Ovoo, oboo, or obo ( mn, овоо, bua, обоо, kjh, обаа, Traditional Mongol: , "heap";

Chinese Chinese can refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation ** List of ethnic groups in China, people of ...

: 敖包 ''áobāo'', lit. "magnificent bundle .e. shrine) are sacred stone heaps used as altars or shrines in

Mongolian folk religious Mongolian shamanism ( mn, Бөө мөргөл — ''Böö mörgöl''), more broadly called the Mongolian folk religion, or occasionally Tengerism, refers to the animistic and shamanic ethnic religion that has been practiced in Mongolia and its ...

practice and in the religion of other Mongolic peoples. They are usually made from rocks with wood. Ovoos are often found at the top of mountains and in high places, like mountain passes. In modern times, some of them have developed into large and elaborate structures, becoming more like temples than simple altars. They serve mainly as sites for the worship of Heaven and lesser gods led by shamans and kins' elders, but also for

Buddhist Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...

ceremonies.

In custom

When travelling, it is the custom to stop and circle an ovoo three times, moving clockwise, in order to have a safer journey. Usually, rocks are picked up from the ground and added to the pile. Also, one may leave offerings in the form of sweets, money, milk, or vodka. If one is in a hurry while traveling and does not have time to stop at an ovoo, honking of the horn while passing by the ovoo will suffice.

In ceremony

Ovoos are the site for Heaven worship ceremonies that typically take place at the end of summer. Worshippers place a tree branch or stick in the ovoo and tie a blue ''

khadag A ''khata'' or ''khatag'', ''dhar'', Mongolian: mn, хадаг, label=none, , or ; ne, खतक ; . is a traditional ceremonial scarf in Tibetan Buddhism and in tengerism. It originated in Tibetan culture and is common in cultures and cou ...

'', a ceremonial silk scarf symbolic of the open sky and the sky spirit

Tengri Tengri ( zh, 騰格里; otk, 𐰚𐰇𐰚:𐱅𐰭𐰼𐰃, Kök Teŋri/Teŋiri, lit=Blue Heaven; Old Uyghur: ''tängri''; Middle Turkic: تآنغرِ; ky, теңир; tr, Tanrı; az, Tanrı; bg, Тангра; Proto-Turkic *''teŋri / * ...

, or Tengger, to the branch. They then light a fire and make food offerings, followed by a ceremonial dance and prayers (worshippers sitting at the northwest side of the ovoo), and a feast with the food left over from the offering. During Mongolia's communist period, ovoo worship was officially prohibited along with other forms of religion, but people still worshipped clandestinely. Ovoos may have influenced or given birth to the Korean ''

seonangdang The Seonangdang (Hangul: 서낭당), also known as the Seonghwangdang (Hangul: 성황당, Hanja: 城隍堂) are holy stone cairns or trees that are dedicated to the deity Seonangshin, the patron of villages. The Seonangdang still remain common i ...

''. A number of '' sums'' (districts) in Mongolia have the word ''Ovoo'' in their name: * Bayan-Ovoo, Bayankhongor * Bayan-Ovoo, Khentii *

Bayan-Ovoo, Ömnögovi Bayan-Ovoo ( mn, Баян-Овоо, Rich ovoo) is a sum (district) of Ömnögovi Province in the Gobi Desert of southern Mongolia. The seat lies at Erdenetsogt. History The sum was established on May 26, 1924. Geography and climate The sum is ...

Mandal-Ovoo, Ömnögovi Mandal-Ovoo ( mn, Мандал-Овоо, Rising ovoo) is a sum (district) of Ömnögovi Province in southern Mongolia Mongolia; Mongolian script: , , ; lit. "Mongol Nation" or "State of Mongolia" () is a landlocked country in East Asia ...

Saikhan-Ovoo, Dundgovi Saikhan-Ovoo ( mn, Сайхан-Овоо, Beautiful ovoo) is a sum (district) in central Mongolia. The sum center is on the single perennial river of Dundgovi Province, the Ongi gol. It is the tenth longest river in Mongolia with an overall len ...

Tsagaan-Ovoo, Dornod Tsagaan-Ovoo ( mn, Цагаан-Овоо, White ovoo) is a sum (district) of Dornod Province in eastern Mongolia Mongolia; Mongolian script: , , ; lit. "Mongol Nation" or "State of Mongolia" () is a landlocked country in East Asia, border ...

Bayan Obo Bayan'obo Mining District, ( Mongolian: ''Bayan Oboɣ-a Aɣurqai-yin toɣoriɣ'', Баян-Овоо Уурхайн тойрог ( mn, italic=yes, "rich" + ovoo); ), or Baiyun-Obo or Baiyun'ebo, is a mining town in the west of Inner Mongolia, ...

, in Inner Mongolia

References

External links

{{commonscat-inline, Ovoos Religion in Mongolia Mongolian culture Artificial hills Mongolian shamanism Siberian shamanism Place of ritual