Fifty-one billion and zero - the two numbers Bill Gates says you need to know about climate.

Solving climate change would be "the most amazing thing humanity has ever done", says the billionaire founder of Microsoft.

By comparison, ending the pandemic is "very, very easy", he claims.

Mr Gates's new book, How to Avoid a Climate Disaster, is a guide to tackling global warming.

Don't underestimate the scale of the challenge, he told me when we spoke last week.

"We've never made a transition like we're talking about doing in the next 30 years. There is no precedent for this."

Fifty-one billion is how many tonnes of greenhouse gases the world typically adds to the atmosphere each year.

Net zero is where we need to get to.

This means cutting emissions to a level where any remaining greenhouse gas releases are balanced out by absorbing an equivalent amount from the atmosphere. One way to do this is by planting trees, which soak up CO2 through their leaves.

Renewable sources like wind and solar can help us decarbonise electricity but, as Mr Gates points out, that's less than 30% of total emissions.

We are also going to have to decarbonise the other 70% of the world economy - steel, cement, transport systems, fertiliser production and much, much more.

We simply don't have ways of doing that at the moment for many of these sectors.

'Governments must lead'

The answer, says Mr Gates, will be an innovation effort on a scale the world has never seen before.

This has to start with governments, he argues.

At the moment, the economic system doesn't price in the real cost of using fossil fuels.

Most users don't pay anything for the damage to the environment done by pollution from the petrol in their car or the coal or gas that created the electricity in their home.

"Right now, you don't see the pain you're causing as you emit carbon dioxide," is how Mr Gates puts it.

That's why he says governments have to intervene.

"We need to have price signals to tell the private sector that we want green products," he says.

That is going to require a huge investment by governments in research and development, Mr Gates argues, as well as support to allow the market for new products and technologies to grow, thereby helping drive down prices.

Yet Mr Gates was famous for arguing that regulation stifled innovation when he was building Microsoft into the multi-billion-dollar behemoth it is now.

So isn't it a bit rich for him now to demand government intervention?

He replies he has always supported "the basic role of government in terms of roads and justice and education and scientific research".

And, on the climate issue, he maintains it will be impossible to avoid a disaster, particularly for those who live near the equator, without governments around the world getting behind the effort.

The Republican Party in America needs to recognise the importance of tackling climate change, says Mr Gates.

This needs to be a "constant 30-year push", he maintains. "Business just can't change all that physical infrastructure unless the market signals are constant and very clear."

"India is going to build housing for their people, provide lighting at night, air conditioning to make conditions liveable," Mr Gates believes, so global demand will not reduce.

He argues political action is more important, demanding government do the right thing, and, using our voices as consumers, insisting the same of companies.

"If you buy an electric car, a hamburger made of a meat substitute, an electric heat pump for your home you are helping increase the production of these products and therefore helping drive prices down."

Mr Gates still enjoys the trappings of the billionaire lifestyle.

He uses private jets, but insists that they are powered by biofuels - aviation fuels made from plant products.

"I pay three times as much now for my aviation fuel, you know, over $7m [£5m] a year in all my offset spending."

And he has joined a £3bn bidding war to buy one of the world's largest private jet services companies, a business called Signature Aviation.

Is that appropriate when you've just written a book telling the world how to avoid a climate disaster?

"I don't think getting rid of flying would make sense," he replies. "That type of brute force technique won't get us there."

He says the answer has to be "a type of aviation fuel that doesn't cost much extra and is zero emission and that's got to be biofuels or electric fuels or perhaps using green hydrogen to power the plane".

Covid conspiracies

Mr Gates has become something of a bogeyman for coronavirus conspiracy theorists.

He has been accused of everything from concocting the virus in a secret laboratory as part of a project by global elites to depopulate the world, to using vaccinations to implant microchips in people to track and control them.

He laughs when asked about this.

"Why would I want to track people? You know, I'm just not that interested in where people are going."

The main focus for his huge charitable efforts to date has been tackling health issues in developing countries.

