Mongolian culture is based on traditional nomadic values that have been passed down through generations. Some of the key values discussed in the document include respect for history and national identity, a sense of freedom from the nomadic lifestyle, and an emphasis on cooperation within communities. However, Mongolia's transition to a market economy since 1990 has led to changes as individual interests have become prioritized over collective values in some areas. There is now a need to educate young people about traditional Mongolian values and integrate them into a globalized world while still preserving their core cultural aspects.

1. Ulziinyam Tumen-Ulzii
Tel: 99686175, 362326
Values of Mongolia
I am very proud of being a native Mongolian’s young generation that respects core values of
the Mongolian civilization such as our history, identity, culture, tradition, language, life style that
perceived from historically powerful and intelligent nation led by Chinggis Khan. The Great Empire
of Chinggis Khan founded greatest power in the history of mankind. Mongolian traditional values
have been formulated and developed by nomadic culture and then gradually integrated with the world
civilization.
One of the Mongolian traditional values is a sense of freedom of Mongolian people that has
been developed from nomadic life style settled in a big area with low population density. However,
depending on the various factors that affect human civilization and new technology intervention
Mongols are becoming away from nomadic thinking. But Mongols still have very hardworking
behavior.
Cooperative life style is one of the common values of Mongolia. Historically, nomadic
families have mutual cooperation to share their common goods and resources against environmental
risks, sharing workforce for taking care of their animals, for trading, and even for celebrating
traditional events. Therefore, the common goods became a strong value that based on collective
interest, loyalty, respect elders and generosity of the individuals. The communist system (1921-1990)
did not change the basis of their traditional social system, of which a strong community feeling and
mutual responsibility for the existence of the group to which one belonged was essential components.
The collective interests which were more important than the individual ones, was a main element in
the Mongolian culture which largely determined the codes and rules for thought and behavior.
However, the free market system, adopted by the government in1990, is brought some changes in the
cultural context that based on individual needs. Personal interests and success became more
important than the collective interests of the group and individual development has priority over the
maintaining of traditional group norms and rules. This process is more common in urban areas. In the
countryside the change from collective thinking to individual culture is less obvious since survival in
an unexpected weather conditions which are often extreme is still dependent on mutual co-operation
within herding groups in which nomadic traditions often still play a major role.
Mongolians are involved in strong relationship with surrounding nature. There are many
traditions, customs regarding the protection and care of the nature. Most of the strictly prohibited
rules are digging a land or pasture, polluting ecosystem of the stream water, river, lake and mountain,
and as well as hunting the number of species. Moreover, historically people used to teach young
generations through epics poems, songs and blessings that have meaning of protection and
conservation of surrounding nature. Mongolians have a long history of raising livestock, the five
treasures, such as horse, cattle, sheep, goats and camels. Horses are highly prized among five
features. In addition, nomadic people used to take care of their health through specific food orders
such as eating meat only cold during cold seasons, and eating diary products during the hot and dry
seasons. Mongolian healthy eating saying: “Breakfast, keep for yourself; lunch, share with your
friend; dinner, give to your enemy”. It is not a surprise that most of the young generation of Mongolia
does not often use diary products but they prefer to eat unhealthy food that processed with chemicals.
According to research, approximately 70 percent of cancer cases in Mongolia are stomach cancer
which caused by unhealthy food.
Transition to the free market economy, since 1990, is brought many changes in Mongolians
life. Over 90 percent of all consumer goods import from abroad. Approximately half of the
population lives in the capital city as many herders, particularly young people, are leaving their
nomadic life. Everywhere in Mongolia different type of mining factories are booming and thus
destroy nature, landscape and species of the ecosystem.
In short, there is a need for education of young generation that respects core value of
Mongolia. Moreover, there is a need of intelligent, educated people who can develop our traditional
culture, custom and tradition of Mongolia and integrate them into world globalization by keeping
their core values.