Khalkha
The
Khalkha, or
Halh (Classical Mongolian:
qalq-a, Khalkha
Mongolian [χɑɬχ]) are a subgroup of the
Mongols. They comprise the majority of the population of the independent state of
Mongolia. The Mongolian language standard language of that country is based on their dialect.
The geographical plateau in the center of Mongolia is today called
middle khalkha, and roughly includes the
Töv,
Arhangay, and
Ömnogovi provinces.
The first reference to the Khalkha people is of the early 16th century. It is widely supported that they got the name from the
Khalkha River (qalq-a-yin γoul, Халхын гол) in the far east of Mongolia since they originally lived along it.
Under
Dayan Khan, the Khalkha were organized as one of three
tümen of the Left Wing. Dayan Khan installed the fifth son
Alchu Bolad and the eleventh son
Geresenje on the Khalkha. The former became the founder of the Five Khalkha (tabun otuγ qalq-a) of Southern Mongolia and the latter became the founder of the Seven Khalkha (doluγan otuγ qalq-a) of the Northern Mongolia. They were called Inner Khalkha and Outer Khalkha respectively, by the
Manchus.
Mongolian chronicles called Geresenje as "
Khong Tayiji of the
Jalayir," which indicates that the core part of the Khalkha were descendants of the Jalayir tribe. By extension, some scholars consider that the Khalkha had a close connection with the Five Ulus of the Left Wing of the former
Yuan Dynasty, which was led by the five powerful tribes of Jalayir,
Khunggirad,
Ikires,
Uruud and
Mangghud.
The Five Khalkha consisted of five tribes called Jarud, Baarin, Khunggirad, Bayaud and Öjiyed. They lived around the
Shira Mören valley east of the
Khingan Mountains. They clashed with but were eventually conquered by the rising Manchus. The Five Khalkha except for the Jarud and the Baarin were organized into the
Eight Banners. Note that Khalkha Left Banner of Juu Uda League and Khalkha Right Banner of Ulaanchab League were offshoots of the Seven Khalkha.
The Seven Khalkha expanded into central Mongolia by absorbing the
Uriyangkhai, who rebelled after Dayan Khan's death. They were involved in regular fights against the
Oyirad in the west. Geresenje's descendants formed the houses of
Jasaghtu Khan,
Tüsiyetü Khan and
Chechen Khan. They preserved their independence until they sought help from the
Kangxi Emperor of the Manchu
Qing Dynasty when they were expelled by the
Dzungar leader
Galdan in 1688. In 1725 the
Yongzheng Emperor gave Tsering independence from the house of Tüsiyetü Khan. It was the beginning of
Sayin Noyan Aymagh.
The Khalkha led the
Mongol independence movement in the 20th century. After enduring countless hardships, they established the independent state of Mongolia in northern Mongolia.
*Okada Hidehiro 岡"英弘:
Dayan Hān no Rokumanko no Kigen ダヤン・ハーンの六万戸の起源, Enoki Hakushi Kanreki Kinen Tōyōshi Ronsō 榎博士還暦記念東洋史論叢, pp. 127-137, 1975.
*Morikawa Tetsuo 森川"雄:
Haruha Tumen to Sono Seiritsu ni Tsuite ハルハ・トゥメンとその成立について, Tōyō Gakuhō 東洋学報 Vol.55. No.2, pp.32-63, 1972.
