PhD dissertation s theses. Sports history of the Central-Asian Mongol people from the cultic roots to the 20 th Century Olympic Games movement

Transcription

1 PhD dissertation s theses Sports history of the Central-Asian Mongol people from the cultic roots to the 20 th Century Olympic Games movement Katalin Mizerák Budapest 2005

2 1. Explanation of the topic, objective of the research: The dissertation dealing with the sports history of the Central-Asian Mongols is to be regarded as a gap-filling research. The examined area can be connected to the global and also to the Hungarian sports history. Striking analogies can be discovered regarding the occurrence and practice of the traditional folk competitions and contests. So far, the system of the Hungarian and Mongolian historical, sports historical analogies has only been partially processed by the Hungarian orientalists, ethnographers, historians and archeologists. The novelty of the dissertation is that not only does it publish the most recent data but it also drafts the analogies regarding the Hungarian and the global sports history. It also details war history, historic and literatury sources not analyzed in Hungarian so far. After reviewing the notions in connection with the traditional competitive and folk sports in Central-Asia, it became apparent that to the Mongols the physical exercises had been essential part of the daily life beginning from the age of tribe alliances. It is quite unusual how rich the terminology is as far as the most popular traditional competitive sports, e.g.: horse riding, arching, wrestling are concerned. To the nomad Mongols the regular physical exercises had been a condition to survival for thousands of years. The dissertation further aims at discovering the features typical of the sports history in Central-Asia and illustrating their religious, philosophical and political aspects as well as showing the changes come about in the Mongol sports history, with special regard to the traditional competitive sports, folk games and ritual forms of actions.? The I part has set on to review an apparently long period of the sports history. On one hand it deals with the cultic times of the Mongol sports history and on the other hand, it focuses on the transformation of the Mongol sports history and sports philosophy during the Manchurian regime. In general the Mongols had a concentric vision of space. With regard to the social habits in connection with movement, we can differentiate between the passive (sleeping and sitting) and the active (walking, running, riding, dancing) ones. The categories of the space can also be connected to certain actions. In the traditional and modern sports habits of the Mongols, we can detect a determinedness due to the dual nature of the body. Based on facts we can declare that the Mongols are worse in games played with the leg (lower body), while even today they are pleased to practice ball games played with the hand (basketball, table tennis) and traditional mental and physical games directed with hand movement (ankle bone games, arching, chess). Among the Mongols living on traditional hunting and nomad shepherding, there is a different way of dancing based on the difference between the upper and lower body. To them the most important physical exercises are: walking, riding, during which they apply rather inherited than learnt exercises and techniques. It is interesting that even today there are no outstanding Mongol sportsmen in the running and jumping types of sports mainly due to the segregation of actions.? The II part shows the transformation of the Mongol sports history of the st century from the aspect of ideological changes.

3 ? The research aims at analyzing and revealing the regularities, connections which characterized the sports history of the Central-Asian Mongols and the management of the society in the communist dictatorship in the 1920-ies up to the transformation into the bourgeois democracy.? After reviewing the notions in connection with the Mongolian sports life, it turned out that the differences among the traditional folk games and the modern competitive sports acknowledged at an international level as well, and the recreation games could only be clarified by the end of the 20 th century.? Further categories can be set up at a later stage only. With the help of external support, the bourgeois democracy is building the foundations of the physical recreation, fitness, wellness only now. In the near future these expensive forms of sports will not be available to all. 2. Methods of the research:? During the research, the history of traditional folk games and their cultic background has been described mainly based on Mongolian historical and literatury sources.? The historical and sports historic data detailed in the dissertation have been collected by the author, who visited Mongolia twice on this purpose.? The dissertation also analyses the works of excellent Hungarian and foreign orientalists, whose information derived directly from Mongolian data collectors.? The research also benefited from the studies of well-known Mongolian, Russian, Polish, German, English, French and Hungarian historians, ethnographers, linguists, anthropologists and archeologists, who published modern history type studies, monographies, and summaries on the traditional Mongolian folk culture, religion and history.? Among the methods of the research, the comparative analysis played a vital role. With the help of this method, in addition to drafting the historical analogies, certain periods of the Mongolian and the Hungarian sports history have been compared.? The Mongolian sports history of the st century has been described by evaluating the Mongolian sports historic and historical analysis, monographies, and biographies. The Mongolian sports historic documents can be divided into two groups: a) valuable sport historic sources and quality summarizing books referring to the bibliography, b) brochures, popular literature detailing the famous moments and performers of the nadoms ( men s game in three) of the 20 th century.? The 3 chapters of the II part were the most difficult part of the dissertation from research method point of view, where Mongolia s role in the international competitive sports movement (Olympic and Asian games) has been reviewed. In the data collection, the reports and analysis (deep, structured and unstructured interviews) of the available Mongolian special newspapers, monthlies, weeklies and dailies have been used. Due to the difficulties in traceability, the information gained this way has only given a fragmentary picture of this period.

