| Description |
Mongolians revere certain parts of bones of their domestic livestock animals and use them in their religious rites, plays and traditional games. One such popular team-based game is knucklebone shooting. Players flick thirty domino-like marble tablets on a smooth wooden surface towards a target of sheep knuckle-bones, aiming to knock them into a target zone. Each shooter possesses their own (arrow, chair, etc.) adjusted shooting tools and instruments especially made by hand and wear costumes embossed with distinguished characteristics depending on their rank and merits. All the equipment is made by traditional craftsmen. Its technique demands high levels of endurance and accuracy. Singers communicate their opinions to the shooters by singing traditional Knucklebone Shooting melodies and songs. Each competition's opening and closing ceremony has several specific rituals. National competitions tournaments involve 400-600 shooters; there are 30 or more competitions per year. Shooters build their own communities depending on their interest and affinity. This community is recognized as part of the cultural heritage. According to established rules teams consist of six to eight men, among which one or two have to be youngsters. Team members are tied by unbreakable internal bonds and follow clear ethical rules of mutual respect and dignity. A senior member who possesses well ethical and traditional knowledge and experiences will become the team leader. The Association is the principle representatives of bearers, preserving and promoting this heritage and ensuring continuous training and transmission of knowledge from senior to younger shooters. |
| Social and cultural significance |
Practitioners of knucklebone shooting of different regions and localities are unified people as a group or community according to their own interest and efforts. They express themselves through their cultural heritage and they recognize the tradition of knucklebone shooting and its associated customs, oral tradition and craftsmanship as part of their cultural heritage and are aware of their commitment and responsibility toward the inheritance and development of the element. Thus provides bearer communities and groups with sense of identity and continuity. Knucklebone shooting is a community involved team entertainment competition. Therefore, it provides a favourable environment in which each member contributes to the team’s success, social wellbeing and development of individuals by supporting and learning from each other. The tradition of Knucklebone shooting brings team members with different backgrounds closer to one another, encourages their interaction and reverence towards elders and among each other and improves their social respect and cohesion. Further, the element provides its members with consciousness to revere the traditional manners, customs and rituals inherited from previous generations. The social and cultural function of the tradition of knucklebone shooting was the same as above and is still kept the same today. |
| Transmission method |
The core factor in the inheritance of the Mongolian Knucklebone Shooting tradition which has been practiced for generations is the traditional method of apprenticeship training - the passing of knowledge from master to apprentices. The apprenticeship training method is a form of transmission of rituals, knowledge, skills, technique and expertise associated with knucklebone shooting, and the inheritance of tools, accessories and equipment along with their craftsmanship technique from elder masters to their apprentices and descendants. A team of knucklebone shooters consisting of individuals of three generations is a unique method to prepare the next generations of knucklebone shooters. The most senior shooters lead and train the school aided by middle age shooters with certain degree of proficiency to guarantee stable success for the team. According to the rules every team have to include 1-2 youngsters. Shooters team up under the strict oath to build the team and to maintain their bonds for 3 generations and more which is a sign of remarkable human commitment. This method not only has been inherited until today, but also was developed and enriched with other training methods such as in-class training. Accordingly, a number of in-class training facilities have been established at several affiliates and agencies to train and provide knowledge to youngsters 8-16 years old. The Federation holds an annual nationwide tournament of ''Young Teenagers Championship Cup'', a lasting factor in preserving the heritage. The winners of the Championships are awarded with titles and rewards. |
| Community |
Currently, there are over 6000 shooters who are the members of Mongolian Association of Knucklebone Shooting and are ensuring its continuity and development. About 800 professional and amateur teams participate in seasonal and annual regional and local tournaments. The primary unit bearing responsibility for preserving, training and transmitting the practice, its ethics, customs and rituals is a freely formed community or team of knucklebone shooters. The team is a small community bound together with ethics and customs of the tradition and recognized among people in their locality which enriches the organization, soum or aimag’s fame through the practice.
Mr.Ya.Batsuuri, a bearer of the highest title of the Knucklebone Shooting - ''Mighty Par Excellence'', is currently serving as the President of the Association along with Mr.Ts.Enhbat ''Par Excellence'' as a Senior Vice-President, Mr.S.Batzorig ¨Shooter¨ as a General Secretary and Mr.D.Bashuu ''Mighty Par Excellence'' as an Honorary President followed by the 31 Council Members, who dedicate their unremitting efforts to continue the preservation and promotion of the Knucklebone Shooting traditions and its invaluable heritage elements. |
| Type of UNESCO List |
Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity |
| Incribed year in UNESCO List |
2014 |
