Secret history of the Mongols, Under Eternal Blue Heaven Options

[lovelytruth]

Hun Princess Graveyard’s Secret

A Hunnu princess’s graveyard discovered in summer of 1990 in Mankhan locality of Khovd province has become the sensation in the world of archeology.

Ever since 1924 when the graveyard of the Hunnu ruler Modun Shayu filled with riches was discovered, this become only the second time when the remains of Hun noble was found.

“We were really lucky. The graveyard was not plundered. Though the wooden cover of the graveyard was demolished the coffin chamber was well preserved,” says the Khovd archeological expedition head, Prof. D. Navaan.
Hunnu princess. Rock painting from Gobi Alatai province, Khanyn Khad Mountain

“She was barely 20 years old. The wooden walls of the coffin were held together by leather strips, all of which were amazingly well preserved provided that the burial took place some 2,000 years ago.

“The side walls of the coffin are ornamented with four flower petals. In one corner we discovered remains of a green color silk cover the coffin was wrapped around.”

“Inside the coffin we discovered golden earrings, a hair comb, remains of bronze decorations, wooden plates covered with gold, small balls made of semi- precious stones and other personal belongings of Hun princess.”

The wooden box inside which the coffin was placed, contained a bronze jar with great engravings of various animals, metal bridle, details of horse equipment. A chariot wheel attracted special attention of archeologists as it has more than 40 holes for rungs and therefore the wheel must be very large.

Five horse skulls were put on the northern side to the burial, with one horse head turned towards the coffin. The number 5 was revered by Huns because of their special reverence for Cygnus Constellation. One separate horse head probably belonged to the princess’ beloved horse.

“Archeological research of Hunnu burial sites is not an easy task. The more noble was the deceased, deeper the graveyard was hidden,” says Prof. Navaan. “Once we came across a graveyard going as deep as 16 meters. Aside from depth stone landslides make the work very dangerous. Huns were shrewd enough to protect their graveyards against robbers with various tricks.“
Excavating another Huunnu graveyard, one of hundreds found in Khovd province

Each Hunnu noble graveyard usually narrows as it goes down. For example, Hun Princess graveyard occupies some 13 to 16 meters on the earth surface but when it goes down it narrows down to 2.5 x 5 meters.

“When closing the burial, Hunnu filled it with layers of stones and earth so that in case robbers start to dig vertically and go down for about four meters, the walls slide down burying robbers alive. After some examination we decided to dig from less steep side and our guess about the possible trap turned to be true,” explains Prof. Navaan.
.
The archeological expedition began the exploration of Khovd province since 1984. This is not well explored area containing many remains of various nomadic cultures. Often there are clusters of several dozen and even hundreds of graveyards form various periods.

For example, more than 80 graveyards from Hunnu period containing more than 2,000 rare artifacts, were uncovered in the neighboring Bulgan province along the Egiin River banks by a UNESCO funded expedition, shedding new light on the culture and life of Hunnu. A structural analysis of some bronze Hunnu artifacts at the Louvre Museum laboratory proved that they were locally made.

“A stone made, ink container with remains of paint represents an interesting discovery hinting that Hunnu may have used own script,“ says Prof. Navaan. “More than 60 pictograms were spotted on various items again supporting the possibility of Hunnu script.”

Most of found items are personal belongings to serve the buried ones in the other world. For example, each graveyard contained chopsticks made of animal bones.

Hunnu paid close attention to clothes and arms. Knives and almost every piece of kitchenware or clothes was adorned with distinct and exquisite ornaments or patterns. Without doubt Hunnu were masterful artisans

This post has been edited by lovelytruth: Jan 16 2006, 08:58 PM

[lovelytruth]

Who were Hunnu?


For many decades the study of ancient history of Mongols was subject to ideological directives and politics. And therefore, with the removal of political and ideological restraints after political reforms of 1990, archeology now experiences a boom.

Huunu artisan medallion with yak image engraving
One of the hottest areas is the history of Hunnu, a nomadic tribe that ruled the vast stretches of Central Asian steppes and forced China to go into extreme effort of building the Great China wall in attempt to protect against devastating raids.

The name of Atilla, the Hunnu king who led his men all the way to the walls of Rome and destroyed it to the horror of the Europe an nations probably rings a bell.

Hunnus become known around I-III centuries B.C., around the time armies of Greek Alexander the Great launched their offense against Persia and India.

