28 February 2009

Environmental perception of the Mongols

By Erdenetuya Urtnast
Depending on natural condition and resources a certain way of subsistence takes shape and people bring into existence specific cultural and economical patterns. In this sense, in high forest and forest areas people have run hunting, whereas in steppe areas Mongolians have run mobile animal husbandry.

According to Mongolians’ understanding the “nature” is very inclusive concept which covers meaning “mighty force”, “the mother giving birth to all of animate beings”, “fertility, nourishment” and et cetera. The perception that human being relatively and entirely tied together surrounding environment is found in Mongolians’ worldview, religion and ecological consciousness. “According to the original ideas of Mongols, nature is an all-encompassing system which ideally remains in balance, a state of normality regulated by tngri” [1] . Also they they have personified nature and treated as if there is a communication between humans and nature as inter-human communication.

Since animal husbandry is dependent on nature and environment, Mongolians realize that nature and environment are the most vital origin and source of their life. They had not only received natural “generousity” and “bounty” by direct ways but also received via their livestock productivity, therefore they had comprehended very well about that if the vital source of life damaged then their life and fate would dramatically terminate. They had known very well about that if water resource polluted and dried up, then plants and vegetation, soil and pasture would be dessiccated, livestock would be lost, wild beasts and antelopes would shy away and consequently habitat would get lost. Because for them livestock products and natural sources are used for all of necessaries of life, such as food, clothing, lodging and transfortation.

For this reason on the one hand, in order to exist themselves, on the other hand they deeply realize that they are not able to recognize all secrets of the world and they never overcome mighty force of nature, Mongolians made up cultural pattern that adapted to ecological special feature of residing locality and created very sophisticated customs, laws, prohibitions, qtiquettes and religious rituals which are aimed to preserve natural and ecological pristine condition. Such pattern of culture is called as traditional culture. Mongolians never blamed to use natural sources for the sake of subsistence and survival, but had refrained to treat towards nature for gaining profits, breaking the law of nature and avoided to behave in careless and obdurate manners.

[1]Caroline Humphrey and David Sneath (edited). Culture and Environment in Inner Asia: Society and Culture. Volume.2. Cambridge: The White Horse Press, 1996, p.6