Judicial Dispute Between Two Banners in Hobogsair
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When the Torghuts arrived in Hobogsair in 1771, they organized themselves into three Banners, each with its specific pasturelands and subordinates. Each Banner handled its judiciary cases independently within the Banner if not beyond the scale. Additionally, Shaajgait, the southernmost area of Hobogsair, did not belong to any of the Banners. It was particularly designated to Taijs, Noyan’s brothers and sons, their subordinates, and others involved in illegal activities. In this video, Gonchig explained a legal dispute between two lawyers from Jasag Banner and Wang Banner, involving an ordinary grandmother advocating for her relative lama who was sentenced in Shsajgait. According to the story, Tsultum, manager of the catering team at Obootin Khüree monastery, stole a sheep shoulder from the monastery’s storehouse for home use, making soup for his ailing mother. Following the incident, the monastery and Jasag Banner civil act judge, Jiij, concluded the case and exiled Tsultum to Shaajgait. Recognizing the erroneous conclusion of the case, Onchain Ulaan, a respected ordinary grandmother, came to Wang Banner and requested Tsultum’s return from exile. The stammering Judge Handai of Wang Banner outshone the judge of Jasag Banner, not only bringing Tsultum back to the monastery, where he gained recognition later, but also putting two other brothers in exile for their horse thefts. This case is well-remembered among Torghut elders to this day, as it signifies the support for ordinary people and the punishment of genuinely cunning criminals.