4 3. Results of the research? It can be stated that the maintenance of physical fitness comprising traditional cultic elements as well, has been widely practiced in the era of the tribe alliances or in the heyday of the Mongolian empire. Irrespective of sex, age it had become a vital necessity strengthening the entire Mongolian society.? The Manchurian regime disintegrating the Mongolian people for three centuries wanted to break up this special, healthy and organized way of life. - In the sports history it is unprecedented how the Manchurian suppressors could provisionally restrict the Mongolian sports traditions originating from the permanent military service by putting a halt on folk games and introducing the passive, peaceful way of lives of the lamas - Up to the establishment of the independent theocratic Mongolian state, the traditional mental and physical sports had been transformed into less important, unfunctional competitions.? From 1924 the men s game in three, a traditional folk game assisting in the preparation of the Genghis Khan s army, also acclaimed in war history, once again became a toy of a suppressing nation, the Soviet Union. The national sports event only seemingly represented the cautious steps towards establishing a united Mongolian empire. By the years 1930, it had been clear that in the background of refreshing the sports historical traditions, the service of a new ideology was hidden. The revitalization of the Mongol society (a nation living under suppression for centuries) had been long forgotten.? Again, ideological intentions can be discovered behind the Mongolian joining the international competitive sports movement. - When summarizing the historical and sports historical transformation occurred during the last one hundred years, the modest results achieved by the Mongolian sportsmen in the Olympic Games can be explained as follows : - A state, originally feudal, but then lost in the radical left-wing policy was not able to recover its deficiencies in the field of sports infrastructure (lack of schools, stadiums, athletic fields) due to its economic under-development. - In the state isolated for decades the general reform of the modern body culture served political objectives, only. - For a long time the socialist economic system could not afford to finance the constructions of really modern stadiums indispensable to Olympic sports, all-year available, covered ice skate rinks, not to mention expensive training camps abroad. The reasons behind the modest results obtained in the winter Olympic games were rather financial ones than the lack of experts or training programmes.

5 - After the ideology of the Olympic games had been interpreted into politics, Mongolia wanted to take part in the competition between the two political systems. It was under a constant pressure to prove its abilities and body cultural traditions of several thousands years in the big socialist camp of the Soviet Union. - Mongolia s delayed appearance in the Olympic and competitive sports movement from the years 1960, and the deficiencies as detailed in the first two point resulted in the lack of international sports successes and acknowledgements.? Following the system change, the transformation in sports came about slower and in a more complicated way that assumed by the Mongol society. (It quickly turned out that the apparently emphasized, centralized support of the Mongolian sports was no more than an episode in the years of the socialism. The restricted sports subsidy had contributed to the preparation of the Olympic Games, only. - It is important that following the system change in the 1990-ies, the Mongol sports life, in contrast to the transformation of the sports structure in Middle and East- Europe, quickly got hold of the new possibilities of sports financing. We can frankly state that the Toynbee type of creative minority was not missing among them. - With the data made available to me, I can conclude that the Mongolian sports started to move towards a slow stabilization. The role of central steps as the means of state influence had already been limited. The state only approves of the changes in sports, reaps domestic and international sports successes. The autonomy of sports slowly but surely becomes permanent. The sports are getting a stronger acknowledgement on social level as well. - Mongolia proved to be successful in the international competitive sports, too as. Together with the national folk games, today there are more than 40 types of sports which have been perfectly integrated into the country. The popularity lists are headed by catch as catch can wrestling, sambo, boxing, basketball, volleyball and the different types of martial arts.? From 1964 the Mongolian olympicons participated 9 times in the summer and winter Olympic Games, from times in the Asian Games and from 1993 twice in the East-Asian Games, where they achieved 5 silver and 9 bronze medals in the catch as catch can wrestling, judo, boxing and shooting. The Mongol top sportsmen were successful in 36 World Championships with winning 152 silver and bronze medals. In the World Cups they could go home with 20 gold medals and 74 world cups.? From the medal table of the new age summer Olympic Games we can see that similar to their ancestors, the Mongol sportsmen excelled in the power and fighting sports such as catch as catch can wrestling, boxing, judo and shooting. Among them the number of women is on the increase.

