Why do Mongolian men have their ears pierced?

The habit of piercing the ears of Mongolian men is not unified by all, which mainly stems from a traditional custom of Mongolian people. In traditional Mongolian society, piercing ears is regarded as part of the rite of passage. When the boy grows up, his parents or elders will hold an adult ceremony for him, including piercing his ears. The origin of this custom is closely related to the Mongolian history, culture and religious belief.

First of all, we know that Mongolians are a minority in China, and they are mainly distributed in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the north of China. In Mongolian history and culture, nature and animals are endowed with sacred significance. According to some historical records, as early as Genghis Khan's time, Mongols had the custom of piercing their ears. Xu Liewu Khan, the grandson of Genghis Khan, has a saying that piercing ears can pray for the gods to bless peace.

In addition, there are some factors of religious belief. Mongolian people mainly believe in Tibetan Buddhism. In Buddhism, ear piercing is regarded as a symbol of "hearing" and a way to accept Buddhism. Therefore, many Mongolian men choose to have their ears pierced to express their religious piety and reverence for the gods as adults.

In addition, ear piercing also represents adulthood and independence. In Mongolian society, men who can get pierced ears have generally grown into qualified adults and have the ability to live independently. Therefore, ear piercing also symbolizes growth and independence.

However, it should be pointed out that although the above explains why many Mongolian men have piercings, not all Mongolian men have piercings. Personal choice and family values will also have an impact on the implementation of this custom. In addition, with the development of modern society, many young people no longer continue this tradition, but choose more modern ways to express their personality and beliefs. Therefore, although this is a traditional custom with a long history, it is not absolutely consistent in actual implementation.