He tells me he is used to people getting bored when he talks about tuberculosis and malaria at cocktail parties, so this is a real change from what he calls "the normal obscurity of working on infectious disease".

But he says he was worried that speaking out on climate might attract similar controversy.

"I don't want to dilute my voice on issues like polio eradication or malaria," Mr Gates explains, but says he felt this was the right time to publish his plan for tackling climate change.

He says he wants his ideas to feed into the green stimulus packages being proposed around the world and to be discussed in the run-up to the crucial climate conference the UK is hosting in Glasgow in November this year.

We are at a crucial point in the climate debate, Mr Gates believes.

He describes the young generation as having a "moral conviction" that they have to be involved in bringing change on the issue.

"Now we have to take that energy and make sure it's directed at the policies that will make a difference," he argues.

But it isn't going to be easy, he warns.

This has to continue to be a huge priority for the world year in, year out.

The hope is "we get a bit lucky" and succeed in developing innovative new technologies that really do solve the hard areas, he says.

But he is optimistic that we can still avoid the worst effects of climate change.

"You know, I've seen many times, innovation surprises us in a positive way."

I've travelled all over the world for the BBC and seen evidence of environmental damage and climate change everywhere. It's the biggest challenge humanity has ever faced. Tackling it means changing how we do virtually everything. We are right to be anxious and afraid at the prospect, but I reckon we should also see this as a thrilling story of exploration, and I'm delighted to have been given the chance of a ringside seat as chief environment correspondent.

India is projected to become the second largest producer of Covid-19 vaccines in the world, providing them not only for its own population, but for other developing nations, analysts say.

The South Asian nation was producing around 60 percent of the world’s vaccines even before the Covid-19 pandemic, and the production capacities of Indian pharma manufacturers allow vaccines to be made at relatively low cost.

“India has been a manufacturing hub for vaccines… even before the pandemic, and should therefore be a strategic partner in the global inoculation against Covid-19,” according to a report published by JPMorgan analysts.

India will become the world’s second biggest vaccine producer after the US, according to London-based multinational consultancy Deloitte. PS Easwaran, a partner at Deloitte India, expects the country to produce over 3.5 billion Covid-19 vaccines, with the US forecasted to produce four billion.

Seeking to meet the growing demand across the globe, Indian companies are reportedly ramping up production facilities.

“We are expanding our annualized capacities to deliver 700 million doses of our intramuscular Covaxin,” Indian firm Bharat Biotech, which developed a Covid-19 vaccine in cooperation with the state-owned Indian Council of Medical Research, told CNBC.

The Serum Institute of India (SII) is currently producing Covishield, which was co-developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford. The institute makes 50 million doses of the vaccine every month, with plans to boost production to 100 million doses a month by next month, Reuters reported.

Vaccines developed by the Russian Direct Investment Fund and US firm Johnson & Johnson are also produced by Indian pharm manufacturers.

“Even without successful vaccine development from their own pipelines, available capacity provides opportunity to partner as contract manufacturers with approved vaccine developers to meet supply needs particularly for India and other [emerging markets],” JPMorgan report said.

When it comes to meeting demand in developing countries, vaccines produced in India are cheaper and easier to transport in comparison with those produced in Europe and the US, according to K Srinath Reddy, president of the Public Health Foundation of India.

Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- The average life expectancy in Mongolia has risen to 70.19 years, according to a report released by the country's National Statistics Office on Monday.

"The average life expectancy of our population was first calculated in 1992. In 26 years until 2018 since then, the average life expectancy in the country increased by 7.4 years to 70.19 years," the survey conducted in 2020 showed.

In addition, the average life expectancy of men in Mongolia was 4.19 years shorter than that of women in 1992, but in 2018 the gap increased to 9.67 years, according to the report.

High consumption of tobacco and alcohol by men, resulting in diseases such as lung and liver cancer and cardiovascular problems, is said to be the main reason Mongolian men have a shorter lifespan than women on average.

