My predecessors were from the Hunn clan of Yöngsiebu recorded in the ancient chronicles since the 3rd century B.C. This clan was one of the four most powerful in the steppe hierarchy and for generations it occupied the posts of High Court Judges of the Hunns' empire. As a result of diplomatic and trade relationships as well as wars the empire gradually included tribes and nations of various parts of Siberia and Far East. Ancient Mongolian, Turkish and even Ugro-Finnish tribes and languages were mixing together for centuries. When the Asian part of Hunn empire was finally destroyed and the Mongolian phenomenon started to dominate great steppes, families of Yöngsiebu - in those time already mostly Mongolian-speaking - were again among the leaders of newly founded states as e.g. the Ashina empire in Northern China, the great khaganats of Altai Turkish dynasties or the empire of Tang. They took part in wars against Kidan empire of Liao, Jurchens (predecessors of Manchurians) and others...  

In 10th century the Yöngsiebu's were masters in block-printing books. During the Mongolian invasion of 13th century they supplied the army with the whole tümen (10,000) of well-equipped soldiers. Those took part in battles in Northern and Southern China, passed rain forests to Annam (now Vietnam), reached Jawa and Sumatra, crossed Himalayas, Kunlun, Pamir and Caucasus as well as the Gobi, Taklimakan and Sinai deserts, were a party to raids against Kiev, Bagdad or Tabriz and participated in diplomatic negotiations with rulers of Hungary, Poland and France.

Grand-grandfather Radnajav, Kiakht (1890-s)

My grand-grandma Dulma, wife of Mr. Radnajav, belonged to the clan of Khiyat Borjigin. This clan  gave Mongolia Temüjin who became famous under his imperial title Chingis- Khaan. Dulma handed over to her son (my grandfather Rinchen) the genetic feature of the K. Borjigin's clan: red-hair and blue-eyes.

In 17th century her predecessor Tsogt Taiji, aristocrat, military commander and poet fought against the Manchurian army. Once he was defeated and his palace was plundered after his death, the survived soldiers and relatives escaped to the North and settled down around the border town of Kiakht, nowadays Buriatia.

  

A famous portrait of Chingis-Khaan kept nowadays in Taiwan

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Grandfather Rinchen 

 

 

 

 

Both my grandfathers were sentenced to death during the Stalinist era. They remained alive, but being the leading figures of national intelligentsia they continued to be hated by the Stalinists even afterwards. How my grandmothers could manage whole families and  psychological torture by the regime I could never understand...  They both gave all their children and relatives good education and could proudly be called "the iron ladies".

 

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Grandfather Morkhoz

My mother comes from the Juungarian clan of Sharanuuds who got settled in today's Buriatia also around 17th century. Her clan was famous for its powerful Black shamans.

                 My father                                          My mother

So I spent my childhood among these extraordinary relatives

 

having fun with my brother  ...   
... then I studied in Surikov's High School of Arts and later at the Academy of Fine Arts. What to say about those years - we fought, loved, argued, drunk, studied, argued, worked, drunk ... and all that jazz

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After graduating from the Academy I lived and worked mostly in Europe. I found my second homeland in Hungary and my family in the Czech Republic. 

I was lucky to have a chance of meeting several very interesting personalities, some of whom have influenced me a lot. 

         

S. Zorig, one of the most charismatic leaders of the Mongolian democratic movement in the 1990-ies. We became close friends. He was murdered in October 1998 right after his nomination to the Prime Minister.  With the assistance of my colleagues and friends Amgalan and Bold I have erected his statue in the centre of Ulaanbaatar.

In reality I already may not look so young as on the photos. But the most important thing is to keep the spirit, isn't it ?

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