Felt made carpet found in a Hunnu king graveyard in 1924


The Hunnu kingdom stretched from Baikal Lake in the north to Great Chinese Wall in south, from Yellow Sea to the oases of Central Asia.

The state, ruled by a king or Shanyu elected by assembly of all tribe chieftains- khurultai, was built on the principle of military democracy under which all the nomadic herders were warriors and subjects at the same time.

Chinese historical records noted that each autumn all men and cattle were counted to decide the amount of taxes and army subscripts.

Hunnu army was based on decimal system and was well armed. Rock paintings from that period depict armored knights and horses protected with aprons embroidered with metal plates.

Hunnu domesticated various animals including camels and grew crops. Inside graveyards corn grindstone and parts of plough prove that their grew crops.



Hunnu knew metal works as the amazing number variety of their arms suggest. Each and very Hunnu warrior had various arms for close and distance combat. Plenty of bronze and potter kitchenware proves that Hunnu had well developed craftsmen.

The decline of Hunnu empire began in the first century B.C. starting from the rivalry of two princes, Huhan’e and Zhizhi. After several major battles the younger brother fled, leading his men to West, towards the Caspian Sea.

500 years later, their descendants migrated further reaching Dunai River and setting up own kingdom headed by Atilla.

The remaining and weakened Hunnu fell under the repeated assaults of a neighboring nomadic tribe, Xianbi, which appeared on the eastern flanks of the Hunnu empire.

Recent research suggests that Hunnu did not differ much from modern Mongols in their appearance and may represent their ancestors.

Anthropological studies show that the Mongoloid race or Central Asian type was already well shaped by the time of Hunnu.

This a final conclusion made by Prof. G.Tumen, Chair of the Anthropology and Archeology of the Mongolian National University, after more than 30 years of comparative study of skulls from Stone Age to modern times.

DNA analysis also proved the consistency of genetic lines between Hunnu and modern Mongols. This scientific conclusion implies that Atilla the Hun was indeed an ancestor of Chinggis Khaan.

This post has been edited by lovelytruth: Jan 16 2006, 09:03 PM

[lovelytruth]

Best Hairdo, Hunnu Style

Ever since the early days of history the first thing humans played with were their own or others hairs. But until recently not much study has been done on the ways Central Asian nomads treated their hairs. Research by archeology Prof. D. Bayar reveals the best hairs styles of the past.

Buddhist monks of that time wore regular haircuts. Stone monument from Dariganga locality steppes
Over the decades he studied the stone monuments protecting their master’s graveyards, paintings of steppe nomadic royalty and nobles preserved in Persian and Chinese chronicles as well as graveyards.

“Epics and legends of Central Asian nomads contain a great deal of facts showing their deep reverence for the hair as symbol of honor and invincibility of the hero,” says D. Bayar.

As the result of his studies he identified that almost all nomadic tribes had the consistent tradition of wearing plaits braided in certain manner, compulsory for all men.

Guyug Khaan, grandson of Chinggis Khaan (1206-1248)

“Written sources evidence that the nomadic tribes had the continuous tradition of wearing plaits braided in certain manner, compulsory for all men,” says Prof. Bayar who studied the material culture of Medieval Mongols for last three decades. “This hairstyle can be traced through out the history of nomadic cultures populating Central Asia from III century B.C until our century.”

Chinese and European travelers who visited Mongolia at various times left the detailed description of Mongolian haircuts.

They unanimously write that all Mongolian men, regardless of social status shaved the hair on the top of their heads in the form of a horse shoe, leaving a lock of hear on top to be brushed onto forehead. The remaining part of hair on at the nape was divided into two “tails” hanging behind the ears.

For example, a French missionary left the following description: “Like our monks, the men leave a lock of hair on the top of head. But they would shave around it for about three fingers wide. The hair lock left on the top would hung ahead and grow until reaching the eyebrows. The remainder of hairs left behind will be locked in two tails.

According to Prof D.Bayar, another important source for studying Medieval Mongolians are the stone monuments, scattered across the country and standing over graveyards. Their examination shows that despite universal men haircut there were different ways of braiding hairs.

A fashionable Medieval Mongolian

Portraits of great Mongolian khans and nobles do confirm this descriptions. For example, portrait of Guyuk Khaan, grandson of Chinggis Khaan, made by Chinese artist shows that he brushed hair into a single, curled braid and brushed onto one side.

Continuing the nomadic tradition, Mongols maintained the age long reverence for man’s hairs believing that these hairstyles had magic power.