Mongolia is an East Asian country with a population of 3.3 million. Enditem

It all began exactly thirty years ago. On February 14, 1991, the eve of Tsagaan Sar, Mongolia joined the World Bank Group[1]. This was the period when the country had just gotten on the path of democracy, free market, and openness to the outside world. Mongolia rightly took pride in this transition but, at the same time, it presented enormous challenges, including a sharp economic contraction. Following the cut of external aid, the hardship was felt by Mongolians every day. Long lines were visible on every street corner for rationed food.

The World Bank’s support was quick to arrive. By the end of 1991, the first project of $30 million was already signed to help rehabilitate production in key sectors such as agriculture, energy and transport. The World Bank also carried out a comprehensive macroeconomic analysis, zooming in on the immediate challenges of runaway inflation and falling output.

Since these early days three decades ago, the World Bank Group (WBG) has accompanied Mongolia’s strong recovery and development, culminating in the country’s graduation from the International Development Association (IDA) – the WBG’s lending window for low income countries – last year. Mongolia’s economy has expanded significantly over this period, with GDP per capita rising more than fourfold from $1,072 in 1991 to $4,339 in 2019. But growth has been volatile. Like many other resource-rich countries in the world, Mongolia experienced persistent boom-and-bust cycles. Economic diversification remains critical to generate productive jobs, especially for the young. People’s living standards have improved, but growth did not not generate shared prosperity for all. Mongolian citizens expect their government to deliver quality education and health services, and provide for a clean and safe living environment. Their aspirations have not yet been fully realized.

Through good and difficult times, the WBG has remained a steadfast partner of Mongolia. Our budget support operations helped Mongolia restore macroeconomic stability and lay the foundations for inclusive growth. Our investments contributed to economic development in both mining and non-mining sectors, improving people’s livelihoods, and addressing environment and climate challenges. A total of $1.28 billion World Bank financing has been committed to Mongolia for these years. The WBG’s private sector arms—the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)—have also been active in supporting private investments.

The investments have helped improve people’s livelihoods across the country. In the energy sector, we supported electricity access to over 100,000 rural and herder families providing them with portable solar panels in the 2000s. In the early 2000s, the World Bank telecommunications project helped all 360 soums in Mongolia gain access to modern phone and internet services. To help herders mitigate natural disaster risks, we supported the world’s first index-based livestock insurance system in Mongolia. To improve governance, we helped revamp the statistical system in Mongolia to match international standards to inform decision making, and empowered citizens to make their voice heard on public expenditure allocations at local levels. IFC financed Mongolia’s first utility-scale windfarm for the country and supported reforms to increase access to finance for SMEs through enabling movable collateral.

Most recently, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the WBG quickly mobilized over $60 million to support the relief and stimulus measures for saving lives, protecting the poor and vulnerable, and ensuring sustainability of businesses and jobs. These resources are being invested for the most essential medical and diagnostic equipment in three tertiary hospitals, nine district hospitals of the capital city and 21 aimags, personal protective equipment for frontline health workers, and training for medical staff. A new project, which would finance the vaccination of about 60 percent of Mongolians has just been approved. The Bank is also financing the temporary relief of social insurance contribution for over 120,000 self-employed workers including 72,000 women and around 150,000 workers employed by 18,000 firms affected by COVID-19. Bank support has also benefited approximately 1.19 million children through the top-up payments to the government’s Child Money Program.

After thirty years of partnership with the World Bank Group, Mongolia has become a lower-middle-income country and its vision is to become by 2050 a high-income country with high levels of human development, better quality of life, a diversified economy, and good governance. This is an aspiration we will continue to support. To turn it into reality will be challenging. The first step will be to gradually phase out short-term relief measures and return to the important agenda of structural reforms which are needed to rekindle growth and make it sustainable and inclusive. Over the medium-term, Mongolia will have to contend with the growing risks associated with climate change, and the challenges this will bring to the structure of its economy. And it will need to offer its youth the perspective of productive, well-paying jobs, to retain the country’s talents at home.

The WBG is honored to have been Mongolia’s trusted partner over the past thirty years. We are confident that our partnership will continue and further strengthen in the decades ahead, rain or shine.

