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Hulgur Dah Noyan and the Dissolution of Geherun Sum


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Authors

Bulag, Uradyn E. 
Fuerwa, Dorjraa 

Abstract

Hulgur Dah Noyan served as the leader of Geherun Sum during the time that the Torghuts were pasturing in the Volga region. Over time, due to his notorious actions within his clan, Hulgur Dah Noyan witnessed a gradual decline in his influence. Concerns among his subordinates about his leadership led to thoughts about disabling him and appointing a new leader. Understanding that any bodily imperfection could serve as a pretext for removing Noyan from his position, his subordinates devised a plan that they bribed a barber to delicately remove Noyan’s ear with a sharp razor blade during a hairdressing session. Successful in their endeavour, they effectively dismantled Noyan’s power. In response to this betrayal, the Torghut Khan was furious about it and disbanded the entire Geherun clan, scattering its members into other clans. Consequently, all descendants of Geherun clan in each Sum today trace their lineages back to this story. Nowadays, members of the Geherun clan converge at Takhaji Oboo in Hobogsair to partake in their Oboo worship ritual. Originally conducted atop Takhaj Mountain, this ritual faced challenges when the Takhaj Oboo became enclosed within China’s newly erected border fence. Now, individuals struggle to practice their tradition from outside the border, resulting in a significant decline in attendance each year. The continuation of this ritual is uncertain in the face of these ongoing challenges.

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Keywords

Hulgur Dah Noyan, Geherun Sum, Torghuts, Takhaji Oboo, Hobogsairm

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Publisher

Kalmyk Cultural Heritage Documentation Project, University of Cambridge

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Sponsorship
Sponsored by Arcadia Fund, a charitable fund of Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin.