The intangible cultural heritage passed down by word of mouth is the precipitation of vast history, the imprint carved by time, and the precious wealth left by mankind, which, together with the tangible cultural heritage, constitutes a splendid and colorful human world.
Today, let's talk about the Mongolian harness making skills that were included in the national intangible cultural heritage list in 2008 and approved by the State Council.
In 2008, the Mongolian harness making technique was approved by the State Council to be included in the second batch of national intangible cultural heritage list.
Known as the "nation on horseback", the Mongolian people have accumulated rich experience in harness making in long-term production and life, and the Mongolian harness making skills have become an important part of the steppe culture.
The Mongolian harness making technique has a historical origin
The Mongols have been known as the "horseback people" since ancient times. In order to chase the water and grass, the Mongolian people often relocated and lived a nomadic life. In order to facilitate the nomadic life, the Mongolian people created saddle harnesses, and their development has experienced a long process of development from simple to complex, from clumsy to exquisite and complete.
In the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the prototype of the saddle appeared - the Xiongnu saddle, the Xiongnu saddle developed faster than the Eastern Hu, the Xiongnu saddle was simple and low, and the front and back saddle bridges had not yet appeared, similar to a cushion. There are also low saddles in the Qin Dynasty, which is representative of the pottery war horses in the Terracotta Warrior Pit no. 2 of the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum, the saddle sculpted on the horse's back is a saddle pad, and there are three leather belly belts on the pads fixed to the horse's back, the belly belts are buckled, all on the left side of the horse's belly, the horse's hips are tightened, the horse's head is covered, and it is made of bronze castings and copper wire through the woven limestone blocks.
In the late Western Han Dynasty, a concave high saddle appeared. The branches of the Beidong Hu of the Two Jin Dynasties and North Korea appeared with raised saddles on the front and rear bridges, and the ends of the saddles changed from flat to high, which limited the forward and backward sliding trend of the rider's body and provided longitudinal stability, so it was called "two bridge vertical saddles".
During the Sui and Tang dynasties, the shape of the Turkic saddle had a new change, the front saddle bridge was high and upright, and the rear saddle bridge was tilted downwards, called the "rear saddle bridge inclined saddle". This style of saddle, which facilitates the rider's up and down, is a major step forward in the development of saddles.
In the Yuan Dynasty, there were conquest saddles with lower rear bridges and gentle life saddles on the front and rear bridges, and the saddles at this time were more diverse. The saddles of the Ming Dynasty were simple in workmanship and had few ornaments, commonly known as simple saddles.
The saddles of the Qing Dynasty were richly decorated and finely crafted, with saddles, saddles, saddles, and saddles, and the Qing Dynasty also appeared cloisonné saddles (also known as enamel). Modern saddles inherit the basic shapes and decorative patterns of previous saddles.
Characteristics of Mongolian harness making techniques
Mongolian saddles are divided into the following categories:
According to the use: there are living saddles, ceremonial saddles, racing saddles, and saddles with official badges.
Saddles for daily life such as sitting saddles, saddles, saddles, car saddles, hunting, and grazing. The saddle used to attend the ceremonial event, the saddle is exquisitely made, there are gold, silver, copper, lacquer, etc., such as the skin saddle of the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, the decoration of the saddle is simple, all made of wood, there are two kinds of saddles, one is hollowed out in the middle and put items. One is a hook on both sides, hooking the object.
According to the place of human habitation, it can be divided into Ordos saddle, Chahar saddle, Weyrat, Horqin saddle, Kazakh saddle, Turba saddle, Uzumuqin saddle, Balhu saddle and so on. The front and back saddles of the Bal tiger are low, the base is wide, and the silver ornaments are particularly used, and the pattern is delicate. Stirrups are larger than elsewhere, and in some places, even for a tribe, there are slight differences in saddles, while abaga saddles are mainly used for nomadic herding. The Kazakh saddle, also known as the military saddle, is used in inner Mongolia and Xinjiang regions, and the front is small and the rear is wide.
Mongolian harness making skills are passed down and protected
Mongolian harness is well-made, convenient to select materials, not only beautiful and generous, but also has practical value, its production integrates carpentry, embroidery, fur, weaving, metal and other production processes, occupies an important position in the traditional Mongolian handicrafts. The harness is the symbol of the nomadic culture of the steppe, condensing the wisdom and wisdom of the craftsmen, and its production is of great significance in the development process of the northern steppe civilization, which embodies the aesthetic consciousness of the Mongolian people and its national cultural characteristics, and has important cultural research value.
Mongolian harness production integrates carpentry, embroidery, fur, weaving, metal and other production processes, with sophisticated production technology, exquisite materials, comfortable use, gorgeous decoration, distinctive characteristics, which embodies the aesthetic consciousness of the Mongolian people and its national cultural characteristics, and has special craft value and important cultural research value.