BY: Martin Raiser is the World Bank Country Director for China, Korea and Mongolia

[1] Mongolia joined the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in 1991; and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) in 1999. All these organizations together known as the World Bank Group.

Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia will launch a COVID-19 vaccination campaign next week, the country's Health Minister Sereejav Enkhbold said on Monday.

"The current COVID-19 lockdown in the country's capital Ulan Bator, imposed on Feb. 11, is set to expire next Tuesday. Our country is planning to start a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign from that day," Enkhbold told a press conference.

Mongolia is now working to acquire four types of COVID-19 vaccines, Enkhbold said.

The Asian country is planning to vaccinate at least 60 percent of its population of 3.3 million against COVID-19, he said, noting that 20 percent of them will be vaccinated under COVAX, a global initiative to ensure quick and equal access to vaccines against COVID-19.

As of Monday, the country has registered a total of 2,383 COVID-19 cases, with four deaths. Enditem

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ The Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2020 democracy index ranks Mongolia 61st out of 167 countries rated and classifies it as a “flawed democracy”.

The democracy index, on a 0-10 scale, is based on the ratings for 60 indicators grouped in five categories. Mongolia gained 8.75 scores in electoral process and pluralism, 5.71 scores in functioning of government, 5.56 scores in political participation, 5.63 scores in political culture and 6.76 scores in civil liberties.

The index values are used to place countries within one of four types of regime:

full democracies—scores of 8 to 10;

flawed democracies—scores of 6 to 7.9;

hybrid regimes—scores of 4 to 5.9;

authoritarian regimes—scores below 4.

Norway led the index with the highest score or 9.81, followed by Iceland (9.37), Sweden (9.26) and New Zealand (9.25).

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/. Minister of Finance B.Javkhlan has informed that the housing mortgage loan program will continue as normal as part of the government’s MNT10 trillion economic recovery and health protection plan presented by Prime Minister L.Oyun-Erdene last week.

According to the Finance Minister, around 15,000 apartments are newly commissioned each year in Mongolia and around 12,000 of them has smaller size that meets requirement for the purchase of an apartment of up to 80 square meters under the mortgage program. “Therefore, the mortgage program is available to provide loans with subsidized interest rates for around 12,000 apartments yearly.”

The economic plan sets out to enhance the loan amount and accessibility of mortgage loans and repurchase agreements by the Bank of Mongolia through commercial banks, and MNT 3 trillion will be earmarked for the mortgage loan program and development of Youth I, II and III apartment complexes in Ulaanbaatar and their infrastructures.

Since the decision was made to lower mortgage loan interest rate from 8 percent down to 6 in October 2020, more than 1,200 new mortgage agreements totalling MNT 95 billion were made only in December 2020, marking the highest amount of mortgage loans to be issued within a month.

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ At its irregular meeting convened on February 14, the Cabinet discussed a complex plan of MNT 10 trillion to protect citizens’ health and recover the economy and set up working teams to manage the plan.

Specifically, working team for recovering the economy will be headed by Minister of Finance B.Javkhlan while working team for health will be led by Minister of Health S.Enkhbold. Reminding that “One door-One testing” measure is a foundation for the realization of the complex plan, Prime Minister L.Oyun-Erdene noted, assigning the Cabinet members and relevant officials to pay special attention on it.

Due to the pandemic, Mongolia’s economy, which had growth of 5.2 percent in 2019, has shrunken by around 6 percent as of preliminary performance of 2020. Following it, the number of employees in over 46 thousand entities decreased by 70 thousand in the third quarter of 2020. Taking into consideration of these situations, the Cabinet has decided to simultaneously implement policy and goal to protect citizens’ health and recover the economy until 2023.

Following measures will be taken within the complex program.

To issue loan of MNT 2 trillion with annual interest rate of 3 percent with 3 years of term to small and medium enterprises

To Implement a plan to support youth employment with financing of MNT 500 billion. Within the program, youth will be involved in two-month scholarship training that equips them with the required knowledge and skills for implementing large-scale projects. Following the training, the participants will receive a certificate and MNT 1 million alongside having priority for job positions at entities implementing large-scale projects.

