Reviving a grand spectacle

Ts Bileg has helped revive the traditional ceremonies of the Mongolian ethnic group.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Meanwhile, some Roman Catholic Church traditions featured in weddings in the Otog banner because of its links with Western missionaries.

Expressing happiness that old wedding traditions are being revived, Ts Bileg says: "I'm glad to see traditional ballads are now being chanted at local weddings, and other rituals are also being followed again."

Referring to another tradition, he says, in olden times, weapons used to be taken to Mongolian weddings to fight other tribes in case they sought to capture the brides.

So, as a nod to that ancient practice, weddings in Ordos now typically feature archery contests.

But despite the efforts to revive ancient traditions, he admits that some parts are difficult to follow and also unnecessary given how the world has moved on.

Pointing to one aspect, he talks of milk baths.

He says that while these were important for noble families when it came to weddings in the old days, he feels these days this ritual is unnecessary.

"When people can take a bath every day, some things can be skipped."

"However, basic principles cannot be changed," he warns.

While Ts Bileg is making his effort to protect this heritage, the government is supplementing his efforts in its own way.

Ding Guiliang, director of the Ordos' municipal office for the protection of intangible cultural heritage, says: "We launched a program in 2008 to video or audio record all registered intangible cultural heritage."

And the office has recorded four terabytes of data so far.

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