03613nas a2200121   4500000000100000008004100001100002100042245007500063300001200138490000700150520332000157022001403477                                       d1 aGyeongsoon Hwang00aThe Traditional Knowledge and Cultural Aspects About the Mongolian Ger  a277-3020 v523 aThe Mongolian Ger, also known as a yurt, is a traditional type of house that is suitable for nomadic life that the Mongolian people have used for approximately three thousand years. A Ger is made of light lumber and felt, which makes it environmentally friendly, convenient to build and disassemble, and easy to move. Considering that the Ger is also able to withstand natural disasters, it can be considered that the Ger is ideal for the nomadic lifestyle.Mongolians rely on a type of traditional knowledge that is based on the experience of a leading a nomadic lifestyle, which has been transmitted through generations, for how to find appropriate places for farming and living, and for building Gers.It is usual for family and community members to participate in building a Ger, under the direction of the head of a household or a community leader. All of which makes their bonds to each other stronger. Moreover, they can obtain the wisdom and experience needed for living a nomadic life from a variety of traditional knowledge and cultural rituals, which are referred to and seen throughout the process of building a Ger. It is noted that the interior of a Ger and its usage are based on a nomad’s understanding of nature and the universe. Nomadic people measure time and subdivisions of the seasons for farming with the Ger, which is recognized as a small universe. They arrange their furniture by building around a stove that is located in the center of the Ger, and theyuse the rest space appropriately for leading a nomadic life. The space in a Ger might seem simple, but it actually contains various symbols for things such as family hierarchy, which can be seen from how they arrange their furniture and ornaments.It is noted that the Ger has its aspects as a cultural space, considering the fact that almost all customs and artistic activities, which are dragging attentions because of its traits as an intangible cultural heritage, originate from and are transmitted via the Ger. It is no exaggeration to say that existing rules and religion, the way nomadic people treat their guests, and ritual behaviors that all community members participate in are transmitted via the Ger. Likewise, the Ger is both a place of residence and a fundamental place for nomads.On the other hand, an “Otak,” which means, ‘a pasture near a Ger,’ is the place for farming outside the Ger, and it is the place where and arts, such as epic poetry and folk songs, and knowledge about farming are transmitted. The activities outside a Ger also have a continuity with those that take place inside the Ger, given that these activities form together, and ritual behaviors that are in keeping with the community’s rituals for the nature and universe. This fact means studies that only examine the inner and outer spaces of a Ger separately are not enough to understand the housing culture of nomads.Nowadays, the Ger is going through changes in terms of how its interior space is used. This is due to changes in the nomadic lifestyle and to Gersbeing recreated as tourism resources in their appearance and size. It seems that this status can be approached by understanding the nomadic people’s lifestyle and concept regarding Ger as a traditional living space, and its aspects as the space for cultural transmission.  a1598-1010