To implement housing program. MNT 3 trillion will be spent on giving land free of charge for building “Youth I, II, III” apartment complexes in Ulaanbaatar city in the first turn, develop their infrastructures, building the apartments under a unified blueprint and issuing mortgage soft loans.

MNT 2 trillion to be spent for realizing large scale projects and programs that are of strategic significance

To grant loan of MNT 500 billion with a view to support agricultural production, herders’ income and livelihood

To increase the amount of repo financing by the Bank of Mongolia reaching to MNT 2 trillion from MNT 1 billion In doing so, it was reflected to increase the loan amount to SMEs from MNT 300 million to MNT 500 million as well as to increase the loan amount for non-mining export product manufacturers from MNT 1 billion to MNT 3 billion.

KYOTO--An iron helmet believed worn by a Mongol warrior during a 13th-century invasion of Japan has turned up at a shrine here, which prayed for the nation’s victory.

The cone-shaped headgear was discovered in an “azekura-style” storehouse within the precincts of Kitano Tenmangu shrine here in November.

The helmet, which measures 22 centimeters in height and 23 cm in diameter, weighs about 2 kilograms.

It was apparently donated to commemorate Japan’s defeat of fleets from the Yuan Dynasty, which ruled present-day Mongolia, China and other regions between 1271 and 1368, shrine officials said in December.

The dynasty was established by Kublai Khan, a grandson of Genghis Khan, who founded the Mongol Empire.

Kublai twice attempted to invade Japan during the Kamakura Period (1185-1333). Japanese and Mongol forces fought the Battle of Bunei in 1274 and the Battle of Koan in 1281 in northern Kyushu.

The helmet found at Kitano Tenmangu is thought to be from the Mongol side due to its close resemblance with the Kurourushinuri Kawabari Kabutobachi (black-lacquered, leather-treated helmet), a government-designated important cultural property.

The celebrated iron headpiece is believed to have been dedicated to Oyamazumijinja shrine in what is now Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, by Kono Michiari, who led a navy from the Seto Inland Sea area during the Battle of Koan.

Kublai repeatedly demanded Japan become a tributary state to his dynasty, but the Kamakura Shogunate refused. It is believed that the Yuan Dynasty abandoned both attempts partly due to a storm, which is often called “divine wind.”

It remains a mystery which battle the helmet was used in or how it ended up at Kitano Tenmangu.

Sugawara no Michizane (845-903), who is enshrined as a deity at the shrine, was respected as a god of war, who was believed to cause a divine wind to destroy enemies.

Japan’s imperial government in 1268 asked 22 shrines, including Kitano Tenmangu, to pray for a victory in preparation for a war against Mongols, according to records.

In 1281, respects were paid at the shrine to pray for Japan’s triumph at the order of Emperor Go-Uda (1267-1324).

The helmet will be on display at the shrine’s treasure hall through Jan. 11 and also from Feb. 1 to March 14.

There is a Mongolian myth about why the mouse came to symbolize the first sign of the Eastern zodiac. Long ago, a great competition amongst animals took place. Those who first saw the sunrise were to earn a prestigious title in the Zodiac. The little mouse wanted to participate too. But his competitors were large and strong. And there was no way he could win the race without some help. So, he asked the giant camel for support. The kind-hearted camel took pity on the tiny mouse and let him climb up on his hump. Together, they stood still in the dark, waiting patiently for the sun to rise. Gradually, the dawn brought a new day, and with it, a glimmering golden light that steadily began to hem the horizon. The quick little mouse sprang up on his hind legs, and then, perched on top of the camel’s hump, he saw the rays of the rising sun first. That is how, through the generosity of the noble camel, the mouse came to symbolize the first sign of the Eastern zodiac.

