In the very beginning of the XIII century when Chinggis Khan was already conquering the Turkic tribes in Central Asia, the first writing system was created specifically for the Mongolian language. Its roots reach far – it was derived from the Old Uyghur alphabet which originates from the Sogdian alphabet, a descendant script of the Aramaic alphabet, which is one of the Semitic writing systems known to be widely adopted for other languages and is the ancestor also of the Hebrew, Syriac and Arabic alphabets.
Known as the classical or traditional Mongolian Script, the Old Script, or Mongol Bichig in Mongolian used to be the most widespread and universal alphabet of the Mongol people. Developed and used widely through hundreds of years in Mongolia it was replaced by the Cyrillic alphabet in 1946 and is barely used today. The last place where the classical script is still actively used is Inner Mongolia in China, where it now faces new challenges, and is at risk of disappearing too.
For many reasons, the traditional Mongolian script is extraordinarily important to the Mongolian people and their culture.
The true logic and richness of Mongolian language, its grammar and vocabulary can be discovered only by learning it through the Mongol bichig. The Cyrillic alphabet used currently in Mongolia, imposed by the Soviets, distorts the way of understanding the language. Children in schools as well as adults need to memorize plenty of rules to use the relatively new script. If one studies the language by learning the Old Script, it is much easier and more logical to understand the derivatives of words, declination and other grammatical issues which otherwise may seem very complicated and illogical.
Another crucial reason for Mongolian alphabet’s preservation is the great treasury of literature, religious texts, medical texts, legends, tales and manuscripts which since the Soviet times have stayed largely inaccessible. Knowledge of the classical script gives access to the forgotten wisdom and resources from the past. Only through education in the Old Script, the doors leading to discovering Mongolian written culture’s accomplishments can be unlocked.
As with any language for its nation, Mongolian language plays a huge role in building the Mongolian national identity. In the whole world, it is unique only to the Mongolian people. And it’s only the Mongolian people who can preserve it actively by relearning it and passing it on to the next generations. Yet, the Mongolian patrimony does not belong only to Mongolians – it’s a heritage of whole humanity. It is one piece in a big puzzle, just like Georgian, Arabic or (insert your own alphabet and language).
Knowledge of the Mongolian script is necessary for creating calligraphy in Mongolian language–but the art of Mongolian calligraphy should not be understood only as a visual form of beautiful writing in a vertical script. To become a calligrapher one needs to broaden his horizons and have very extensive knowledge of culture and history. One needs to be either a philosopher or a warrior. Learning calligraphy obliges to be honest with oneself and develops one’s personality – it nurtures and educates the person, enriching the human spirit.
There is a proverb in Mongolian that says, “The best education is to learn how to be a human.” That is what calligraphy can teach us.
Agata Chmielecka
Tamir Samandbadraa Purev
The authors are a professor of Mongolian studies and one of the world’s leading Mongolian calligraphers.
