Khalkha Mongols

The Khalkha (Halh) have been the Mongols' greatest branch in Mongolia since the 15th century, ruled by Borjigin khans of Dayan Khan's line: northern otogs under Gersenji, southern five Halhs under Achibolod. They speak Khalkha, Mongolia's standard written tongue, against Oirat and Khorchin cousins' varieties. Horse herds, sheep flocks, camel caravans and the ger that moves with them; Naadam's three manly games, Tsagaan Sar lunar new year and ovoo cairn offerings order the steppe year. Manchu leagues, then Soviet commissars, fenced the banners; Buddhist purges emptied the monasteries, and democracy refilled them. Ulaanbaatar ministries, Erdenet mines, herder cooperatives and the long song, urtyn duu, keep the Halh steppe singing. Dayan Khan's line still blesses every Naadam. Borjigin princes still lead the southern banners. Chahar, Ordos and Tumed cousins share the dialect chain. Oirat and Khorchin neighbours speak their own varieties. Gersenji's seven otogs still muster yearly. Khalkha script still writes every law.