If your friend is from Inner Mongolia, he will definitely say proudly: I am a subject of Genghis Khan. Genghis Khan is a god-like existence in Inner Mongolia. Although there are multiple tombs of Genghis Khan in Inner Mongolia, none of them retain his true body.
Today’s article is about a few little-known “secrets” that you need to know when visiting Genghis Khan’s Mausoleum in Inner Mongolia.
Where is the real mausoleum of Genghis Khan?
There are three major tombs in China: one cannot be dug, one dare not dig, and one does not know where it is. This unknown place is the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan. Although it is the Chengling Mausoleum in Ordos that is famous now, his true body is not included in it.
1 Genghis Khan died of illness when he led his army to attack Xixia in 2227. Due to the Mongolian tradition, Mongolian nobles were buried after death. No graves were built or graves were built. After burial, they were trampled by horses and sent troops to guard them. New grass would grow in the coming years and blend in with the grassland. As one, we can withdraw our troops. Because of this Mongolian funeral custom, the tombs of the monarchs and nobles of the Yuan Dynasty have not been found.
But why was Ordos chosen as the resettlement site?
At that time, when Genghis Khan led his troops to conquer Xixia, he passed by the Ordos Plateau. He saw the lush water and grass here, and the cattle and sheep everywhere. So he threw away his riding whip and told his subordinates: I think this place is so beautiful. After you die, you can bury me here!
In the second year of Genghis Khan's Western Expedition, he died of illness in the Qingshui County Army in Liupan Mountain. His body was buried in Ordos by the kings and Nayan (the leader of the Sugu nobles) according to his wishes during his lifetime. The name of the place is Yijinhuoluo, which means "the master's cemetery". Maybe his body is in the vast Ordos grassland.
What exactly is worshiped at the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan?
Now we go to the Genghis Khan Mausoleum in Ordos, where the eight white rooms, or eight white felt tents, are enshrined, which are the "general gods" worshiped by all Mongolian people. What's so magical about eight white rooms?
It is said that the eight white palace tents used by Genghis Khan during his lifetime were used to house the spiritual box symbolizing Genghis Khan's "soul", as well as portraits and some relics for worship and memorial activities.
So what is the "soul" of Genghis Khan?
Mongolians believe in shamanism and believe that the human body will eventually return to nature, and only the soul can survive forever. Therefore, before their loved ones die, they will put a ball of white camel hair on their mouth and nose, leaving their last breath and soul of their loved ones behind. In the spiritual box in the Babai Room, there is the "soul" of Genghis Khan - the white camel hair that absorbed his last breath.
A new tribe was born to protect Genghis Khan.
This tribe is the Dargut tribe. Since the death of Genghis Khan, this tribe has been followed until now, and it only does one thing in its life: to keep watch for Genghis Khan. They were composed of the most loyal generals around Genghis Khan and their descendants.
During the Anti-Japanese War, the Japanese plotted to preserve the silver coffin of Genghis Khan. The Dalhut people adhered to their duties and moved the silver coffin from Ordos to Xinglong Mountain in Gansu Province, and then to Kumbum Monastery in Qinghai, and returned to it in 1954. Yijinhuoluo is placed in the reconstructed Mausoleum of Genghis Khan until now.
Now when you travel to the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan, you will see some people wearing "grey robes". I wonder if they are descendants of the Dargut tribe. Next time you travel, remember to explore the secrets.
