Mongolian Boke
01 · Historical Records
Ujimqin boke originated in the competitions of the royal and aristocratic boke wrestlers of the Ujimqin tribe, and in the course of long historical development took on the form it has today.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Mongolian boke is a traditional sport created by the Mongolian people in their long life of pastoral migration, combining competition with entertainment. As one of the typical representatives of Mongolian boke, Ujimqin boke is circulated chiefly in East Ujimqin Banner and West Ujimqin Banner of Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and in the surrounding areas. The principal features of Ujimqin boke are these: the rules of competition do not divide wrestlers into weight classes and place no limit on time; boke wrestlers are generally between 18 and 45 years of age; any part of the body above the knee touching the ground means defeat; and a single fall decides the contest. Boke wrestlers compete in even numbers (32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024 and so on), and according to statistics there are more than 500 attacking and defending moves. Another principal feature of Ujimqin boke lies in the costume, commonly called “yisun erdun” (the Nine Treasures). First, the jiangga, the symbol of an outstanding boke wrestler, worn on the neck. It is generally made of cloth in five colours — blue, white, green, red and yellow — which stand respectively for the blue sky, white clouds, green land, red fire and yellow blessing. Only those who have won the 128-wrestler boke championship four times, the 256-wrestler championship twice and the 512-wrestler championship once, and who have advanced to the final four of the 1024-wrestler boke, may wear the jiangga. Second, the wrestling costume, made of cowhide, bearing taobu ru — studs or rivets of silver or iron set into the leather garment — and taoli, on the back of the wrestling costume, now used for carving local place names. Third, haorun muqige, worn around the outside of the waist belt of the wrestling costume, generally made of cloth in three to five colours; it serves both an ornamental purpose and the function of keeping the opponent’s grip from slipping. Fourth, tuxiu, worn over the outside of the wrestling trousers, playing a decorative role. Fifth, the white wrestling trousers, loose and baggy, favourable to wrestling, generally made of 20 chi of white cloth. Sixth, huli yeri, the hide thong used to reinforce the wrestling boots. Seventh, the wrestling boots, which must be high-legged Mongolian boots. Eighth, sabusulaga, used inside the wrestling boots to wrap the feet, serving chiefly to protect the shins. Ninth, the belt of the wrestling costume.
The nine-treasure wrestling dress
The Ujumchin wrestler's dress is known as the nine treasures, running from collar and vest to sash, trousers, boots and leg wraps.
Conditions for award of the jangga
The five-coloured collar requires four titles in a 128-wrestler draw, two in a 256, one in a 512, plus a top-four place among 1024.
Studs, back panel and waist sash
The hide vest carries silver or iron studs and a back panel now engraved with place names, while the waist wrap both decorates and blocks grips.
Even-numbered draws and one-fall victory
Draws run in even numbers from thirty-two to one thousand and twenty-four, with wrestlers aged roughly eighteen to forty-five and one fall deciding the bout.
Hada and the sports-school training
The inheritor Hada has headed the county sports school since 2002 and trained over a thousand wrestlers, among them more than twenty national-level athletes.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Ujimqin boke is circulated chiefly in East Ujimqin Banner and West Ujimqin Banner of Xilin Gol League and in neighbouring places such as Abaga and Ulagai, and it is the most appealing event among the successive generations of Ujimqin princes and at the lamashery Nadam. Locally, the “yisun erdun” (Nine Treasures) wrestling costume distinguishes Ujimqin boke from that of the other banners and leagues, and matches are grouped into even numbers of wrestlers — 32, 64, 128 up to 512.
Other submitting regions for the same item: Mongolian Boke · Mongolian Boke.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
Ujimqin boke has a broad popular base and folk transmission groups, it is well preserved, and it is one of the Mongolian sports competition projects with artistic charm and appeal. It accords with the competitive purposes of sport — peace, friendship, unity and progress — and it also possesses qualities of fitness and entertainment. It plays a very positive role in building a harmonious society, and carries social and cultural values such as the cohesion of the community and the transmission of culture. Hada (official archival record of the associated inheritor): Male, Mongolian, born in June 1969, a native of East Ujimqin Banner of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. A performer of boke technique displays. He began to hold the post of principal of an amateur sports school in 2002. He also did a great deal of work for the publicity and promotion of the sport of boke. Representative inheritor of Mongolian boke, a fifth-batch national-level intangible cultural heritage project. He has been devoted to the sport of boke throughout, and has trained more than twenty national-level boke masters as well as over a thousand outstanding boke competitors, who have taken part in many competitions nationwide and achieved excellent results.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Hada 05-2540
- Mengkenasheng 05-2541
- Eridengbayaer
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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