5 minute read

Nomadic Empires of the Mongolian Steppes

from National Museum of Korea: Quarterly Magazine, vol.43

by National Museum of Korea

from National Museum of Korea: Quarterly Magazine, vol.43, page 30

Article from: National Museum of Korea: Quarterly Magazine, vol.43

The Bear in Korean Culture

CURRENT

By Yoon On-shik, Associate Curator of the Archaeology and History Division, National Museum of Korea

Exhibition Info. National Museum of Korea April 27 - July 15, 2018

The National Museum of Korea holds a special exhibition Nomadic Empires of the Mongolian Steppes in collaboration with the Institute of History and Archaeology of Mongolian Academy of Sciences, the National Museum of Mongolia, and the Bogd Khaan Palace Museum.

The National Museum of Korea holds a special exhibition in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Korea-Mongolia research project that will shed new light on the history and culture of the nomadic empire that dramatically changed the course of world history. This exhibition provides an opportunity to closely examine the factors that allowed the various nomadic groups in the vast Mongolian steppes to form a great Empire across the Eurasian Continent and reconsider the existing interpretations of history that are mainly based on settlement culture. The exhibition consists of three parts and showcases the results of the Korea-Mongolia research project along with around 500 artifacts, many of which have only recently been discovered.

Part 1: The Dawn of an Empire

A survey of Stone Age sites in a southern area of the Gobi indicates that humans began living in the Mongol region approximately 750 to 800 thousand years ago. In addition, a hominid fossil from around 40 to 50 thousand years ago was also discovered in the archaeological site of Salk hit of Khentty province in eastern Mongolia. The Stone Age in Mongoliais broadly divided into the Paleolithic period when stone implements were first used, the Mesolithic period marked by the manufacture of microliths and the use of bows and arrows for hunting prey at a distance, and the Neolithic period when people produced earthenware and clothing to adorn the body.

Bronze implements from the area date to the late third millennium before the Common Era and evidence of bronze-age production can be found in excavation findings from Khirigssur and the stone-cistburials at Erdene as well as examples of so called deer stones and other images carved on rocks. The bronze implements used by the nomads generally featured realistic or stylized representations of wild carnivores and herbivores as well as livestock.

**Silver Ornaments with an Image of a Mythic Unicorn**

Part 2: The Ancient Nomadic Empires of the Mongols

The Xiongnu was the first association of tribes in the Mongolian region, followed by the Xianbei and the Rouran Khaganate. From the mid-6th century until the end of the 9th century the Mongolian region was ruled by states established by the Turkic Khaganate, the Uygurs, and the Kirgiz and in the early 10th century the Khitan emerged as a dominant power. Among these various nomadic groups this exhibition focuses particularly on the Xiongnu c. 3rd c. BCE–1st c. CE and Turkic Khaganate 522–744 associations.

There are a great variety of historical sites related to the Xiongnu Empire including tombs, fortresses, and paintings on rocks. In particular, tombs at Duurlig Nars, excavated by the Korea-Mongolia research expedition, plays an important role in revealing the culture of the Xiongnu ruling class. In addition, the exhibition features artifacts excavated from the historical site known as Noyon uul of Tuv province, uncovered by the Russian Kozlov expedition between 1924 and 1927. Also on display are harness decorations excavated from the historical site in Gol mod of Arkhangai province, uncovered by a joint French and Mongolian research team between 2005 and 2009.

The following Turkic Khaganate Empire used their own unique alphabet and built temples to hold ancestral rites for the deceased members of the aristocratic class. Even today in the area of Arkhangai province, we can find stone figures and epitaphs as well as traces of an ancestral shrine built to honor the accomplishments of Bilge Khaghan, Tonyukuk, and Kul Tegin. The gallery features a rubbing from the western face of the Kul Tegin stele along with a stone statue of a head. Also on view are examples of fine metalwork such as a golden crown, golden decorative belt, a golden kettle and cups, and a silver deer that were excavated by a joint Turkish and Mongolian research team between 2001 and 2003.

Part 3: The Mongol Empire and the Descendants of Genghis Khan

Between the 13th and 14th centuries the Mongols established an enormous empire that extended over most of Eurasia from the Pacific coast to Eastern Europe, from Siberia to South Asia. Artifacts recovered from the contemporary site No. 57 at Tavantolgoi of Sukhbaatar province, such as iron armor and stirrups with inlaid decoration as well as leather boots and belts, points to a lifestyle characterized by endless and intense warfare.

However, Mongol society underwent a monumental transformation in the middle of the 14th century with the collapse of the Mongol Empire. Nomadic characteristics of Mongol life faded and a trend towards amore settled way of life gained popularity, in no small part due to the rapid spread of Tibetan Buddhism among the Mongols in the 16th century. Gegeen Zanabazar, who was declared spiritual leader of Mongol Buddhism in 1639, contributed greatly to transforming Mongol religion, art, and culture by erecting various temples and casting Buddhist statues. This part features Buddhist artwork and objects from everyday life dating from the period of the Mongol Empire until present day, including a representation of Green Tara from the Bogd Khaan Palace Museum.

Nomadic empires had a huge impact on world history in the way in which they stimulated more settled countries into action and opened up a global exchange connecting East and West, North and South. The situation on the Korean Peninsula was no exception and the Korean population not only had to negotiate the border with the nomadic groups in the northern region but they also had to react to various incursions into their territory. The final part of this exhibition tells this story of the history of nomadic groups and the Korean Peninsula.

This article is from:

National Museum of Korea: Quarterly Magazine, vol.43

by National Museum of Korea