Flag of the Mongols
Encyclopedia
Banner of the Mongols refers to a variety of banners that the Mongols
flew during the period of the Mongol Empire
, some of which are still flown presently in Mongolia
. In this context, a "banner" is a pole with circularly arranged horse or yak tails of varying colors arranged at the top. Turkic languages
refer to similar implements as Bunchuk
or Kuta.
The state banner flown by the Mongols, called the "Yoson Kholt Tsagaan Tug" or the "Nine Base White Banners," was composed of nine flag poles decorated with white horse
tail hairs hanging from a round surface with a flame
or fork
-like shape on the top. The Nine White Banners was a peacetime emblem used exclusively by the Khans in front of their yurt. The central banner was larger in size than the rest and was placed in the center of the other eight (see picture to the right).
The white banner disappeared early in history, but the black one survived as the repository of Genghis Khan's soul. The Mongols continued to honor the banner, and Zanabazar (1635–1723) built a monastery with the special mission of flying and protecting the black banner in the 17th century. Around 1937, the black banner disappeared amidst the great purges of the nationalists, monks and intellectuals, and the destruction of monasteries.
The Nine White Banners came into renewed significance in Mongolia
after democracy
was adopted in the early 1990s as a symbol of the traditional Mongolian state, replacing the previous communist red flag
s.
, the banner of the Mongolian Yuan fleet that invaded Japan
was black. Usage of the horse tail is symbolic because horses are so central to the Mongols' livelihood. This is similar to the use of horse tail hairs for the Morin Khuur
.
Mongols
Mongols ) are a Central-East Asian ethnic group that lives mainly in the countries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. In China, ethnic Mongols can be found mainly in the central north region of China such as Inner Mongolia...
flew during the period of the Mongol Empire
Mongol Empire
The Mongol Empire , initially named as Greater Mongol State was a great empire during the 13th and 14th centuries...
, some of which are still flown presently in Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
. In this context, a "banner" is a pole with circularly arranged horse or yak tails of varying colors arranged at the top. Turkic languages
Turkic languages
The Turkic languages constitute a language family of at least thirty five languages, spoken by Turkic peoples across a vast area from Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean to Siberia and Western China, and are considered to be part of the proposed Altaic language family.Turkic languages are spoken...
refer to similar implements as Bunchuk
Bunchuk
A Bunchuk is a piece of horse or yak tail hair attached to the top of a pole, which is decorated with a trident, a ball or a crescent....
or Kuta.
Nine white banners
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
tail hairs hanging from a round surface with a flame
Flame
A flame is the visible , gaseous part of a fire. It is caused by a highly exothermic reaction taking place in a thin zone...
or fork
Fork
As a piece of cutlery or kitchenware, a fork is a tool consisting of a handle with several narrow tines on one end. The fork, as an eating utensil, has been a feature primarily of the West, whereas in East Asia chopsticks have been more prevalent...
-like shape on the top. The Nine White Banners was a peacetime emblem used exclusively by the Khans in front of their yurt. The central banner was larger in size than the rest and was placed in the center of the other eight (see picture to the right).
The white banner disappeared early in history, but the black one survived as the repository of Genghis Khan's soul. The Mongols continued to honor the banner, and Zanabazar (1635–1723) built a monastery with the special mission of flying and protecting the black banner in the 17th century. Around 1937, the black banner disappeared amidst the great purges of the nationalists, monks and intellectuals, and the destruction of monasteries.
The Nine White Banners came into renewed significance in Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
after democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
was adopted in the early 1990s as a symbol of the traditional Mongolian state, replacing the previous communist red flag
Red flag
In politics, a red flag is a symbol of Socialism, or Communism, or sometimes left-wing politics in general. It has been associated with left-wing politics since the French Revolution. Socialists adopted the symbol during the Revolutions of 1848 and it became a symbol of communism as a result of its...
s.
The black banners
The Mongols also had the "Neg Khar Tug" or the "The Black Banners", which was their war banner. It was made of black horse tail hairs and flown in the same fashion. According to the illustrated Japanese chronicle Mōko Shūrai EkotobaMōko Shūrai Ekotoba
is a set of two Japanese illustrated handscrolls composed between 1275 and 1293. They were commissioned by the samurai Takezaki Suenaga in order to record his battlefield valor and deeds during the Mongol Invasions of Japan....
, the banner of the Mongolian Yuan fleet that invaded Japan
Mongol invasions of Japan
The ' of 1274 and 1281 were major military efforts undertaken by Kublai Khan to conquer the Japanese islands after the submission of Goryeo to vassaldom. Despite their ultimate failure, the invasion attempts are of macrohistorical importance, because they set a limit on Mongol expansion, and rank...
was black. Usage of the horse tail is symbolic because horses are so central to the Mongols' livelihood. This is similar to the use of horse tail hairs for the Morin Khuur
Morin khuur
The morin khuur is a traditional Mongolian bowed stringed instrument. It is one of the most important musical instruments of the Mongol people, and is considered a symbol of the Mongolian nation. The morin khuur is one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity identified...
.