Many ancient cultures throughout the world have invented systems to organize the days and the cycles and rhythms of nature. Most of them have their own myths and traditions related to their timekeepers’ schedules. Some countries celebrate the New Year according to the solar (today predominantly the Gregorian) calendar. Other countries, many of which are also in Asia and the Middle East, celebrate the New Year according to the lunar calendar. Still others welcome the celebration of both.

Origin and the Event

As for the origin of the Mongolian traditional calendar, experts hold differing opinions. Upon brief examination, the Tibetan lunar calendar seems to be the closest source. But the question of exactly when, how or if the current lunar calendar was adopted, and what system was used prior to its acceptance, remains a subject of lively debate amongst historians, astronomers and religious leaders. Nevertheless, Friday, February 12, 2021 will be the beginning of the 35th year of the 17th sixty-year-cycle in Mongolia. And Mongolians would have celebrated this new year of the Ox during a nationwide holiday called “Tsagaan Sar,” or White Moon.

Due to the global pandemic, however, official celebrations have been restricted to small circles since last year. This limitation is particularly hard on the elderly that live far away from their children because it is the one holiday when family members from near and far gather to pay respects to them. Contrarily, those of us who belong to the younger category might admit, with a bit of reluctance, that the restriction comes as a relief. The plethora of rules, the elaborate etiquette, the chaos of preparations, and the intricate dance around ego-shells with a diversity of relatives in various phases of life can all sometimes have the tendency to create more stress rather than invigoration.

Reflection on the Meaning

Whether advantageous or unfavorable, Mongolia’s current quarantine restrictions around national holiday celebrations present an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of Tsagaan Sar. A unique lithograph from the permanent collection of the Mongolian National Modern Art Gallery in Ulaanbaatar titled, “The National Holiday Tsagaan Sar” (1977) by Ts. Dagvanyam can be helpful.

In an eventful scene, the artist presents a Tsagaan Sar morning in a countryside cooperative. Brown, white, and red colors prevail. They accentuate the hustle and bustle of the morning for herders, industriously putting out their cattle and sheep to graze on pasture for the day. Various modes of transport: horses, yak carts, camels, a tractor, and a motorcycle, protrude from the edges of the composition. There is a feisty yak, tied to a cart with canisters, impatiently raising his short fluffy tail while bowing his head and spectacular horns, wanting to get a move on. Behind him, a child with his new toy-airplane and a wand with a star in his hand is joyfully skipping toward his mother, who is placing freshly made traditional buuz (Mongolian dish similar to steamed dumplings) on top of the roof of her ger (Mongolian home) to freeze. At the center of the busy movement, two neighboring families embrace in a traditional Tsagaan Sar greeting (zolgokh yos). On the left side of the composition, a guest is arriving in his red new deel (Mongolian clothing) and is tying his finest horse to a post before going over to greet his hosts…

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Naming this picture, “The National Holiday Tsagaan Sar,” would have been a risky move in 1977. Until 1988, the nationwide celebration of Tsagaan Sar as an official holiday was forbidden. Since 1932, the government had proclaimed Tsagaan Sar a “feudal” ritual perpetuated by religious leaders who wished to continue the “enslavement” of the masses. On January 26, 1952, when Mongolia’s leader, Marshall Kh.Choibalsan, passed away, Tsagaan Sar became a national day of mourning. Then in 1960, the proclamation of the official holiday of herders’ cooperatives began to allow only people in the countryside to celebrate Tsagaan Sar. Since the 1990’s democratic revolution, Tsagaan Sar, once again became an official holiday, celebrated throughout Mongolia. And these days, on Tsagaan Sar’s eve, or Bituun, the nation can watch the president’s official greetings on television.

Bituun and New Beginning

In a way, Bituun is a farewell party for the old year. So, to the extent possible, Mongols strive to complete old projects, settle disputes or any debts, wrap up deals or repairs, and clean up old properties etc. Even closing the curtains at home could do the trick. Traditional buuz and dumplings symbolize the successful completion of a year. And no guest is allowed to leave the house hungry or dissatisfied for the sake of good luck for all. Children play traditional games that also represent the end of a good year, and the winners would be considered particularly lucky next year. Many families place ice cubes on the roof of their ger to water the horse of the swift goddess of luck, Baldanlkham, as she passes by in the sky and blesses everyone at the moment when New Year begins.

