THE AWARDS OF MONGOLIA: A SURVEY IN A BROAD HISTORICAL CONTEXT ED HAYNES The geography of Mongolia has conditioned much of with the intent of, as the slogan of the day put it, “leaping its history: it is small, underdeveloped, landlocked, and from feudalism to socialism” (i.e. skipping capitalism). often considered an obscure country located between Throughout the 20th century, especially as the threat of two giants, Russia/the Soviet Union and China. Clearly, rising Japanese militarism and expansionism became if Mongolia was to survive as an independent political increasingly clear, relations between Mongolia and the entity, it needed to find a basis for friendship with one of Soviet Union became closer. The fact that Mongolia these neighbors which would protect it from the ambitions avoided absorption is a minor miracle and Mongolia of the other. At the beginning of the 20th Century, China remained independent, though closely allied. These was collapsing but still held onto the firm policy that close relations were reflected in Mongolia’s phaleristic Mongolia was a part of China. While Russia was far from development as much as in political and economic healthy, it seemed to be willing to extend a more benign spheres. While there is a close parallelism in the hand of friendship to the first generation of Mongolian underlying system, the Mongolian designs were separate nationalists. and distinct and the specimens presented below should reinforce that point. Many of the higher Mongolian To cement these relations, the Order of the Vajra awards were also manufactured in the Soviet Union. (sometimes translated as the “Order of the Precious Rod”) was created for Mongolian nobility and foreign As restructuring proceeded in the Soviet Union in the (almost entirely Russian) friends. The order had a 1980s, Mongolia underwent a similar process. By 1990, complex structure, with three classes and twelve grades the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party began to within these classes. For example, the badge of the third loosen its control over the Mongolian State and society, class, fourth grade is shown in Figure 1. The order was and in July 1990 the first multi-party elections were abolished after the revolution in Mongolia. With the held. In February 1992 the name of the country was Russian Revolution of 1917 the situation became clearer changed from the Mongolian People’s Republic to simply for her southern neighbor, and in 1921 Mongolia became Mongolia. Unlike the situation during the transition from the second country to launch a socialist transformation the Soviet Union back to Russia, the older Mongolian awards were not abolished and continue to be awarded to this day, though a restructuring is often discussed. TITLES Titles had a long and rich history in Mongolia, dating back at least to the time of Chengis Khan (13th century C.E.). For example, the title of Baatar or “Hero” was traditionally awarded to great warriors and military leaders. The relocation of this practice into a Soviet-style system of titles was, therefore, comparatively simple. In 1936, the new Mongolian state had formally enshrined the award of the title “Hero” by law, though it would be four more years before it would be represented by any medal. In 1941 the Hero of Mongolia “Badge of the Hero” (Figure 2) (though this specimen has unfortunate repairs that look far worse in the scan than in reality) was established. This first variety was only awarded six times before it was replaced with a second variety, more “Soviet” in design, in 1946. In 1956 the Hero of Labor Gold Soyombo Medal (Figure 3) was added to the Figure 1: The obverse (left) and reverse of the Third Class, Fourth Mongolian awards system. While there is no equivalent Grade of the Order of the Vajra. 26 JOMSA Figure 2: The badge of a Hero of Mongolia. Figure 4: The People’s Title. so that Brezhnev could be awarded something new that no one had ever gotten before (and that he didn’t already have). ORDERS AND MEDALS Figure 3: The Badge of a Hero of Labor. motherhood award, there is a motherhood order and it is discussed below. Figure 5: The Sukhbaatar Order. There are also series of titles and prizes mostly awarded Roughly paralleling the Soviet awards system, Mongolia for cultural achievements, for example the Choibalsan possesses a series of orders and medals. The highest Prize (1945, renamed as the State Prize in 1962), the title award until 2005, the Sukhbaatar Order (Figure 5) of “People’s ___” awarded in a range of areas such as commemorates the founder of the modern Mongolian performing arts and teaching (from 1941)(Figure 4), and a State, much as the Order of Lenin does in the Soviet separate prize for writers, the D. Natsadorj Literary Prize. Union. Created in 1945, it recalls the founder of the nation, Damdin Sükhbaatar (1893-1923). Military A unique title, the Honorary Freeman of the Mongolian gallantry and achievement is recognized by the Order of People’s Republic Golden Star Medal, was created the Red Banner of Military Valor (Figure 6) created in for award to the Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev to 1926; this example, the second variety, was awarded from commemorate his visit to Mongolia in 1974. It has never 1940-45. Subsequent awards are indicated by the addition been awarded since and was, in essence, a one-time award of the number 2, 3, or 4 in the lower area of the badge. Vol. 66, No. 1 (January-February 2015) 27 these awards. As a predominately nomadic society with traditionally low levels of nutrition and sanitation, population growth was important to the Mongolian State. In 1957 the Order of Mother Heroine was created in two classes, the first class being awarded for giving birth to eight children (Figure 9) and the second class for five children. Figure 6: The Order of the Red Banner of Labor Valor. Figure 9: The Order of Mother Heroine, 1st Class. After the democratic transformation, new orders were Figure 7: The Order of Combat Merit. created. In 2002 the Order of Chengis Khan was created in three classes, but to date only the highest class has Labor achievement is recognized by the Order of the been awarded, ex officio to the Mongolian president. In Red Banner of Labor Valor, also established in 1926. A 1991, the older Order of the Vajra was recreated. It had lesser degree of military achievement is rewarded with been abolished with the revolution and was resurrected the Order of Combat Merit (Figure 7) established in 1945. as a diplomatic award for non-Mongolians (for example, General state service, both civilian and military, receives President Ferenc Mádl of Hungary and United States the Order of the Polar Star (Figure 8) (this is the 1940-41 Secretary of State James Baker have been among the type). From 1947 to 1959, these high State orders were recipients of this order). also awarded to reward military and civilian long service. This was patterned on Soviet practice of the same time and, in the eyes of many, served to cheapen the value of Figure 10: The Honorary Medal of Figure 8: The Order of the Polar Star. Combat. 28 JOMSA.