Editing Mongolia (section)

== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Mongolia}}

The symbol in the left bar of the national flag is a Buddhist icon called [[Soyombo symbol|Soyombo]]. It represents the sun, moon, stars, and heavens per standard cosmological symbology abstracted from that seen in traditional [[thangka]] paintings.

=== Visual arts ===
Before the 20th century, most works of the fine arts in Mongolia had a religious function, and therefore Mongolian fine arts were heavily influenced by religious texts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Terese Tse Bartholomew |year=1995 |title=Introduction to the Art of Mongolia |url=http://www.asianart.com/mongolia/introduct.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306134950/http://www.asianart.com/mongolia/introduct.html |archive-date=March 6, 2013 |access-date=2013-03-22 |publisher=asianart.com |df=mdy-all}}</ref> [[Thangkas]] were usually painted or made in [[appliqué]] technique. Bronze sculptures usually showed Buddhist deities. A number of great works are attributed to the first [[Jebtsundamba Khutuktu]], [[Zanabazar]].

In the late 19th century, painters like [[Marzan Sharav|"Marzan" Sharav]] turned to more realistic painting styles. Under the [[Mongolian People's Republic]], [[socialist realism]] was the dominant painting style,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Veronika Ronge |title=Die Mongolen: Beiträge zu ihrer Geschichte und Kultur |publisher=Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft |year=1986 |isbn=978-3-534-03579-3 |editor-last=Michael Weiers |pages=125–148 |chapter=Kunst und Kunstgewerbe}}</ref> however traditional ''thangka''-like paintings dealing with secular, nationalist themes were also popular, a genre known as "[[Mongol zurag|Mongol ''zurag'']]".

Among the first attempts to introduce [[modernism]] into the fine arts of Mongolia was the painting ''Ehiin setgel'' (''Mother's love'') created by Tsevegjav in the 1960s. The artist was purged as his work was censored.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

All forms of fine arts flourished only after [[perestroika]] in the late 1980s. Otgonbayar Ershuu is arguably one of the most well-known Mongolian modern artists in the Western world, he was portrayed in the film "ZURAG" by Tobias Wulff.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ZURAG – a movie about Otgonbayar Ershuu |url=http://www.zurag.de/zurag-film.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729204853/http://www.zurag.de/zurag-film.html |archive-date=July 29, 2013 |access-date=2013-06-28 |publisher=Zurag.de |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== Architecture ===
{{Main|Architecture of Mongolia}}{{More sources|section|date=April 2025}}[[File:Gurvger.jpg|thumb|A [[yurt|''ger'']] in front of the [[Gurvan Saikhan Uul|Gurvan Saikhan Mountains]]]]

The traditional Mongolian dwelling is known as a ''ger''. In the past it was known by the Russian term ''[[yurt]]'', but this has been changing as the Mongolian term becomes better known in English-speaking countries. According to Mongolian artist and art critic [[N. Chultem]], the ''ger'' was the basis for development of traditional Mongolian architecture. In the 16th and 17th centuries, lamaseries were built throughout the country. Many of them started as ''ger''-temples. When they needed to be enlarged to accommodate the growing number of worshippers, the Mongolian architects used structures with 6 and 12 angles{{clarify|r=is sides or corners meant?|date=April 2011}} with pyramidal roofs to approximate to the round shape of a ''ger''. Further enlargement led to a quadratic shape of the temples. The roofs were made in the shape of marquées.<ref name="Chultem">{{Cite book |title=Искусство Монголии |year=1984 |location=Moscow}}</ref> The trellis walls, roof poles and layers of felt were replaced by stone, brick, beams and planks, and became permanent.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cultural Heritage of Mongolia |url=http://www.indiana.edu/~mongsoc/mong/heritage.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070702015556/http://www.indiana.edu/~mongsoc/mong/heritage.htm |archive-date=July 2, 2007 |access-date=2007-07-07 |publisher=[[Indiana University]]}}</ref>

Chultem distinguished three styles in traditional Mongolian architecture: Mongolian, [[Tibetan architecture|Tibetan]] and [[Chinese architecture|Chinese]] as well as combinations of the three. Among the first quadratic temples was Batu-Tsagaan (1654) designed by [[Zanabazar]]. An example of the ''ger''-style architecture is the lamasery Dashi-Choiling in Ulaanbaatar. The temple Lavrin (18th century) in the [[Erdene Zuu]] lamasery was built in the Tibetan tradition. An example of a temple built in the Chinese tradition is the lamasery Choijing Lamiin Sume (1904), which is a museum today. The quadratic temple Tsogchin in lamasery Gandan in Ulaanbaatar is a combination of the Mongolian and Chinese tradition. The temple of Maitreya (disassembled in 1938) is an example of the Tibeto-Mongolian architecture.<ref name="Chultem" /> Dashi-Choiling monastery has commenced a project to restore the temple and the {{convert|25|m|ft}} sculpture of Maitreya.

