Shar Darkhad

Shar Darkhad
Regions with significant populations
Languages
Ordos Mongolian
Religion
Predominantly Tibetan Buddhism
Related ethnic groups
Mongols, Mongols in China, Ordos Mongols

The Shar Darkhad, Dalhut,[1] or Darhut[2] (Mongolian for "Untouchables",[3] "Protected Ones"; Chinese: 达尔扈特, pinyin: Dá'ěrhùtè) are a subgroup of Mongol people living mainly in Inner Mongolia in northern China.[2]

In 1947, 2071 people from 462 households were eligible to be Darkhad.[4] They were liable for maintaining the Great Khan's mausoleum at their own expense prior to the erection of a permanent government-owned structure in 1954–6.[4] The Darkhad believe they are the direct descendants of the soul guards of Genghis Khan.[5]

  1. ^ Xinhua (8 Aug 2006), "Genghis Khan's Mausoleum Holds Grand Memorial Ceremony", Official site, Beijing: China Internet Information Center.
  2. ^ a b "Guarding Tribe Darhut - the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan".
  3. ^ Grollova I. and Zikmundova V., Mongolians the great grandchildren of Chinggiskhan, Triton, Prague 2001
  4. ^ a b Bayar 2007.
  5. ^ Nielsen, Mads Vesterager (2021-03-18). "Meeting the Darkhad, the soul guards of Genghis Khan". SupChina. Retrieved 2021-03-29.