The Eight White Palaces' yurts

The Eight White Palaces' yurts

The Eight White Palaces of Genghis Khan and other deities enshrined were mostly built in the form of yurts. Yurts, known as "chomchug ordos" in Mongolian, are the honored term for felt tents. There are two types of yurts: single and double. A double yurt consists of two interconnected yurts, formed when the Four Ordos where Genghis Khan’s wives resided merged with the Eight White Palaces.

By the end of the Qing Dynasty, the yurts of Genghis Khan and Borte Khatun, those of Hulan Khatun, and that of Jungar Jin were all double yurts, while the rest were single yurts. The yurts served as facilities for enshrining the deities of Genghis Khan. The Eight White Palaces of Genghis Khan are made up of these yurts. Although their shape and structure resemble traditional Mongolian gers, they are not exactly the same. It is said that the yurts were modeled after the legendary peach-shaped heavenly palace and also symbolize the gourd shape associated with fortune and blessings. Historical records once referred to them as "yurts shaped like a heavenly palace, called ordos."

These yurts have been passed down through generations for over seven hundred years since the period of the Great Mongol Empire, preserving the shape of ancient Mongolian palaces. For this reason, Russian Mongolist Vladimirzov remarked: "The yurts housing the relics of Genghis Khan in Ordos differ greatly in appearance from ordinary Mongolian gers. The top of the yurt, as described by Joboruk, has a 'neck.'” The yurt is a type of ancient Mongolian khan and nobility residence. The frame of the yurt is constructed by inserting wooden rafters (uni) into a hoop-shaped wooden frame at the top (khalgas) and erecting lattice walls (khana). The top khalgas genuinely resembles a neck, setting it apart from common Mongolian gers.

Normally, the yurt is covered with white felt. However, the specially made yurt of Genghis Khan used for the spring Chagan Saruu Festival, which travels on March 18th to the Bayanchandgol grassland camp, is covered not only with white felt but also with an outer layer made of brownish-yellow cloth adorned with blue-green tassels. During the Chagan Saruu Festival, people see the yellow yurt of Genghis Khan, hence it is also called the "Altan Ordos" (Golden Palace).

Before being covered with felt, the standing frame of the yurt is called "gashi," and once covered, it is called "chomchug" (yurt). The khana of the yurt are straight, unconnected wooden beams. Beneath the khana is a square wooden base, with holes drilled to match the number of khana and door frames. The wooden beams and door frames are inserted into these holes. In a single yurt, the vertical beams on the east, west, and north sides (including corners) each consist of nine pieces, while the side with the door has six. The khana are five feet tall, with a piece at the top called "murbugchi" (shoulder insert), onto which both the top of the khana and the bottom of the uni are fitted. The top ends of the uni bend slightly outward, while the lower ends bend inward slightly to fit into the murbugchi. The uni are generally six feet long, with those at the corners around six and a half feet. The upper ends of the uni are held in an inverted hoop-shaped khalgas. After covering with felt, the top of the khalgas holds the golden roof of the yurt, which is then tightened in four directions with ropes. The toono (skylight) of the yurt is not located in the center of the roof but rather in front of the golden roof. The yurt's door is double-paneled.

The double yurt of Genghis Khan and Borte Khatun is similar in shape to the others, except that the rear yurt is larger than the others and includes columns and beams inside, forming a spacious ordos.

Genghis Khan Mausoleum

The Mongolian Historical Panorama

Bayanchandgol Grassland

Museum of Mongolian History and Culture

Altan Gandhar Ovoo

Sulede Altar

Iron Horse and Golden Yurt Sculpture Group