Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Mongols

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Guidebook Regarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage Elements and Bearers

2010 Korea-Mongolia Joint Cooperation Project

In the history of human migration, the ancestors of nomadic Mongolians formed the Mongolian race and disseminated it widely. Mongolians, being at the core of the Central Asian nomads, has played a historic role in the formation of cultural diversity worldwide. They created a rich cultural heritage and transmitted it to successive generations. Mongolian ‘nomadic civilization’ has greatly contributed to the cultural heritage of humanity, a fact that is widely recognized.

Mongolian intangible cultural heritage (ICH) is rooted in the triple alliance of nature, humanity, and livestock. It is a truly unique and compassionate cultural heritage that features dynamic characteristics as well as the attributes of causing no harm to nature, humanity, or livestock. As the whole world is currently looking for a way to make development sustainable and to protect and promote biodiversity and cultural diversity, the importance and value of nomadic civilization is further growing.

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From 2008 to 2009, the Mongolian National Commission for UNESCO, with the collaboration of the Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea and ICHCAP, carried out the Mongolia-ICHCAP Joint Cooperative Project for Exchanging Information and Personnel on ICH Safeguarding. In the framework of the project, Mongolia established a foundation of ICH safeguarding through various activities, including conducting onsite surveys on Mongolian ICH elements and identifying bearers. With the results of the project, Mongolia, in 2010, published an English and Mongolian guidebook on Mongolia ICH and bearers.


The book has been distributed throughout the country as a reference for researchers and policymakers and as educational materials for students to better understand their traditional custom and heritage. Moreover, it also plays a role for raising global awareness of Mongolian ICH.