6 4. Conclusions: The novelty of the dissertation is the historic review reflecting a modern historical approach. It details the history and sports history of the Central-Asian Mongols from the age of tribe alliances to nowadays. The applied methods are as follows: analysis of literatury and historic sources, information of data providers, publication of partial results of ethnographical and archeological researches and the comparison of the results also contributed to the compilation of a gap-filling research.? The value of the dissertation is enhanced that it does not only describe the traditional folk games, but it also reveals the history of all dual body approaches and their ritual roles, contributing to the world conception of the Central-Asian Mongols.? The dissertation has undertaken to enlighten the different stages of the Mongol sports history from the cultic roots up to nowadays. Due to the lack of written Mongol sources, only a review type of description could be compiled about the age of tribe alliances with the help of the objective memories revealed and described by ethnographers and anthropologists.? Information about the age of tribe alliances were significantly widened by the descriptions of those ancient Greek, Roman and Chinese historians, geographers and travelers, who made references to this age in their works.? The material mostly supported by sources and data could be collected from the heyday of the Mongol empire (Genghis Khan and his descendants) from the th century.? The part about the sports history of the Manchurian era reflects the post effects of the suppressing policy of the Manchurian empire from , e.g.: the restriction of traditional games and their influence through resolutions. However, valuable data were kept about the description of arching, riding competitions.? Data collection about mental and physical games played by the folk resulted in valuable data from late 19 th century up to nowadays, included in the dissertation.? The dissertation also enlightened the transformation of Mongolia s sports history in the 20 th century. During data collection it turned out that even in our modern IT society, the sports historic articles, studies and books cannot provide a complete picture of Mongolia s performance in the international sports movement.? Based on the results of Mongolia s performance in the Olympic Games, in the Asian and East-Asian Games, only general conclusions could be drawn, statistical measures could not be carried out. (Due to this deficiency, the dissertation tried to evaluate this period based on concrete events and the available fragmentary data).? The dissertation found an answer to several, connecting disciplines within the sports history:

7 - When reading the chapters we can not only enjoy a sports historic description but we also receive valuable replies to certain questions of sports philosophy and sociology: the connection between sports and religion during fighting activities, and also how the game became first a daily routine and then a competitive activity. The dissertation searched an answer with regard to social mobility and sports and also in connection with sports and social activity in the different historical periods.? In summary we can state that for the riding nomad Mongols in Central-Asia, the regular physical fitness had not been a simple entertainment but a condition to survival during their history. In the 20 th century Mongolia still guards and practices the traditional folk sports and sports habits of its ancestors. As a result of the changed urban life it plays a more important role The monotonous Mongolian diet (greasy meat, minimal vegetarian food) may quickly cause circulation illnesses. The strengthening sports life in Mongolia in the 21 st century cannot put a hold on general health problems, the difficulties originating from unhealthy diet, the special way of life of the aged, the effects of regular alcohol drinking. However, the negative procedures can be delayed or reduced by the Mongolians (young and old) increased interest in sports and their demand for doing regular physical exercises. 5. Respective publications and performances : Publications: Katalin Mizerák (1998): Traditional games of the Central-Asian nomads, (Hungarian University of Physical Education Publications "Kalokagathia" p , no , XXXVI. Katalin Mizerák (1998): Performance of Asian countries in the New Ages Olympics - (The role of Olympics in the Development of Civilizations Conference, Veszprém, p ) Katalin Mizerák (1998): The influence of the Asian Buddhism in the Western philosophy history - (PhD Students Conference, State Sciences University Institute, Miskolc, p ) Katalin Mizerák (1999): Traditional sports with regard to the Olympic results of the ex- Soviet Central-Asian and Caucasus Republics (III. National Sports Scientific Company Congress, I volume p.) Katalin Mizerák (1999): Philosophy of Buddhist Tsam dancing in the Mongolian mythology, ISHPES Congress - (Hungarian University of Physical Education p ) Katalin Mizerák (1999): Tai chi, the Philosophy of the healthy body - (ISSA Symposium Budapest Hungary - Hungarian University of Physical Education p ) Katalin Mizerák (1999): Philosophy of Buddhism, its role in the West - (PhD Students Conference, State Sciences University Institute, Miskolc p ) Katalin Mizerák (2000): Sports history of Central-Asian nomad nations from cultic roots to nowadays (I Scientific Conference of Transylvanian Applicants for Doctors Decree and Young Researchers, Kolozsvár p.)

