Archive

Elements

Traditional art of whistling
  • Manage No, Sortation, Country, Writer ,Date, Copyright
    Manage No EE00001021
    Country Mongolia
    ICH Domain Performing Arts
    Address
    throughout the Mongolia
Description The traditional art of whistling calls for human teeth and lips to function as the music instrument and the mouth cavity to function as a sound box. Whistling is classified into the following three types: tooth whistle, lip whistle and palate whistle. The reasons Mongolians whistle is greatly dependant on the season, time, location, and context due to that from ancient times Mongols have considered whistling as a call for wind. Mongols whistle the short and long songs, and melodies in hot days of summer and autumn season while herding livestock and during the labor for relaxing. Before mentioned, Mongols believe that the whistle can bring the deity of wind, therefore they do whistle while harvesting the grain for blowing the skin of grain.
Social and cultural significance The reasons Mongolians whistle is greatly dependant on the season, time, location, and context. For instance, it’s forbidden to whistle during winter, spring, and at night time. Also, it’s prohibited to whistle on a windy, cloudy, or chilly day. Moreover, it’s forbidden to whistle during fleece-switching and felt-making, as doing so is regarded as calling for wind, which could, consequently, blow away the fleece. It is forbidden to whistle at home, as well. On the other hand, there are several contexts in which whistling is permitted. Mongolians whistle as an intellectual need, when they want to feel calm and tranquil, when they want to have a breeze on a sultry day, or when threshing crops to blow away the husks (chaffs). Also, Mongolians whistle when watering horses and livestock, as doing so works to make the animals calm and tranquil while drinking water.
Transmission method by apprenticeship training
Community Whistling is classified into the following three types: tooth whistle, lip whistle and palate whistle. Gifted people who possess the whistling art with a high degree of skill are found in different localities in Mongolia, and the prominent whistler’s fame lasts for decades.
Keyword
Information source
National Center for Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture of Mongolia
http://www.ncch.gov.mn

Materials related to

Videos