Special Feature on Sports - 5
Traditional ethnic sport: Mongol Sumo
Liu Cheng (Faculty of Economics, 2nd year, China)
was born and raised in a
self-governed district in
Mongol, China and I
especially enjoy their national
sports. I am not a Mongolian
but since I lived there for
many years, a lot of their
racial customs became a part
of me. Similar to the national
sport of Japan, sumo, there
is Mongolian sumo. When
Genghis Khan established the
Mongolian dynasty, it was
known as an important way
to choose suitable soldiers. In
Mongolian sumo, they don’t
have a basis or a specific
limit. The first to have both
shoulders hit the floor loses
is a very different rule from
the sumo in Japan. In
Mongolian, sumo is called
bokou. It became s popular
traditional Mongolian sport
in the grassy plains around
the 13th century. Not only was
it just played as a sport but
it was also used to kill time.
The Mongolians seemed to
be very fond of it. The sumo
wrestlers wear clothing made
of cow skin, boots, and
decorative hoods of red,
yellow, and blue. The first,
second, and third place
winners are awarded with a
prize. You cannot pull ones
leg, hit the face, or kick
above the stomach and knee.
You also cannot touch the
others ear and eyes. In this
sport, there are definite risks
where it is possible for one
to die. In case of these
casualties, it is common for
one to be given a pair of
boots and be compensated
with a three-year old cow.
This is identified to be legal
above the laws.
There are other
competitions also known as
Nadamu, which is the most
magnificent sport festival for
the Mongolians. They have
horse races and other sports
where one shoots an arrow
while riding a horse. Of
course, these are different
from the mass sports because
they are only popular in
Mongol, China. I think sports
are important if one wants to
learn the culture and habits
of the Mongolians.
I didn’t have that many
chances to experience these
sports since I came to Japan
but there are many powerful
sumo wrestlers from Mongol
like Asashoryu and Hakuho
that have showed bravery to
the Japanese. Being born in
the great grasslands, the
optimistic personality of the
Mongolians makes friends
through sports and winners
are looked up to as heroes.
I think it’s somewhat the
same as Japan’s spirit of
bushido. Competition of
mankind created the affluent
society we have today in the
first place. Moreover, one
cannot live without
competition. I think
Mongolian sumo and Japan’s
spirit of bushido is indeed a
pillar to guide victory and
defeat mankind. One must
fight even if the opponent is
strong. Pretend there are two
sumo wrestlers and one of
the their ability is obviously
less than the other. Do you
think one will fight or
surrender? Mongolian sumo
wrestlers will not give up
and will definitely fight till
the end. I think it’s because
of their disposition from
birth and their way of
sticking out till the end.
The sumo wrestlers of Nadamu competition held once a year
