Emblem of Mongolia


The State Emblem of Mongolia is used by the government of Mongolia as its symbol of state. It is officially used for example on documents such as Mongolian passports, and government and embassy placards.

Description

The state emblem was adopted on March 25, 1992, after the fall of the Communist government. The details of it are laid out in Chapter 1, Article 12 of the Constitution of Mongolia.
The outer rim features a tumen nasan, symbolizing eternity, surrounding a circular blue field, symbolizing the sky. On the centre of the field is a combination of the Soyombo symbol and the wind horse, symbolizing Mongolia's independence, sovereignty, and spirit. Sun, moon and fire symbols derived from the Xiongnu. Above the field is a Cintamani, representing the Buddhist Three Jewels, which in Mongolian folklore grants wishes. Below the central emblem is a green mountain range, with the Wheel of Dharma at the center. On the bottom of the mountain range and wheel is a khadag, a ceremonial scarf.

History

From 1960 to 1991, the Mongolian People's Republic used an emblem with a very similar shape, but with several differing elements. Instead of the Wind Horse, a horseman on a normal horse is shown. In the background, the sun rises above mountains. The Buddhist symbols are replaced by symbols of Socialism. A gearwheel stands for industrialization, sheaves around the perimeter stand for the farming class, and the top featured a red star with the socialist version of the Soyombo. Along the bottom, a blue-red ribbon is placed in front of the gearwheel, with the letters БНМАУ, the abbreviation for Бүгд Найрамдах Монгол Ард Улс,.
Before 1961, the emblem did not bear most of the socialist symbols. The horseman carried a long lasso pole and the heads of four types of herd animals were shown on the sides. A red ribbon at the bottom bore the name of the country in the traditional Mongolian alphabet between 1940 and 1941 with the Cyrillic abbreviation after that.
From 1924 to 1939, the emblem was simply the Soyombo. In 1939, after the victory in the Battle of Khalkhin Gol, branches of Nelumbo were added.