In this interview Nikolai talks about the origin of the Tsaatan clan and its composition. Q: How many Tsaatans were there? Nikolai: A lot. Do you know how many of them are around? Almost the whole of Kalmykia is Tsaatan. There are Tsaatans among the Buzavas as well. Besides Tsaatan, there are also Naatan. Although people who lived on both sides of the river were Tsaatan, those who lived on the far side of the river were referred to as Tsaatan and those who lived on this side were called Naatan. In Kalmyk tsa- means ‘further’ and na- means ‘this, closer’. Before talking about the word Tsaatan, it must be pointed out that initially we did not have this word in Kalmyk vocabulary. All Tsaatans were originally of the Khoit clan. In the past the four Oirat tribes were headed by Khudukha-beki of the Khoit. One day Chingis Khan sent his eldest son Jochi to conquer the northern peoples. When Jochi was crossing the Oirat land, their elders went out to meet him, offering their help. The Oirats helped Jochi conquer the Buryats. Delighted with his sons’ achievements, Chingis Khan praised the Oirat leader Khudukha-beki and married 2 princesses (Jochi’s sister and Jochi’s daughter) to Khudukha-beki’s sons. When Chingis Khan asked his daughter what she wished for her bride wealth, she asked for his white banner. Chingis Khan objected: ‘If I give you my white banner, how am I supposed to be without it? I am a khan after all. No, I will not give you my white banner.’ That white banner was used at peacetime during holidays and celebrations. For warfare the khan used his black banner. All the same, the daughter stole her father’s white banner and brought it with her to the Khoits who declared themselves as ‘Khoits with the white banner (tsagan tug khotn bolv)’. Since this phrase was very long, it was reduced to one word ‘Tsaatan’ meaning ‘those with the white banner’.