Sacrifice to Oboo

The name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: sacrifice to Oboo

Applicant: Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Item No.: 488

Project No.: Ⅹ - 40

Time of publication: 2006 (the first batch)

Category: folk customs

Region: Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Type: new item

Applicant: Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Protection unit: Xilin Gol League Mass Art Museum

Brief introduction to Oboo sacrifice

Applicant: Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Offering sacrifices to Oboo is a traditional custom of Mongolian people and one of the manifestations of grassland people's idea of advocating nature. Xilin Gol League is an area where the historical remains of Ji Oboo are well preserved.

"Oboo", also known as "naobao" and "EBO" advocated by Mongolian, means "duizi". It is made of stones. It is generally built on the top of the mountain or hills, and its shape is cone-shaped with different heights.

In ancient times, the establishment and sacrifice of Oboo was relatively simple. The priest announced that a certain mountain or hill was chosen as the location of Oboo. People built mounds of earth or stone in this place, and Oboo was built after a number of ceremonies. After that, the residents in the neighborhood would come here every year to worship and pray for the prosperity of people and animals. After Tibetan Buddhism was introduced into the Mongolian gathering area, the form of offering sacrifices to Oboo changed a lot, but the worship ceremony of herdsmen to Oboo remained unchanged.

The ceremony is usually held from May to July of the lunar calendar. Some have a single flag and a single Sumu sacrifice, while others have several Sumu and several flags jointly sacrifice. The ceremony of offering sacrifices to Oboo starts before sunrise, which is grand and serious. All participants should turn around Oboo three times clockwise, drip fresh milk and wine to Oboo while turning, then kowtow in front of Oboo, add the stones they bring to Oboo, and decorate Oboo with wicker, hada, colored flag, etc. After the ceremony, the "Nadam" activity will be held. Herdsmen are free to participate in wrestling, horse racing, archery and other traditional sports activities, singing, dancing and drinking together.

Offering sacrifices to Oboo is the epitome of the ancient Mongolian culture, and a series of activities and rituals related to it reflect the creativity of the Mongolian nation. As a kind of cultural space, offering sacrifices to Oboo contains many Mongolian traditional cultures and customs, which is of great value to the study of nomadic culture and the history of Mongolian development. Excavation, rescue and protection of ji'aobao are also of great significance to promote the cultural identity of the Chinese nation, enhance social cohesion, and enhance national unity and social stability.