=== Music ===
{{Main|Music of Mongolia}}
[[File:Mongolian Musician.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Musician playing the traditional Mongolian musical instrument [[morin khuur]]]]

The music of Mongolia is strongly influenced by nature, nomadism, shamanism, and also Tibetan Buddhism. The traditional music includes a variety of instruments, famously the [[morin khuur]], and also the singing styles like the [[Long song|urtyn duu]] ("long song"), and throat-singing ([[Tuvan throat singing#Khoomei|khoomei]]). The "tsam" is danced to keep away evil spirits and it was seen as reminiscent of [[shamanism]].

=== Media ===
{{Main|Media of Mongolia}}
[[File:Mongolia media.jpg|thumb|right|Mongolian media interviewing the opposition [[Mongolian Green Party]] in 2008. The media has gained significant freedoms since democratic reforms initiated in the 1990s.]]

Mongolian press began in 1920 with close ties to the Soviet Union under the Mongolian Communist Party, with the establishment of the ''Unen'' ("Truth") newspaper similar to the Soviet ''[[Pravda]]''.<ref name="pr">{{Cite web |title=Mongolia media |url=http://www.pressreference.com/Ma-No/Mongolia.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130415220841/http://www.pressreference.com/Ma-No/Mongolia.html |archive-date=April 15, 2013 |access-date=2013-06-28 |publisher=Press reference |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Until reforms in the 1990s, the government had strict control of the media and oversaw all publishing, in which no independent media were allowed.<ref name=pr/> The [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]] had a significant impact on Mongolia, where the [[one-party state]] grew into a [[Multi-party system|multi-party]] democracy, and with that, media freedoms came to the forefront.

A new law on press freedom, drafted with help from international NGOs on August 28, 1998, and enacted on January 1, 1999, paved the way for media reforms.<ref name="bruun">{{Cite book |last1=Ole Bruun |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vEvbqA5PInIC |title=Mongolia in Transition |last2=Ole Odgaard |publisher=Routledge |year=1996 |isbn=978-0-7007-0441-5 |access-date=2013-06-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111083322/http://books.google.com/books?id=vEvbqA5PInIC |archive-date=January 11, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all}}</ref> The Mongolian media currently consists of around 300 print and broadcasting outlets.<ref name="bbc">{{Cite news |title=Country Profile: Mongolia |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1235560.stm#media |url-status=live |access-date=2013-06-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206003152/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1235560.stm#media |archive-date=February 6, 2009 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Since 2006, the media environment has been improving with the government debating a new [[Freedom of information laws by country|Freedom of Information Act]], and the removal of any affiliation of media outlets with the government.<ref name="baner">{{Cite book |title=Asian communication handbook 2008 |publisher=AMIC |year=2008 |isbn=978-981-4136-10-5 |editor-last=Indrajit Banerjee |editor-last2=Stephen Logan}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=The World Trade Organization legal, economic and political analysis |publisher=Springer |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-387-22685-9 |editor-last=Patrick F.J. Macrory |location=New York |editor-last2=Arthur E. Appleton |editor-last3=Michael G. Plummer}}</ref> Market reforms have led to an annually increasing number of people working in the media, along with students at journalism schools.<ref name=baner/>

In its 2013 World Press Freedom Index report, [[Reporters Without Borders]] classified the media environment as 98th out of 179, with 1st being most free.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2013 |title=2013 World Press Freedom Index: Dashed Hopes After Spring |url=http://en.rsf.org/press-freedom-index-2013,1054.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130215183842/http://en.rsf.org/press-freedom-index-2013%2C1054.html |archive-date=February 15, 2013 |publisher=Reporters Without Borders |df=mdy-all}}</ref> In 2016, Mongolia was ranked 60th out of 180.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2016 |title=2016 World Press Freedom Index |work=RSF |url=https://rsf.org/en/ranking/2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314000216/https://rsf.org/en/ranking/2016 |archive-date=March 14, 2017 |publisher=Reporters Without Borders |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

