| A
legend about origin of dance with masks |
| Development of the dance in Mongolia |
Routine and sequence of the dancing |
| The
masks of the dancers, specification, images and meaning |
| Recovering again |
Masks of a few Burkhans and their specification
Although, the origin of the Burkhads in Tsam dance relates to Eastern culture and religion its special for reflect of ancient Mongolian shamans cultural trail and habits.
Masks are made according to an established procedure and by specialized artisans.
Azar
Ochirvaani
He is considered as main object of worship for the tsam and their specification dances in front of sacred portraits. He dances in front of the biggest portrait. He is powerful one who obtained all the supernatural powers of burkhans.
He was created to calm down the antagonists by burkhanns command.
The mask is made as very majestic with mouth open roughly, four poisonous tasks bared, 3 red eyes shined like lightning , orange hair disheveled.
He is a powerful object of worship who sworn to defeat the cruel, sinful people who do not respect the religion. He does all of this to lead people to sacrificed charity.
He is represented as majestic with one face, 2 arms and body of dark blue colour. He looks like very angry and a thunderbolt in his right hand. He lifts the thunderbolt up heaven and it means abolish and defect all the enemies.
By putting his arm on his chest he represents of making enemies calm down.
Namsrai
He is Choijin sakhius. Namsrai keeps people from impoverishing, loves all the fine things, makes people free who are in trouble in danger, in hunger, in hunger, who are poor and impoverished. Also he abolishes reasons of poisonings and accomplish every good reasons of living happy. Also he does all that people want and desire.
Namsrains mask: Beautiful image. A little curious glance and stately and restive but calm. Golden armour in his body and he wears various treasures. He dances with erdeniin tsogt jantsan in his right hand and a mouse vomiting with treasure in his left hand.
Makhi
Dark blue deel that decorated like other clothes. National Mongolian boots.
Makhi has got bowl and tassel in his hand.
Jamsran
He is popular as name of Dogshin ulaan sakhius.
When he dances he acts as if he cuts the enemies and extracts their hearts. Duulga at his head, flag with sword and tassels in his hand and wears arrows. Erkh (like a necklace) which is made skulls of 50 people in his neck. He swore to defict and win all of the sinful enemies and make people happy for long and a guard of religion.
The mask of Jamsran Burkhan was made by Puntsag-Osor of Ikh Khuree. This mask is now in Choijin Lama's museum in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. It is an outstanding creature in Mongolian history and weight 40kg.
Khangarid
Javdar deel that has sleeves like bird wings. Dodig, modig, earrings
which have ruujin ornaments. He dances with shake in his mouth, 5 different coloured tassels in his back, short boots. He is one of four powerful animals.
Khashin khaan
Khashin khanns 8 children- glittering silk deel of 8 different colour, short javdar and boots.
Tsagaan uvgon
Tsagaan uvgon- (White old man) White and spotty deel. Deel is without color like
Lamhans deel. Boots are made from tiger skin. He has a dragon shaped stick.
He is a lord of earth, heaven and live stock.
Gombo sakhius
He is called Makhagal, in Mongolian Ikh khar. Gombo is a guard Choijin sakhius and next image of Aryabal Janraisig. He is a burkhan who swore to keep people in troubles and help them to overcome it and make them happy and abundant particularly when people die he bring them directly to the paradise. His body is dark blue colour. A severe look, rough behaviour, 4 sharp tasks, 3 eyes, curled body and angry face are his specification. Orange hair tasled, burning fire from eyebrows and beard, wrinkled language, degve in his right hand., bloody skull and bowl in his left hand.
Gongor sakhius
It is called Tsagaan Mahagal (white makhagal) in Mongolian language. He is Choijin sakhius a guard of religion and he abolishes difficulties make people abundant in things and food. He is heaven of wealth.
Gongorns mask: Body is yellow, white face, little curious glance but joiful face, zendmene /erdenenorov/ in his right hand, skull bowl filled treasure in his left hand.
Damdinchoijoo
He is popular as a name of Erleg Nomun Khaan Mongolians. Damdin choijoo swore to keep burkhan bagsh Budda holy and he is principle worship of Boghdo Zonhova. He is a very ferocious one who wipes out the enemies and distinguishes good from bad, truth form untruth. Then he send people who did good deeds in to paradise and bad people into underword.
Choijoo has a wife whose name is Zamindi and he divided into 3 as follows: exterior Choijoo, inner Choijoo and mysterious Choijoo by his vow, deeds and external image. He has many erlegiin elch (underworld representatives) He holds a cord in his hand to use for tying someone who did bad deeds and bits.
Choijoon's bag: Ox head, dark blue body, 2 sharp tasks, 3 shining eyes, burning fire from eyebrows and beard, curled body and very powerful. White skull without meat in his right hand a cord in his left hand.
Durteddagva (Skull)
He is said a lord of ukheer. He is responsible for not allow enemies to enter the dance square. The border of the dance square is called border of ukheer. When tsam dancers enter the square they have to pass by 2 Durteddagvas (2 guards). There is a legend about Durteddagvans body was stolen by thieves. So he is shown as a skeleton. Mongolians have been worshipping Durteddagva to prevent from robbery.
Buga (shiva)
Buga means deer. He dances with Makhi together and he is responsible for increasing of the cattles of people. He is a representative of all animals. In some places Buga dances with a female deer together.