Even nowadays the list of DON’Ts includes touching others head and hairs without permission since it is considered to be a major offense. On some days the barber shops remain empty because of deeply ingrained perception of “good and bad” days for hair cutting.

Despite the influence of modern lifestyles and universal Hollywood dictated hairstyles, Mongols still continue to hold their reverence for the old traditions among which special ceremony of first hair cutting of babies holds important place.

This ceremony takes place when child reaches age 3 or 5 for boys and 4 or 6 for girls. Before organizing the ceremony an auspicious day is chosen usually in summer or autumn.

On the day, child wears the best clothes, invites best friends, relatives and neighbors for a small party.

Twins, after hair cutting ceremony

The ceremony starts with a specially selected person touching the hair of the child. He or she cuts a small lock of hair on the forehead. Only after this other guests follow the suit, each cutting off a small lock with scissors. In case one of close relatives is absent, a bundle of hair is left untouched on the nape so that later on the person can cut it personally.

At the end of ritual all hairs with exception of a small bunch on forehead is cut off. The mother of the child gathers all cut hairs, warps in a silk cloth and preserves them as a amulet or charm for the long and happy life of her child.

The ceremony is accompanied by offerings and good wishes for the child, praise songs. Guests enjoy a small party while the child is given a young goat, lamb or even a colt as a gift.

This post has been edited by lovelytruth: Jan 16 2006, 09:21 PM

[batu]

An interesting story from the Secret History is about Zev (Jebe). He shot Chinggis khan's neck with an arrow during a battle in late 1100s. Fortunately Chinggis khan was saved by Zelme. Zev was captured with many other enemy soldiers. Chinggis khan asked who had shot the neck of his beloved horse (he probably did not want to let ppl know that his neck was shot actually). Zev, a very courageous young man, stepped out to say that it was him who shot and if the khan wanted he could become his royal servant, otherwise he was ready to die. Chinggis khan quickly saw his courage and honesty, praised him, changed his name from Zurgaadai to Zev and made him a general in his army. It proved to be a genuinely wise decision by Chinggis khan as Zev was a total success in warfare, a total force against wars and battles Kara kitai, Xia Xia, Jin, Khwaresm and Russia.

[Your_Overlord]

Huns (Xiong Nu) are proto-Turks, not Mongols. During the days of the Huns, Mongol ancesters still dwelled in Siberia not Mongolia.

I beginning to think Mongolian secret history is "secret" because everyone knows it's bull$hit.

This post has been edited by Your_Overlord: Feb 1 2006, 03:26 PM

[Your_Overlord]

delete

This post has been edited by Your_Overlord: Feb 1 2006, 03:26 PM

[Your_Overlord]

delete

This post has been edited by Your_Overlord: Feb 1 2006, 03:25 PM

[three_kingdoms]

I always figured that Huns and Turks and Mongols differed in looks very slightly. Just like Mongolians, Koreans, Japanese differ very slightly in looks as well, otherwise are pretty similiar.

[Your_Overlord]

I always figured that Huns and Turks and Mongols differed in looks very slightly. Just like Mongolians, Koreans, Japanese differ very slightly in looks as well, otherwise are pretty similiar.

Huns are proto-Turks. There are no such things as Huns today. You can't use phenotype as a tool of analysis all the time, too much variation within a population to yield any kind of reliable results. Turks have culturally similarities with too, but still doesn't make them the same especially when you consider that at this time Mongols lived in Siberia. If everyone can so easily be clumped together, then you might as well clump Tibetans with Chinese.

I've seen lots of Koreans with the Mongolia look, but rarely Japanese with that look. I think you have a tendency to classify all groups within the Altaic linguistic group together in terms of phenotype. Bad idea, doesn't work all the time. Constant demographic migration throughout world history will taint you're results significantly.

[three_kingdoms]

Huns are proto-Turks.  There are no such things as Huns today.  You can't use phenotype as a tool of analysis all the time, too much variation within a population to yield any kind of reliable results.  Turks have culturally similarities with too, but still doesn't make them the same especially when you consider that at this time Mongols lived in Siberia.  If everyone can so easily be clumped together, then you might as well clump Tibetans with Chinese.

I've seen lots of Koreans with the Mongolia look, but rarely Japanese with that look.  I think you have a tendency to classify all groups within the Altaic linguistic group together in terms of phenotype.  Bad idea, doesn't work all the time.  Constant demographic migration throughout world history will taint you're results significantly.

