B.Sumiyabaatar discusses descendants of Chinggis Khaan
Unuudur sat down with Dr. B.Sumiyabaatar, an expert in linguistics, to discuss about Mongolian historical artifacts and texts. In 2013, D.Sumiyabaatar became well known after his discovery of a historical artifact of large Mongolian traditional script markings over 1,000 meters long. He made the discovery using space satellite images
700 meter above the earth’s surface.
State Honored Laborer L.Tudev wrote many complimentary things about you. He said you were the creator of three great research pillars. Can you explain to us about his complimentary words?
He probably meant my role in helping establish the Korean study field in Mongolia, the Secret History of Mongols study, and the research of family trees. They commended the fact that I was one of the originators of Korean studies in Mongolia, specifically recording and publishing letters by Mongol khaans to Goryeo, a Korean kingdom established in 918 by King Taejo. In addition, they said that I was one of the leading researchers on the Secret History of the Mongols. It seems like my studies and papers really affected the great L.Tudev. I am just grateful that great researchers and minds like him are reading my papers. Their compliments and even their criticism give me great encouragement and drive to me to work even harder.
We have been able to only research and study the Secret History of the Mongols transcribed in Chinese. But recently there was some news that the original written in Mongolian traditional script was found. Is this true?
It is true that we have only been able to study the version of the literature transcribed from Mongolian to Chinese. It is a proven fact that this piece of literature was written originally in Mongolian script and then transcribed into Chinese characters. Previously, there were no physical copies of the Mongolian version found but a few pages of the literature were found in its original script.
Is there any difference from the Chinese transcribed version of the Secret History of the Mongols to the original one in Mongolian script? Can you show us a picture of it?
It was very surprising that the original Mongolian script version of the literature was found not in Mongolia or Inner Mongolia, but in a library in Tibet. Various researchers around the world have begun to study the findings. I am also doing comparative studies between the original Mongolian script version and other sources.
From October 15 to 17, there was a conference about the Secret History of the Mongols in Inner Mongolia. I received an invite but was not able to attend. I wrote about a 60 page analysis and sent it to the conference; it was about the differences in the versions as you are asking. They then printed my analysis. From only 10 pages, there more than 100 discrepancies between the versions. This analysis revealed things that are widely accepted as fact in the literature as needing revision.
For example, historians widely believe that the word “ujin” originated from the Chinese word “fujin”. I had wondered about why a word like that included in the Secret History of the Mongols would originate from a Chinese word but had no factual evidence. But the 10 pages found in original Mongolian script reveal that the word “ujin” is in fact a Mongolian word. Analysis proved that it meant “och” (go) in Mongolian and this was sent to Mongolists around the world. In addition, there were several interesting facts about the Onon River and I included it in my analysis.
This is very interesting. You will probably analyze this further in detail in the future. Once you have completed your study, we will hopefully talk again. We will soon be celebrating the birthday of Chinggis Khaan. Let’s discuss about the family tree of the Golden Royal lineage of Chinggis Khaan. Were you the one that proposed family trees become a national pride?
This is a proposal by the Head of Parliament's Standing Committee on Social Policy, Education, Culture and Science Yo.Baatarbileg. He proposed during a conference at the State Palace to officially decree family trees as an object of national pride.
What is the basis of this proposal? What is the significance of family trees?
Written history about the traditions of Mongols and family trees prove that Mongolians were a people that prioritized historic records and research. Family trees were in existence long before the Secret History of the Mongols was written and was called “Uzuuriin bichig” at the time. Family trees are not literature about thousands of people, they are historical recordings of individuals. It is an ancient way of historical recordkeeping. It has been known as “Olon Shastir” internationally.
Family tree recordings are factual records of our ancestors and the lives they lived. They encompass the souls and the beliefs of ancient Mongolians. That is why beginning in the 1920’s, foreigners began to dissuade Mongolians from keeping records of their family trees and eventually made it illegal. They arrested and persecuted individuals that engaged in such activities. Those were dark times for the Mongolian people. Unfortunately, however temporary, this left many people to forget their ancestors and origins. Despite their efforts, outside forces were not able to take out the tradition of family trees from the hearts of Mongolians. Many made efforts to keep the records in libraries, archives, and some even passed down knowledge about their family trees and lineage through oral tradition. We are now living in a time where our minds and thoughts are free.
We are Mongolians. The time has come to decree the Golden Royal lineage of Chinggis Khaan as a subject of national pride. A Mongolian without a family tree is like a god without a place of worship.
The main reasons why the Golden Royal lineage of Chinggis Khaan is important and why we must maintain our tradition of family trees is:
» The Golden Royal Lineage is the origin of the Mongolian people.
» It helped prevent from incest and inbreeding. It ensures that the Mongolian people are healthy, physically and mentally. It is the main basis for the continuation of the Mongolian people.
» It is a great asset in the traditional sense that all Mongolian households must possess. » The great linage of the Golden Royal family is the soul of modern Mongolian politics and traditions. In short, it is the declaration of independence for modern Mongolians.
In modern times, it has become quite common for many countries or people to claim Chinggis Khaan as their own. There is only one thing that disproves their claims. This is the Golden Royal lineage of Chinggis Khaan. It is only sufficient to tell them to bring out the family trees that prove they are descendants of Chinggis Khaan. They do not have it. We have thousands of them. In the National Library alone, we have 400. There are hundreds more in private collection and in archives. We have three family tree recordings that can be registered in the UNESCO heritage database and in the Guinness World Book of Records.
The family tree recordings encompass everything about an individual from their social class, their health, their characteristics, accomplishments, whether they were literate or not, and everything in between. It encompasses simple but very fascinating historical facts about a person. For example, one family tree recording in Sain Noyon Khaan’s Aimag included a transcript which talked about Chultem, who was 30 years old and educated in Mongolian script. These recordings include many facts and interesting tidbits about history that most historians overlook. One of the first opponents of the occupation of Mongolia by the Qing Dynasty were the direct descendants of Chinggis Khaan from the Golden Royal lineage. This type of information is included in their family tree recordings.
The people linked to the 1911 revolution were also in the Golden Royal lineage, looking at their family trees. These are just the few reasons why this lineage must become a point of national pride.
It would be a crime to not ask about Korean-Mongolian relations when talking to a Korean researcher. Next year we will be observing a significant anniversary. Can you please elaborate on this?
It is undoubtedly an important historical milestone next year. It is the 800 year anniversary of the oath agreement between the Mongol Empire and Korea. This concerns a decree by Chinggis Khaan which states that Korea and the Mongol Empire will become ally nations after defeating their enemies. Chinggis Khaan’s soldiers hunted the remainder of the Khitan people after they fled to Goryeo. They worked together with the soldiers of Goryeo and historical records showed that both empires became allies and decreed that their descendants never forget the day they became allies. It was the winter of 1219. I wrote about this first about 40 years ago in a book about Mongol-Korean relations.
...Written history about the traditions of Mongols and family trees prove that Mongolians were
a people that prioritized historic records and research. Family trees were in existence long before the Secret History of the Mongols was
written...