Ever heard of knuckle-bone taking pictures? This neighborhood say it teaches the ‘artwork of focus’

Key Factors

Mongolian knuckle-bone taking pictures is recognised on UNESCO’s checklist of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
A sporting affiliation organises weekly video games in Sydney and different main Australian cities.
Group members say the game contributes positively to their psychological well being.

Since Baatar Jamiyan moved to Melbourne from Mongolia just a little over a yr in the past, there was one exercise that’s helped him keep in contact along with his tradition.

“I got here to Australia to review and missed my homeland deeply. However since I began enjoying knuckle-bone taking pictures, I’ve reconnected with my roots and made many new buddies,” he informed SBS Mongolian.

He likened the crew recreation — through which gamers use a easy wood floor to flick small marble tablets in direction of a goal of ‘knuckle bones’ practically 5 metres away — to a type of meditation, noting that even a slight lack of focus can have a detrimental impact.

Mongolian knuckle-bone taking pictures video games can final for a number of hours and require focus and precision. Credit score: N Batbyar/Mongolian Knuckle-Bone Taking pictures Affiliation Australia

Relying on the variety of groups, a full recreation could last as long as 10 hours. Jamiyan stated the prolonged enjoying time helped calm down each the physique and thoughts, particularly after a tough week of research.

What’s Mongolian knuckle-bone taking pictures?

Mongolian knuckle-bone taking pictures, which has been documented way back to the twelfth century, has been recognised by UNESCO on its checklist of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Genghis Khan (also referred to as Chinggis Khan), the founder the Mongol Empire, and his grandson, Munkh, had been stated to make use of the sport to construct up troopers’ hand energy and precision.

Over time, this conventional recreation developed into one of many 4 main sports activities in Mongolia, alongside horse racing, archery and wrestling.

The game will be traced again to not less than the twelfth century. Credit score: Mongolian Knuckle-Bone Taking pictures Affiliation Australia

Right this moment, it’s practised world wide, pushed by a rising Mongolian diaspora.

That is the case in Australia, the place the 2021 Census counted 5,397 folks born in Mongolia.

Nevertheless, Mongolian Ambassador Davaasuren Damdinsuren not too long ago informed SBS Information there could possibly be as many as 20,000 Mongolians in Australia, with a big quantity right here on pupil visas.

‘Fostering neighborhood’

Most weekends Gerelt-Od Chimeddavaa can discovered at Wolli Creek or Olympic Park, Sydney, presiding over video games meets usually attended by greater than 20 folks.

Chimeddavaa is the pinnacle of the Australian department of the Mongolian Knuckle-Bone Taking pictures Affiliation, which fashioned 5 years in the past.

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Gerelt-Od Chimeddavaa describes knuckle-bone taking pictures as a ‘religious’ pursuit. Credit score: Gerelt-Od Chimeddavaa

He first moved to Sydney in 2016 and commenced enjoying in 2021, shortly turning into captivated.

“When you get hooked, there’s no turning again,” he stated.

He defined that the game was a standard fixture at public occasions to mark Mongolian nationwide holidays, whereas weekly meetups had been additionally properly attended in main cities.

“Members in Australia come collectively each weekend to play, fostering neighborhood and custom in cities throughout the nation,” he stated.

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The Australian department of the Mongolian Knuckle-Bone Taking pictures Affiliation was established 5 years in the past. Credit score: Mongolian Knuckle-Bone Taking pictures Affiliation Australia

“The sport supplies much-needed psychological help as they navigate the challenges of adapting to a brand new tradition and managing their (lives) in (a) new nation.”

Spirituality and brotherhood

The game entails a number of particular instruments usually crafted from pure supplies.

The goal bone, referred to as ‘khasaa’, is in regards to the dimension of a regular cube and will be constituted of amber, tusk or horn bone. In fashionable instances, plastic can also be used.

The important gear, measurements, and distances used within the recreation. Credit score: Mongolian Knuckle-Bone Taking pictures Affiliation Australia

The arrow, additionally referred to as ‘sum’, used for flicking, is constituted of naturally fallen deer antlers.

The goal bones are organized on a wood construction referred to as ‘zurkhai’, with an ‘aravch’ board positioned behind it to forestall scattering.

Every crew consists of six foremost gamers and two stand-bys. Gamers sit on customised chairs, adjusted to their physique sizes, and use a wood fence rail, or ‘khashlaga’, to flick the tablets in direction of the goal.

Mongolians play knuckle-bone taking pictures whereas celebrating the Naadam Pageant in Sydney. Credit score: Mongolian Knuckle-Bone Taking pictures Affiliation Australia

Every shot is adopted by a tune referred to as ‘uukhai’. Groups use harmonious chanting to encourage their shooters, whereas opponents make abrupt sounds to distract them, although by no means utilizing impolite phrases.

Chimeddavaa stated the game taught and the ‘artwork of focus’ and emphasised the deep attachments many individuals fashioned to the sport.

To me, that is greater than only a recreation — it’s a religious expertise. It requires deep focus, reflection, and cautious thought. When you begin to really feel this connection, it turns into a lifestyle.

Gerelt-Od Chimeddavaa, head of the Mongolian Knuckle-Bone Taking pictures Affiliation Australia

The sport is historically performed by males, however there may be additionally a girls’s model.

Enkhjargal Adiya, the secretary of the Mongolian Knuckle-Bone Taking pictures Affiliation, stated the game was primarily based on intelligence, not bodily energy.

“We have now over 20 branches worldwide, most situated in Europe and different areas. These branches assist Mongolian males keep linked to their cultural roots,” he stated.

“It is a nationwide sport open to anybody, no matter age or location. A talented knuckle-bone shooter stays calm in all conditions, each within the recreation and in life, demonstrating interior energy and smart decision-making.”

Ganhuyag Gongorjav, who has lived in Australia for greater than 20 years and now calls Brisbane house, additionally hailed the game’s connective powers.

“The custom brings crew members from completely different backgrounds nearer collectively, encourages their interplay and respect in direction of elders and each other, and improves their social cohesion and teaches younger crew members about crew play, social wellbeing and psychological stability,” he stated.

Challenges for brand spanking new gamers

Whereas the sport attracts curiosity from foreigners, mastering its intricate guidelines and methods takes time.

Jamie Kenmure, an Australian who has visited Mongolia a number of instances, shared his expertise.

“For me, this recreation is a singular expertise, fully completely different from something I normally play. It felt refreshing, with no stress in any respect,” Kenmure stated.

The game is performed by males from a variety of ages and backgrounds. Credit score: Mongolian Knuckle-Bone Taking pictures Affiliation Australia

Though the sport appears easy, it’s removed from straightforward. Learners typically wrestle to flick the bone even midway to the goal, with it touchdown at their ft as a substitute.

In keeping with Chimeddavaa, one can solely grasp the game with constant apply, correct approach and powerful focus.