened at the back and the felt surrounding can be rolled up to let the wind come from all directions, just like a summer shelter. It is especially suitable for making dairy food, because the dairy food will not be too sour in the yurt. (2) Suitable for nomadism life Easy dismantling: dismantling the Mongolian yurt is much easier than erecting. Untie the ropes, the felt and frame will be separate automatically. Hana, wuni, and taonao are all separate and can be dismantled and folded quickly. Convenient for loading and moving: basic materials of the Mongolian yurt are wood and felt, and therefore, it is very convenient for loading. Convenient for repairing: materials used for the Mongolian yurt are adjusted to local conditions and obtained from local resources. When any parts are damaged or old, replace them. The Mongolian yurt can be expanded and shrunk. However, psychologically and customarily, the Mongolians do not like shrinking the yurt. There is the saying of “it is better to shrink the stomach than shrink the yurt". 3. Compositions of the Mongolian yurt Hana is a mesh with rhombic holes made of willow strips and leather ropes. Connect several hana together to form a round grating frame, and this is the wall of Mongolian yurt. Door is called “halaga” in Mongolian and is composed of frame, threshold, and head. Door of the Mongolian yurt can not be too high, generally about 3 chi and 5 inches high and 2 chi and 5-6 inches wide. People must bend over to get inside. The door is southward or southeastward to avoid the northwest wind. Generally, the door is double-layered in winter, and the one inside is called wind door and opened to both sides. (2) Covering felt (3) Belts and ropes The Mongolian yurt reflects the taste of the Mongolians. The Mongolian yurt is white, spherical, and taonao connecting with wuni in the shape of light shining from the sun and the moon, which reflect that the Mongolians psychology of worshipping circle and worshipping the sun and the moon. 4. Furnishings inside the Mongolian yurt Northwest wide of the Mongolian yurt is the place of worshipping figure of Buddha, niche, and ancestors. Because the Mongolians have always considered northwest as the honored direction, articles related to God are worshipped in northwest. And then pasturing and hunting tools of men, such as saddle, whip, bow and arrow, and shotguns, are placed in southwest. Beds are placed in northwest of the Mongolian yurt, and next to the bed are the chests of women in northeast. Vertical closet with various patterns are placed in the east for storing bowls, calyx, pans, range, spoon, tea, milk, and furniture, etc. Kitchen utensils and milk tools are place in southeast. 5. Seat arranging, seating method, lodging and sleeping in the Mongolian yurt Seat of the guest in Mongolian yurt is the same with that of the families. Ordinary guest and young guest can not get across north of the ledger of taonao, and the elder generally sit in the north of the ledger. If the host invites the guest to sit on the seat of honor, it shows the respect to the guest, and then the guest should sit in the northwest or north. Generally, do not sit in front of the Buddha table or chest in northwest or upstream of fire of the range to show respect to the Buddha, ancestor, burning incense, and family of the host. Woman guest sits in northeast by going round the east. The hostess generally cooks in the east. Guests will sit in the yurt in different directions in order according to the age, status, and familiarity. There is a motto in the folk that “you should learn to sit even if you do not know how to read”. In the Mongolian yurt, sitting has been considered as a knowledge and great event. No matter who the guest is, he must hunker with one leg while visiting others'. People sitting in the west should bend left knee; those sitting in the east should bend right knee. Not only the guest, but also the host will sit in such manner on the guest welcoming seat when guests come in to show respect. Women should squat one leg and bend the other in front of guest to show their respect and friendship to the guests. For sleeping at ordinary time, the host sleeps with his wife in the north, and elder of the family sleep in the west. If there is not enough room and someone has to sleep in the east, woman should sleep in the east. If there are guest, they will reserve the best place (north or west) to the guest. While sleeping, no body, guest or family, should point their foot at the figure of Buddha and fire of range. Head of the person sleeping in the west should be northward, head of the person sleeping in the north should be westward, and head of the person sleeping in the east should be northward. While sleeping, the host will prepare new felt, pillow, and quilt for the guests. After the guests, elder, and host are asleep, rest of the family can sleep on their own positions and should not go to sleep before the guests.
|