On Shiniin Negen, or the first day of the New Year, to rise with the sun and go on a refreshing walk in the direction best suited for one’s personal zodiac sign (for the details, Mongols consult Buddhist astrologers and calendars beforehand) is a ritual that increases the chances of success in the entire year. After this ritual, it is time for everyone to change into their best deels and go out to greet each other (zolgokh), starting with the eldest family member. With best wishes for the New Year, people give and receive symbolic presents of appreciation and respect. The color white is associated with peace, goodwill and new beginnings in Mongolia. Therefore, a New Year’s meal begins and ends with sweetened rice with raisins or any dairy snack (tsagaan idee) one prefers.

Purpose and Deeper Origin

The practical purpose of Tsagaan Sar is to meet and reacquaint with one’s old and new relatives. But more importantly, it is a tradition inherited from the Mongolian nomadic culture. It plays a significant role in passing on history to future generations.

Long ago, Mongols used to celebrate the Lunar New Year in autumn when livestock was abundant and harvest, plentiful. Then, in the spring of 1206, after having successfully united the disparate tribes of the Central Asian steppe, Temuujin was conferred the title of Chinggis Khaan at the council of chieftains and became the head of a new nation of Mongols. The birth of a nation coincided with the first day of spring of the Tiger month in the Tiger year. It was hailed as an auspicious sign by shamans. On that day, Chinggis Khaan is known to have pardoned all convicts, to give a chance for everyone to begin a new chapter in history from a clean slate. Chinggis Khaan also paid respects to the eldest members of his nation by sending them generous presents. Thus, he acknowledged the priceless contribution and sacrifice of those who came before him.

Travellers’ Notes

In Guillaume de Rubrouck’s account, Claude and René Kappler noted that in 1254, the New Year’s took place on January 21st. And in Marco Polo’s travels, it is described how Chinggis Khaan’s grandson, Khubilai Khaan carried on the tradition of New Year’s celebrations.

Exactly what system was used to organize the time and dates prior to the current lunar calendar in Mongolia remains to be agreed upon. But today, the celebration of the Lunar New Year in Mongolia continues to symbolize, in addition to the birthday of the Mongol nation, the kind union of families, the forgiveness for old wrongs, and the gratitude to those who once offered us their shoulder to lean on.

May the New Year of the tenacious White Ox be a bullish one for you!

References:

1) Burmaa, Ch. and Enkhjargal, D. Монгол Түмний Баяр Цагаан Сар. Ulaanbaatar: Empathy, 2017.

2) Choimaa, Sh. Монгол Ёс Заншил, Уламжлалт Ухаанаа Заан Сургагч Нарт Тус Дэм. Ulaanbaatar: Soyombo Press, 2015.

3) Kappler, Claude-Claire et René. Guillaume de Rubrouck, Envoyé de Saint Louis: Voyage dans l’Empire mongol (1253-1255). Paris: Payot, 1985. (Chp. 35)

4) Mongolian National Modern Art Gallery. Selected Works from MNMAG’s Collections. China: ICECE, 2008.

5) Rinchen, B. “Цагаан Сар.” Бямбын Ренчин, Vol. 5. Ulaanbaatar : Nepko Publishing, 2018.

6) Rustichello of Pisa. The Travels of Marco Polo, Vol. 1. Scotland: Yule-Cordier, 1902. (Book 2, Chp. 14)

7) Turmunkh, G. “Цагаан сарыг тэмдэглэхэд учир бий.” Tsahim-toli, February 04, 2016, http://www.tsahim-toli.mn/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1601:tsagaan-sariig-temdeglehed-uchir-bii&catid=42:soyol&Itemid=401.

8) Tibet House Us. “Tibetan Calendar.” Date accessed: January 25, 2021. https://tibethouse.us/tibetan-calendar/.

By: Ariunaa Jargalsaikhan