MEN AND GODS IN MONGOLIA (OP)

by First Last

First published in 1935 by Kegan Paul of London, this rare and unusual book takes us into the virtually unknown world of Mongolia, a country historically cloaked in secrecy, but not anymore. Henning Haslund was a Danish adventurer who accompanied Sven Hedin and other explorers into Mongolia and Central Asia in the 1920s and 30s. Also author of In Secret Mongolia Haslund takes us to the lost city of Karakota in the Gobi desert. We meet the Bodgo Gegen, a god-king in Mongolia and Dambin Jansang, the dreaded warlord of the “Black Gobi.” There is material in this book on the Hi-mori, an “airhorse” that flies through the sky and carries with it the sacred stone of Chintamani. Aside from the esoteric and the mystical there is plenty of adventure in they journey across the Gobi desert by camel caravan; witness initiation into Shamanic societies; meet reincarnated warlords; and experience the violent birth of modern Mongolia.

Genres: History, Asia

Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Cwn_annwn_13 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the Danish Henning Haslunds second book chronicling his adventures and explorations in Mongolia during the 1920s. This was during a time period when this part of the world was similar to the wild west and the outside worlds influence was only just beginning to creep in. Like his other book, In Secret Mongolia, it often reads like a Jack London story, except this is real. But Haslund never slips into corny tough guy semantics or over dramatize the harsh conditions or danger that he was in at times during his journey. He is quite matter of fact about everything. I am amazed and impressed at how tough, knowledgable and self sufficent the Danes and Swedes on this adventure were.

If this book has a fault its that Haslund very much takes a "noble savage" view of many of the Mongolian tribes, especially the Torguts, in spite of their sometimes barbaric tendencies. The Mongols historical brutality in times past towards Slavic people in eastern Europe is not even mentioned once that I can remember. In Secret Mongolia is probably a little bit better but this one is still a fascinating must read book.

[joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my FAVORITE books! Henning Haslund was a Danish adventurer at the turn-of-the-century in Mongolia. He originally went to Central Asia with a diary commune, but later joined the great Swedish explorer, Sven Hedin. Haslund-Christiansen, as his name is sometimes written, was responsible for a Mongolian Buddhist temple yurt being presented to the King of Sweden. (more later)