Coat of arms of Mongolia
Encyclopedia
The state emblem of Mongolia is used by the government of Mongolia
as its symbol of state. It is officially used for example on documents such as Mongolian passports, and government and embassy placards.
.
The outer rim features a tumen nasan, symbolizing eternity, surrounding a circular blue field, symbolizing the sky
. On the centre of the field is a combination of the Soyombo symbol
and the wind horse
(treasured steed), symbolizing Mongolia's independence, sovereignty
, and spirit. Above the field is a Cintamani
(Чандмань), representing the Buddhist Three Jewels
, which in Mongolian folklore
grants wishes. Below the central emblem is a green mountain range
, with the Wheel of Dharma
(Хүрд) at the center. On the bottom of the mountain range and wheel is a khadag (Хадаг), a ceremonial scarf.
. A gearwheel stands for industrialization, sheaves around the perimeter stand for the farming class, and the top featured a red star with the socialist version of the Soyombo. Along the bottom, a blue-red ribbon is placed in front of the gearwheel, with the letters , the abbreviation for , (Mongolian People's Republic).
Before 1961, the emblem did not bear most of the socialist symbols. The horseman carried a long lasso
pole and the heads of four types of herd animals were shown on the sides. A red ribbon at the bottom bore the name of the country in the traditional Mongolian alphabet
between 1940 and 1941 with the Cyrillic abbreviation after that.
From 1924 to 1939, the emblem was simple the Soyombo. In 1939, after the victory in the Battle of Khalkhin Gol
, branches of Nelumbo
were added.
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
as its symbol of state. It is officially used for example on documents such as Mongolian passports, and government and embassy placards.
Description
The state emblem was adopted on March 25, 1992, following the fall of the Communist government. The details of it are laid out in Chapter 1, Article 12(2) of the Constitution of MongoliaConstitution of Mongolia
Constitution of Mongolia is the constitution of Mongolia.It was adopted on January 13. 1992, put into force on February 12, and amended in 1999 and 2001. The new constitution established a parliamentary democracy in Mongolia, guaranteeing freedom of religion, rights, travel, expression,...
.
The outer rim features a tumen nasan, symbolizing eternity, surrounding a circular blue field, symbolizing the sky
Sky
The sky is the part of the atmosphere or outer space visible from the surface of any astronomical object. It is difficult to define precisely for several reasons. During daylight, the sky of Earth has the appearance of a pale blue surface because the air scatters the sunlight. The sky is sometimes...
. On the centre of the field is a combination of the Soyombo symbol
Soyombo symbol
The Soyombo symbol is a special character out of the Mongolian Soyombo script. It serves as a national symbol of Mongolia, to be found on the Flag of Mongolia, the Coat of arms of Mongolia, and on many other official documents....
and the wind horse
Wind Horse
The wind horse is an allegory for the human soul in the shamanistic tradition of Central Asia. In Tibetan Buddhism, it was included as the pivotal element in the center of the four animals symbolizing the cardinal directions and a symbol of the idea of well-being or good fortune...
(treasured steed), symbolizing Mongolia's independence, sovereignty
Sovereignty
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided...
, and spirit. Above the field is a Cintamani
Cintamani
Cintamani also spelled as Chintamani is a wish-fulfilling jewel within both Hindu and Buddhist traditions, equivalent to the philosopher's stone in Western alchemy....
(Чандмань), representing the Buddhist Three Jewels
Three Jewels
The Three Jewels, also called the Three Treasures, the Siemese Triples, Three Refuges, or the Triple Gem , are the three things that Buddhists take refuge in, and look toward for guidance, in the process known as taking refuge.The Three Jewels are:* BuddhaTaking refuge in the Three Jewels is...
, which in Mongolian folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
grants wishes. Below the central emblem is a green mountain range
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
, with the Wheel of Dharma
Dharmacakra
The Dharmachakra , lit. "Wheel of Dharma" or "Wheel of Life" is a symbol that has represented dharma, the Buddha's teaching of the path to enlightenment, since the early period of Indian Buddhism. A similar symbol is also in use in Jainism...
(Хүрд) at the center. On the bottom of the mountain range and wheel is a khadag (Хадаг), a ceremonial scarf.
History
From 1960 to 1991, the Mongolian People's Republic used an emblem with a very similar shape, but with several differing elements. Instead of the Wind Horse, a horseman on a normal horse is shown. In the background, the sun rises above mountains. The Buddhist symbols are replaced by symbols of SocialismSocialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
. A gearwheel stands for industrialization, sheaves around the perimeter stand for the farming class, and the top featured a red star with the socialist version of the Soyombo. Along the bottom, a blue-red ribbon is placed in front of the gearwheel, with the letters , the abbreviation for , (Mongolian People's Republic).
Before 1961, the emblem did not bear most of the socialist symbols. The horseman carried a long lasso
Lasso
A lasso , also referred to as a lariat, riata, or reata , is a loop of rope that is designed to be thrown around a target and tighten when pulled. It is a well-known tool of the American cowboy. The word is also a verb; to lasso is to successfully throw the loop of rope around something...
pole and the heads of four types of herd animals were shown on the sides. A red ribbon at the bottom bore the name of the country in the traditional Mongolian alphabet
Mongolian alphabet
Many alphabets have been devised for the Mongolian language over the centuries, and from a variety of scripts. The oldest, called simply the Mongolian script, has been the predominant script during most of Mongolian history, and is still in active use today in the Inner Mongolia region of China...
between 1940 and 1941 with the Cyrillic abbreviation after that.
From 1924 to 1939, the emblem was simple the Soyombo. In 1939, after the victory in the Battle of Khalkhin Gol
Battle of Khalkhin Gol
The Battles of Khalkhyn Gol was the decisive engagement of the undeclared Soviet–Japanese Border Wars fought among the Soviet Union, Mongolia and the Empire of Japan in 1939. The conflict was named after the river Khalkhyn Gol, which passes through the battlefield...
, branches of Nelumbo
Nelumbo
Nelumbo is a genus of aquatic plants with large, showy flowers resembling water lilies, commonly known as lotus. The generic name is derived from the Sinhalese word Nelum. There are only two known living species in the genus. The sacred lotus is native to Asia, and is the better known of the two...
were added.
See also
- Emblem of Sri Lanka, which also features the Dharmachakra
- Flag of MongoliaFlag of MongoliaThe current flag of Mongolia was adopted on February 12, 1992. It is similar to the flag of 1949, except for the removal of the socialist star....
- National Anthem of Mongolia