8 Katalin Mizerák. ( ): Failure of the Soviet type socialism in Mongolia in the years (Scholarship of the 20 th century Institute, young historians circle- study s publication under process p Katalin Mizerák (2002): Asian Philosophy's birthdom is in the European Buddhism - (The International Congress of Mongolist being Convened under the Patronage of N. Bagabandi President of Mongolia - Ulaanbaatar Summaries of Congress papers 175. p.) Katalin Mizerák ( ): History of Mongolia from 1960 up to nowadays (Scholarship of the 20 th century Institute, young historians circle study s publication under process p.) Katalin Mizerák (2004): Asian type socialism History of Mongolia from 1920 till the end of 1980 (study s publication under process by PolgART Publishing House p ) Katalin Mizerák (2004): "The Mongolian Road to Stalinism" ( )" monography ("The Asian type socialism The history of Mongolia from the end of 1920 up to late 1980 " monography, the English version is under process among the publications of David King Collection publishing the works of PolgART Publishing House abroad. K. Mizerák (2004): Astragalos-Spiel bei den Mongolen: aus Spiel bis Sport in: Nikephoros Zeitschrift für Sport und Kultur im Altertum, Weidmann Verlag, Köln, Germany Chefredakteur: Wolfgang Decker (study s publication under process by Nikephoros Zeitschrift für Sport und Kultur im Altertum, p Performances: Katalin Mizerák (1996): The year of change in Mongolia Experiment with thought in connection with the democratic transformation, using Aristotle s policy-philosophical notions, with special regard to the application of the Turning into somebody else thesis. (TDK-study Miskolc State University Sciences Institute: 1-24 p.) Katalin Mizerák (1998): Allah s truth in the computer Conference of Circle instead of Opium, (Miskolc State University Sciences Institute, 1-7. p.) Katalin Mizerák (1999): Tai chi, the philosophy of healthy body in Hungary (For a healthy Hungary- 30 th Jubilee Movement Biology Conference, Hungarian University of Physical Education) Katalin Mizerák (1999): The cultic roots of the Central-Asian Mongols traditional competitions - (PhD students conference, State Sciences University Institute, Miskolc, p.) Katalin Mizerák (2000): The role of Buddhist Tsam dance in the Mongolian culture history (Spring Wind Conference p ) Katalin Mizerák (2003): Mongolia s sport history and policy from the years 1920 up to nowadays (IV. National Sports Sciences Congress, Szombathely p. 27.)

9 8. Articles: Katalin Mizerák. The development of Mongolian language and literature, Égtájak, Hungarian Radio May 14, Katalin Mizerák. Short history between Moskow and Tokyo, Napközi, Hungarian Television August 6, Katalin Mizerák. In the trail of our ancestors, Gordiusz, Radio Petofi, June 15, 1996 Katalin Mizerák. Mongolia is patien, Esti Hírlap June 28, 1996 Katalin Mizerák. Constant debate about Kuril, Esti Hírlap July 11, 1996 Katalin Mizerák. China dreams with eyes open, Esti Hírlap July 15, 1996 Katalin Mizerák. Elections in Mongolia, Vasárnapi Hírek July 15, 1996 Katalin Mizerák. Now Japan wants to decide, Esti Hírlap August 3, 1996 Katalin Mizerák. The changed rules, Népszava August 9, 1996 Katalin Mizerák. Lamas and party activists, 168 hours October 25, 1996