According to 2014 Asian Development Bank survey, 80% of Mongolians cited television as their main source of information.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Enkhbold |first=Enerelt |year=2016 |title=TV drama promotes financial education in Mongolia |url=http://blogs.adb.org/blog/tv-drama-promotes-financial-education-mongolia |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530104121/http://blogs.adb.org/blog/tv-drama-promotes-financial-education-mongolia |archive-date=May 30, 2016 |website=Asian Development Bank Blog}}</ref>

===Mongolian cuisine===
[[File:Boortsog Aaruul.JPG|thumb|From smallest to largest: [[boortsog]] cookies, [[aaruul]] (dried curds), and [[ul boov]] cakes]]
{{excerpt|Mongolian cuisine|only=paragraphs}}

=== Sports and festivals ===
{{Main|Mongolia at the Olympics}}
[[File:Naadam Festival 2024 Opening Ceremony.jpg|thumb|[[Naadam]] is the largest summer celebration.]]

The main national festival is [[Naadam]], which has been organized for centuries and takes place over three days in the summer, consisting of three Mongolian traditional sports, archery, cross-country horse-racing, and wrestling, traditionally recognized as the Three Manly Games of Naadam. In modern-day Mongolia, Naadam is held from July 11 to 13 in the honor of the anniversaries of the National Democratic Revolution and foundation of the Great Mongol State.

Another very popular activity called Shagaa is the "flicking" of sheep ankle bones at a target several feet away, using a flicking motion of the finger to send the small bone flying at targets and trying to knock the target bones off the platform. At Naadam, this contest is popular among older Mongolians.
[[File:Three Naadam riders.jpg|thumb|left|Riders during [[Naadam]] festival]]

[[Horse culture in Mongolia|Horse riding]] is especially central to Mongolian culture. The long-distance races that are showcased during Naadam festivals are one aspect of this, as is the popularity of trick riding. One example of trick riding is the legend that the Mongolian military hero [[Damdin Sükhbaatar]] scattered coins on the ground and then picked them up while riding a horse at full gallop.

[[Mongolian wrestling]] is the most popular of all Mongol sports. It is the highlight of the Three Manly Games of Naadam. Historians claim that Mongol-style wrestling originated some seven thousand years ago. Hundreds of wrestlers from different cities and aimags around the country take part in the national wrestling competition.

Other sports such as basketball, [[Olympic weightlifting|weightlifting]], [[powerlifting]], association football, athletics, gymnastics, table tennis, [[jujutsu]], [[karate]], [[aikido]], [[kickboxing]], and [[mixed martial arts]] have become popular in Mongolia. More Mongolian table tennis players are competing internationally.

[[Freestyle wrestling]] has been practised since 1958 in Mongolia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Монголын Чөлөөт Бөхийн Холбоо |url=http://wrestling.mn/page/show/19 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330025955/http://wrestling.mn/page/show/19 |archive-date=March 30, 2015 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Mongolian freestyle wrestlers have won the first and the most Olympic medals of Mongolia.

[[Naidangiin Tüvshinbayar]] won Mongolia's first ever Olympic gold medal in the men's 100-kilogram class of judo.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mark Bixler |date=August 15, 2008 |title=Mongolia wins first-ever gold medal |publisher=CNN.com/world sport |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/08/15/mongolia.medal/index.html |access-date=2008-08-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080822162813/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/08/15/mongolia.medal/index.html |archive-date=August 22, 2008}}</ref>

[[Amateur boxing]] has been practised in Mongolia since 1948.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Д.Батмєнх: Анх дээлтэй, монгол гуталтай бокс тоглодог байлаа |trans-title=D. Batmunkh: The first Mongolian boxer was dressed in Mongolian boots |url=http://www.olloo.mn/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=108135 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031203607/http://www.olloo.mn/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=108135 |archive-date=October 31, 2013 |language=mn}}</ref> The Mongolian Olympic boxing national team was founded in 1960. The Communist government of Mongolia banned boxing from 1964 to 1967 but the government soon ended the ban. [[Professional boxing]] began in Mongolia in the 1990s.