Huns were described as looking east Asian. Turks, the way they look gets confused easily because modern day Turks mixed so much with whites, but thats not how original turks look.

Just because I say Koreans, Mongolians, Japanese look similiar, but slightly different, doesn't mean that I don't think any other groups wouldn't also fit in that category. And yeah, I think language grouping doesn't do migration patterns 100% justice, but I never said that. Its just an easy way to say it quickly for me, instead of saying " back in the 11th century blah blah the alliance blah blah etc..." every time I talk about it...

[Your_Overlord]

Huns were described as looking east Asian. Turks, the way they look gets confused easily because modern day Turks mixed so much with whites, but thats not how original turks look.

Just because I say Koreans, Mongolians, Japanese look similiar, but slightly different, doesn't mean that I don't think any other groups wouldn't also fit in that category. And yeah, I think language grouping doesn't do migration patterns 100% justice, but I never said that. Its just an easy way to say it quickly for me, instead of saying " back in the 11th century blah blah the alliance blah blah etc..." every time I talk about it...

I know that Huns are mongoloids(E. Asian), but I am saying that the Huns are a group disntictive from the Mongols, and the descendents of the Huns are Tujue/Turket/Gok-Turks and not the Mongols.

[blob]

How about the original Turks? Were they of East Asian stock too?

[MING-LOYALIST]

XiongNu were Mongolian looking but spoke a Turkic tongue.

XianBei were the first probrable Mongol speakers to rule the steepes.

RuanRuan(Rouran) were turkic speaking.

Turk(Tujue) were turkic speaking.

Uygur were turkic speaking.

Kygzy were turkic speaking.

Khitan were Mongol speaking.

Jurchen were Tungus

Mongol were Mongol

Manchu were Tungus.

[Your_Overlord]

XiongNu were Mongolian looking but spoke a Turkic tongue.

XianBei were the first probrable Mongol speakers to rule the steepes.

RuanRuan(Rouran) were turkic speaking.

Turk(Tujue) were turkic speaking.

Uygur were turkic speaking.

Kygzy were turkic speaking.

Khitan were Mongol speaking.

Jurchen were Tungus

Mongol were Mongol

Manchu were Tungus.

Mongols were probably a subjugated tribe within the Xianbei Confederacy. The Xianbei tribe is the tribe that were dominant. Proto-Tungustic tribes were also probably one of the tribes living under Xianbei domination

How about the original Turks? Were they of East Asian stock too?

Yes. But there is no such thing as the original Turk. But the first steppe people to go by "turk" were the Turkut/Gok-Turks/Tujue, whom probably were the descendents of the Hun/Xiong-Nu. The Ottoman Turks were probably descendents of this Turkic lineage as well. However there is another turkic lineage from the Steppes, which is known as the Tiele. The Urighurs were probably the descendents of them.

This post has been edited by Your_Overlord: Feb 1 2006, 11:25 PM

[Hawaii]

"Hunnu" is almost the exact pronunciation for "匈奴 Xiongnu" in Cantonese. Notice the word Hun 匈[SIZE=7]with a cross in the middle was created to describe these people who would scarce their face to scare off their enemies. Another Chinese word was transformed from this word 匈 to describe act of violence and homicide.

[ANAND]

"Hunnu" is almost the exact pronunciation for "匈奴 Xiongnu" in Cantonese.  Notice the word Hun 匈[SIZE=7]with a cross in the middle was created to describe these people who would scarce their face to scare off their enemies.  Another Chinese word was transformed from this word 匈 to describe act of violence and homicide.

WHAT A NON-SENSE. WHY DO YOU CHINESE explain everything from their self-centered mind. Who cares chinese language, are you trying to put down others

[Hawaii]

WHAT A NON-SENSE. WHY DO YOU CHINESE explain everything from their self-centered mind.  Who cares chinese language, are you trying to put  down others

I am not trying to put down others, I love reading books about Mongolian history, Manchu history etc. I had read several books on these subjects before, both in Chinese and English. Now reading this particular thread had rekindled my interests on Mongolian history as a matter of fact. I guess I have to buy another book online.
Anyway without the Chinese records, do you think you know who Hunnu is? If you are truly interested in Mongolian history, you should find reading the Chinese records on these different nomadic tribes crucial in your knowledge of Mongolian origins.

