Tug Banner

For the administrative sudivision known as a banner, see Banners of Inner Mongolia.

A banner flown in Sükhbaatar Square, Ulaanbaatar

A tug (Mongolian: туг tug [tʰʊɡ]), or a sulde (Mongolian: сүлд, sulde), usually called a Tug Banner, is a pole with circularly arranged horse or yak tail hairs of varying colors arranged at the top. It was flown during the period of the Mongol Empire, and presently in Mongolia, used similarly to a flag.

A white-haired banner is used as a peacetime symbol, while the black banner was for wartime. Usage of the horse tail is symbolic because horses are so central to the Mongols' livelihood. This is similar to the use of horse tail hairs for the morin khuur.

History

Genghis Khan proclaimed Khagan of all Mongols. White banners can be seen on the right

The original white banner disappeared early in history, but the black one survived as the repository of Genghis Khan's soul. The Mongols continued to honor the banner, and Zanabazar (1635–1723) built a monastery with the special mission of flying and protecting the black banner in the 17th century. Around 1937, the black banner disappeared amidst the great purges of the nationalists, monks and intellectuals, and the destruction of monasteries.

The Nine White banners came into renewed significance in Mongolia after democracy was adopted in the early 1990s as a symbol of the traditional Mongolian state, replacing the previous communist red flags.

White tug banner

The state banner flown by the Mongols, the "Yöson Khölt tsagaan tug" (Mongolian: Есөн хөлт цагаан туг) or the "Nine Base White Banners", is composed of nine flag poles decorated with white horse tail hairs hanging from a round surface with a flame or trident-like shape on the top. The Nine White Banners was a peacetime emblem used exclusively by the Khans in front of their yurt. The central banner is larger in size than the rest and is placed in the center of the other eight. The modern Mongolian nine white banners are kept in the Government Palace in Ulaanbaatar.

Black tug banner

The black banner

The Mongols besieging a city in the Middle East. The black banner can be seen behind the trebuchet, 13th century

The "Dörvön khölt khar sulde" (Mongolian: Дөрвөн хөлт хар сүлд) or the "Four base black banners" was used in wartime. It is made of black horse tail hairs and flown in the same fashion. According to the illustrated Japanese chronicle Mōko Shūrai Ekotoba, the banner of the Mongolian Yuan fleet that invaded Japan was black. The modern Mongolian black banners are kept in the Ministry of Defense.

See also

• Flag of Mongolia
• Bunchuk
• Tugh

External links

• Photo reportage, a tribute ceremony to the Great Black Banners, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia