Mongolian calligraphy is a form of calligraphy or artistic writing of the

Mongolian language Mongolian is the Prestige (sociolinguistics), principal language of the Mongolic languages, Mongolic language family that originated in the Mongolian Plateau. It is spoken by ethnic Mongols and other closely related Mongolic peoples who are nati ...

. Although Mongolia uses the

Cyrillic script The Cyrillic script ( ) is a writing system used for various languages across Eurasia. It is the designated national script in various Slavic languages, Slavic, Turkic languages, Turkic, Mongolic languages, Mongolic, Uralic languages, Uralic, C ...

which was adopted during the Communist era, Mongolian calligraphy is written in the traditional

Mongolian script The traditional Mongolian script, also known as the Hudum Mongol bichig, was the first Mongolian alphabet, writing system created specifically for the Mongolian language, and was the most widespread until the introduction of Cyrillic script, Cy ...

. In 2013, Mongolian calligraphy was inscribed on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. At present, only three middle-aged scholars voluntarily train the small community of just over twenty young calligraphers. Traditionally, mentors select the best students and train them to be calligraphers over a period of five to eight years. Students and teachers bond for life and continue to stimulate each other’s artistic endeavours. The rate of social transformation, urbanization and globalization have led to a significant drop in the number of young calligraphers.

Implements

The

reed pen A reed pen ( '; singular ') or bamboo pen () is a writing implement made by cutting and shaping a single Phragmites, reed straw or length of bamboo. History and manufacture Reed pens with regular features such as a split nib (pen), nib have ...

was the writing instrument of choice until the 18th century, when the brush took its place under Chinese influence. Pens were also historically made of wood, reed,

bamboo Bamboos are a diverse group of mostly evergreen perennial plant, perennial flowering plants making up the subfamily (biology), subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family, in th ...

, bone,

bronze Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper, commonly with about 12–12.5% tin and often with the addition of other metals (including aluminium, manganese, nickel, or zinc) and sometimes non-metals (such as phosphorus) or metalloid ...

, or iron. Ink used was black or

cinnabar Cinnabar (; ), or cinnabarite (), also known as ''mercurblende'' is the bright scarlet to brick-red form of Mercury sulfide, mercury(II) sulfide (HgS). It is the most common source ore for refining mercury (element), elemental mercury and is t ...

red, and written with on birch bark, paper, cloths made of

silk Silk is a natural fiber, natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be weaving, woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is most commonly produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoon (silk), c ...

or cotton, and wooden or

silver Silver is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Ag () and atomic number 47. A soft, whitish-gray, lustrous transition metal, it exhibits the highest electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and reflectivity of any metal. ...

plates. File:Mongolian Calligraphy (1).jpg File:Mongolian Calligraphy (4).jpg File:Mongolian Calligraphy (3).jpg File:Mongolian Calligraphy (8).jpg File:Mongolian Calligraphy (5).jpg File:Mongolian Calligraphy 1 (11).jpg File:Mongolian Calligraphy 1 (7).jpg File:Modern Mongol calligraphy.jpg File:Mongolian Calligraphy (2).jpg File:Mongolian Calligraphy 1 (9).jpg File:Mongolian Calligraphy 1 (10).jpg

References

East Asian calligraphy Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding {{Calligraphy-stub