[Hawaii]

The Secret of the Secret History of Mongols

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_Hi..._of_the_Mongols

The Secret History of the Mongols is the first literary work of Mongolian culture. It is written for the royal Mongol family some time after Genghis Khan's death in 1227 AD, by an anonymous author, originally in Uighur script, though the surviving manuscripts all derive from a Chinese transliteration and translation of the 14th century, significantly after the death of Genghis Khan on his conquests and perceptions viewed by the Mongols. The book's origin is Mongolian and like much of the texts during the period, it is somewhat folkic, poetic and not really as factual as some historians would have really wanted.

The book was discovered for the West by a Russian sinologist Palladiy Kafarov in China, where it was well-known as a text for teaching Chinese to read and write Mongolian during the Ming Dynasty, and first translated into Russian. It is currently regarded as the single significant Mongolian account of the Genghis Khan in Mongolia. It is regarded as a classic literature in Mongolia.

Its first translation into English was Francis Woodman Cleaves, The Secret History of the Mongols: For the First Time Done into English out of the Original Tongue and Provided with an Exegetical Commentary, 1. (Harvard-Yenching Institute) Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1982. The somewhat archaic and stilted language adopted by Cleaves was not satisfying to all, and between 1971 and 1985, Igor de Rachewiltz published a fresh translation in eleven volumes of the series Papers on Far Eastern History accompanied by extensive footnotes commenting not only on the translation but also various aspects of Mongolian culture.

Several passages of the Secret History appear in slightly different versions in the 17th century Mongolian chronicle Altan Tobci.

[Anda]

I am not trying to put down others, I love reading books about Mongolian history, Manchu history etc.  I had read several books on these subjects before, both in Chinese and English.  Now reading this particular thread had rekindled my interests on Mongolian history as a matter of fact.  I guess I have to buy another book online.
Anyway without the Chinese records, do you think you know who Hunnu is? If you are truly interested in Mongolian history, you should find reading the Chinese records on these different nomadic tribes crucial in your knowledge of Mongolian origins.

You are right. Chinese sources were only sources in most cases
Somehow you should know that chinese term for their surrounding nations are always had deragotary meaning

[Anda]

The Secret of the Secret History of Mongols

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_Hi..._of_the_Mongols

The Secret History of the Mongols is the first literary work of Mongolian culture. It is written for the royal Mongol family some time after Genghis Khan's death in 1227 AD, by an anonymous author, originally in Uighur script, though the surviving manuscripts all derive from a Chinese transliteration and translation of the 14th century, significantly after the death of Genghis Khan on his conquests and perceptions viewed by the Mongols. The book's origin is Mongolian and like much of the texts during the period, it is somewhat folkic, poetic and not really as factual as some historians would have really wanted.

The book was discovered for the West by a Russian sinologist Palladiy Kafarov in China, where it was well-known as a text for teaching Chinese to read and write Mongolian during the Ming Dynasty, and first translated into Russian. It is currently regarded as the single significant Mongolian account of the Genghis Khan in Mongolia. It is regarded as a classic literature in Mongolia.

Its first translation into English was Francis Woodman Cleaves, The Secret History of the Mongols: For the First Time Done into English out of the Original Tongue and Provided with an Exegetical Commentary, 1. (Harvard-Yenching Institute) Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1982. The somewhat archaic and stilted language adopted by Cleaves was not satisfying to all, and between 1971 and 1985, Igor de Rachewiltz published a fresh translation in eleven volumes of the series Papers on Far Eastern History accompanied by extensive footnotes commenting not only on the translation but also various aspects of Mongolian culture.

Several passages of the Secret History appear in slightly different versions in the 17th century Mongolian chronicle Altan Tobci.

This is very interesting. I read it in Mongolian language. Also i tried to read Igor de Rachewiltz's translation, it might be interesting

In mongolian language it has lots of beautiful poems and lyrics

НЭГДYГЭЭР БYЛЭГ
ТЭМЇЖИНИЙ УГ ГАРАЛ БА БАГА НАСНЫ ЇЕ
1. Чингис хааны язгуур, дээр тэнгэрээс заяат тєрсєн Бєртэ-чино, гэргий Гуа-Маралын хамт тэнгис далайг гэтэлж ирээд Онон мєрний эх Бурхан халдун ууланд нутаглаж Батцагаан гэдэг нэгэн хєвїїнийг тєрїїлжээ.

1-1
It says ancestors of Chinggis Khaan, Burte chino (Wolf), his wife Gua Maral ( Deer) came across the see/ocean and settled in Onon river source Burkhan Haldun Mountain, gave birth to son Battsagaan.

This post has been edited by Anda: Feb 5 2006, 02:34 AM