Mongolian felt Ger accommodation is the cradle of all Mongols! The English word Yurt comes from the Russian Yurta describing a circular trellis walled framed tent. The yurt is traditionally covered with felt, made by beating and rolling wet sheep fleece. Mongolian yurt “Ger”, remarkable heritage of Nomadic peoples culture, custom, and history, was transformed its present form and design more than 3000 years ago. During the primitive ages of mankind, Ger is founded most convenient living house for nomadic people who regularly move through the steppes because of stock-breeding. Ger has been used by not only Mongols, but it also has made some effects on the development of living eco-house of other civilizations. Living in Ger would give people the great opportunity of being close to nature and living healthy. History The oldest complete yurt yet discovered was in a 13th century grave in the Khentei Mountains of Mongolia. Bronze age rock etchings from Siberia appear to show yurts in use. Descriptions from ancient travellers and some frozen remains offer hints, but no absolute proof of yurt use. Herodotus (c480-c425 BC) described ger-carts and felt tents being used by the Scythian people. A cart found in a 2500 year old Pazaryck grave in Southern Siberia demonstrate all of the technologies needed to build a yurt were available at that time. But firm evidence from before the time of Ghengis Khan is hard to find. The evolution of the modern ger almost certainly began in prehistoric times with the urts or buheg; a tipi like structure, still used by the reindeer breeders of Northern Mongolia and Siberia . The early Mongolian ger had a curved, bottle shaped profile, and was often permanently mounted on a cart, pulled by oxen. Ger carts or Gerlugs were in common use during the reign of Genghis Khan (1162-1227 AD). The entire Mongol Empire was administered from a large ger-cart. Modern collapsible gers were also in common use at this time. In the middle of the roof there is a round window through which light comes in and smoke can leave, because they always have a fire in the centre. The walls and the roof are covered by felt and even the doors are made of felt. Some huts are large and some are small, depending upon the wealth or poverty of the owners. The smallest are put a cart drawn by one ox, whenever they travel, whether to war or other places, they always take their homes with them. Genghis Khan’s armies were housed in collapsible yurts very similar to the modern ger, while the Khan himself lived and held court in one of many gers permanently mounted on carts pulled by oxen. These wheeled gers or gerlugs were typically 30 feet (9m) in diameter and pulled by 22 bulls. The shape of these gerlugs was rounded in profile with a raised top. The major change in ger design in the eight centuries since the time of Genghis khan is the shape of the tono, which is lower, giving a smoother roof profile. Throughout this time the design has changed little, the ger being perfectly suited to a nomadic lifestyle in one of the world’s most inhospitable climates, with high winds rain and snow, where winter temperatures regularly fall to -50C. The yurt can be insulated for winter use, the sides rolled up to admit a cooling breeze on hot days. On clear nights one can lie in bed and watch the stars through the open crown. On wet nights there is plenty of room for a group of friends to sit in comfort around a warm stove, tell stories and listen to the storm outside. The atmosphere inside the yurt is one of warm, secure, solidity, while from the outside the yurt radiates a welcoming glow. Features Considered as the best organized dwelling in the world, the ger has many advantages. Even world researchers have already started to study the structures and importance of ger. A ger is created with many special things. • Capacity - Although it looks bit small and has only one chamber ger is very spacious. • No bad energy accumulation - It is related to round shape and having no corner. It is impossible to have bad energy in Mongolian ger. • Divided into 12 different Chinese calendar animals - One of the greatest features of Mongolian ger is that we should know what the time is. • Very easy to move - Ger is divided into several parts and it is very easy to carry. • Direct connection to heaven and land - It is said that Mongolians are very energetic people. One of the reasons is that they take energy from heaven and land. There was no floor in ger in early days. • Safe - It means the risk to damage or hurt someone if there is a disaster such as a earthquake. • Different types - Mongolian gers are differs from each other by size and decoration. There are from 4 walls to 12 wall gers and simple or special decorated depending on usage. Structure In accordance with the nomadic lifestyle, Mongolian ger is easy to build up or down. And ger consists of several parts: • Toono (roof) - This is the top part of the ger. • Uni (rafter) - This is the part which connects khana and toono. • Bagana (Pillars) -There are 2 bagana in Mongolian ger supporting the toono. • Khana (Walls) - Khana is divided into from 4 to 12 sections depending on the ger size. • Haalga(door) - Mongolian ger door is directed to the south traditionally. • Floor (Shal) - In the early of the history, there was no floor. last Mongolians started to use the floor. • Felt Cover of Roof Ring (Urkh) - This is the sheet covering the toono(ring roof). • Roof (Deever) - After builing the ger the felt roof is put on the uni(rafters) • Wall Cover (Tuurga) - It covers the wall. • White Dense (Outer Cover of Ger) - This is the part where covers the whole ger. Geography Mongolia is the great stronghold of the yurt, where the ger is still home to three-quarters of the population. To the south, the Inner Mongolia region of China is populated by ger-dwellers. To the north, the people of Tuva and the Buryat region of Siberia live in gers. In Eastern Siberia , the reindeer herding Koryak people live in yurt-like yarangas. The southernmost range of the bentwood yurt, where it is still in common use by nomadic peoples, covers Iran , Iraq , Northern Afghanistan and Pakistan . To the west of Mongolia , in Kazakstan , Kyrgyzstan , Uzbekistan , Tajikistan and North-Eastern China, a region as a whole formerly known as Turkestan , the yurt is the traditional and still popular nomadic dwelling. The national flag of the newly independent Kyrgyzstan depicts a red yurt-crown at its centre.
Posted on: Thu, 28 Aug 2014 06:28:43 +0000
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