The landlocked nomads of Mongolia are 21-century examples of extreme cultural retention. A people at one with their animals and the land on which they live, they practice what is called the “Ovoo”: before traversing across a mountain, the Nomads will throw stones onto what is similar to a cairn, and then will circle around this stone pile three times. They are often referred to as “five-animal people.” This moniker derives from the five species of animals which they have traditionally raised: horses, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats. One of these, the horse, not only sustains the everyday life of the Mongol, but it also acts as an emblem of the Mongolian nation. One can abstract from the idea of pragmatically utilizing a symbol of reverence and respect when looking at the Mongol Nomads’ culture as a whole. Symbols are not superficial or remote for the Mongol; a Nomad parent will teach their child—sometimes before it can walk—to ride a horse.
The Mongolian Nomads’ dependence on these animals is due to their bi-annual migrations across the plains. When not traveling, the Nomads reside in a temporary structure called a Ger, which is the product of 2,000 years of architectural innovation and modification. It can easily withstand harsh elements, and was designed to be raised and dismantled within the span of two hours. Even when stationary, the Nomads’ habitats are built around the idea of impermanence and mobility.
Some might think that a modern commuter’s lifestyle is not altogether different from that of a Mongolian nomad—yet it is important to look at the spiritual motivations embedded in their anchorless culture before a comparison can be drawn. All of our technologically-advanced transportational modes, designed to carry the traveler efficiently through any type of terrain, also help to disengage him or her from that environment. Hermetically-sealed cells travel through the air or across highways—and a destination is generally already held in mind. This contrasts the Mongolian nomadic spirit, which is fortified by an agriculturally-based lifestyle that most modern Westerners have long been disconnected from. It is also equally influenced by elements of Shamanism, Buddhism (every Mongolian home houses a modest Buddhist shrine), and an amalgam of earth-based religions. Nomadism is not a temporal condition, one that the Mongolians wish to acquiesce from once adequate technology is developed. Rather, this existence is—and has always been—endemic to their culture, and bleeds into every other aspect of their lives.