[[Mongolia national basketball team]] enjoyed some success recently, especially at the [[Basketball at the East Asian Games|East Asian Games]].

Association football is also played in Mongolia. The [[Mongolia national football team]] began playing national games again during the 1990s; but has not yet qualified for a major international tournament. The [[Mongolia Premier League]] is the top domestic competition.

Several Mongolian women have excelled in [[shooting sports|pistol shooting]]: [[Otryadyn Gündegmaa]] is a silver medalist of the 2008 Olympic Games, [[Munkhbayar Dorjsuren]] is a double world champion and Olympic bronze medal winner (now representing Germany), while [[Tsogbadrakhyn Mönkhzul]] is, as of May 2007, ranked third in the world in the [[25-metre pistol]] event.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 29, 2007 |title=World ranking: 25 m Pistol Women |url=http://www.issf-shooting.org/update/worldranking.asp?mode=allbyevent&event=SP |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070425032544/http://www.issf-shooting.org/update/worldranking.asp?mode=allbyevent&event=SP |archive-date=April 25, 2007 |access-date=June 4, 2007 |publisher=[[International Shooting Sport Federation]]}}</ref>

Mongolian [[sumo]] wrestler [[Dolgorsürengiin Dagvadorj]] won 25 top division tournament championships, placing him fourth on the [[List of sumo record holders#Most career championships|all-time list]]. In January 2015, [[Mönkhbatyn Davaajargal]] took his 33rd top division championship, giving him the most in the history of sumo.

[[Bandy]] is the only sport in which Mongolia has finished higher than third place at the [[Asian Winter Games]], which happened in [[Bandy at the 2011 Asian Winter Games|2011]] when [[Mongolia national bandy team|the national team]] captured the silver medal. It led to being chosen as the best Mongolian sports team of 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ocasia.org/News/IndexNewsRM.aspx?WKegervtea1MGkNnT6j12w==|title=Mongolia NOC announces sports press awards|access-date=2 November 2022|archive-date=19 April 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140419105406/http://www.ocasia.org/News/IndexNewsRM.aspx?WKegervtea1MGkNnT6j12w==|url-status=dead}}</ref> Mongolia won the bronze medal of the B division at the [[2017 Bandy World Championship]] after which the then [[President of Mongolia]], [[Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj]], held a reception for the team.<ref>{{Cite web |title= PressReader – the UB Post: 2017-02-06 – President praises national bandy team|url=https://www.pressreader.com/mongolia/the-ub-post/20170206/281663959744789 |via=PressReader |access-date=28 May 2018 |archive-date=28 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528215525/https://www.pressreader.com/mongolia/the-ub-post/20170206/281663959744789 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Ulaanbataar holds an annual marathon in June. 2015 was the sixth marathon that has been organized by Ar Mongol. The race starts at Sukhbataar Square and is always open to residents and runners who come especially for this event.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MongoliaTourism – Мэдээ, мэдээлэл – 6th International Ulaanbaatar Marathon – June 2015 |url=http://www.mongoliatourism.info/1/news/6 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015162724/http://mongoliatourism.info/1/news/6 |archive-date=October 15, 2015 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

[[File:Eagles and Hunters.JPG|thumb|[[Kazakhs|Kazakh]] hunters in Mongolia with eagles]]
Mongolia holds other traditional festivals throughout the year. The [[Golden Eagle Festival]], held annually, draws about 400 eagle hunters on horseback, including the traveler {{lang|mn-Cyrl|Мөнхбаярт Батсайхан}} ({{transliteration|mn|Mönkhbayart Batsaikhan}}), to compete with their birds.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Adiya |first1=Amar |title=Most Important Thing You Need To Know About Golden Eagle Hunting Festival in Mongolia |url=https://www.mongoliaweekly.org/post/most-important-thing-you-need-to-know-about-golden-eagle-hunting-festival-in-mongolia |website=Mongolia Weekly |language=en |date=4 September 2022 |access-date=25 March 2023 |archive-date=25 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325211154/https://www.mongoliaweekly.org/post/most-important-thing-you-need-to-know-about-golden-eagle-hunting-festival-in-mongolia |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Ice Festival]] and the [[Thousand Camel Festival]] are amongst many other traditional Mongolian festivals.