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In America, Chinggis Khaan Now has Loyal Following

Written by Bijani Mizell
Thursday, November 06, 2008.
HISTORY has always fascinated humanity for the lessons it affords in hindsight, but while some value history’s didactic potential, others recognize history’s ability to entertain. But few history buffs have realized Chinggis Khaan’s entertainment value. However, a small but passionate group of Mongolian history enthusiasts devote their leisure time to learning and recreating the culture of the Chinggis Khaan era. Luigi Kapaj, a computer programmer based in New York, founded the Silver Horde, a historical reenactment group that focuses exclusively on the Mongol Empire, and named himself Gulugjab Tangghudai, or Grand Khaan, in homage to Mongolia’s favorite son. Historical reenactment societies are very popular throughout the United States and Europe, but most of these tend to focus on Western European history. Ever-popular Renaissance fairs take place from San Francisco to Stockholm, yet the Mongol Empire, arguably the greatest power in the world at that time, is grossly underrepresented. The Silver Horde (whose Mongolian name is Onggulig Ordu) belongs to the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), a global organization that advocates the study and recreation of medieval and Renaissance European cultures and histories. The Silver Horde’s emphasis on the Mongol Empire renders it nearly unique; though other Mongol-related groups exist, the Silver Horde is the largest group of its kind within the SCA. Kapaj discovered Mongolian history by chance, when a friend told him stories about Chinggis Khaan. He quickly became fascinated by the Mongol Empire’s military history and researched as much as he could. “First it was the remarkable genius and effectiveness of the military [that captivated me],” Kapaj said. “But the fascination only grew as I learned more about how Chinggis Khaan was able to master human resources and the manner in which the Mongol Empire was run, and especially how [influential] it was to the world we know today. The more I learned, the more I wanted to know.” Soon Kapaj recruited other Mongol Empire admirers and began to learn archery, horseback riding, sword fighting, and other martial arts. Kapaj himself trained under two famous Mongolian mergen, or female champion archers, and learned mounted archery at the International Horse Archery Festival. In 2005, he flew to Ulaanbaatar to participate in Naadam, and he now teaches weekly combat classes in his local park in New York. Though not all members were initially knowledgeable about the Mongol Empire, Kapaj says his enthusiasm prompted others to immerse themselves in recreating Mongol culture. As with most historical reenactment groups, authenticity is crucial, and participants hold themselves to very high standards of historical accuracy. “The Silver Horde tries to distinguish itself by increasing the accuracy of our reenactment activities, both in our individual dress and [our] use of Mongol language and traditional script,” Kapaj said. “We do what we can to teach others about Mongol history, arts, and culture.” Kapaj endeavors to spread his love of the Mongol Empire, even hosting an annual event he calls “Warrior’s Naadam,” during which the Silver Horde demonstrates to the public the military skills and cultural customs of the era, with archery tournaments and authentic Mongol feasts. The goal, as Kapaj states, is to promote knowledge and understanding of the Mongol culture and dispel misapprehensions of Mongolian warriors as barbarians. With his Mongolian wife, Kapaj also runs a small online retail venture, importing authentic Mongolian deels, gers, bows, and paintings. Though not entirely lucrative, Kapaj notes that, especially at SCA events, authentic Mongol objects are becoming increasingly trendy. Like historical reenactments, Role Playing Games (RPG) allows direct interaction within the fantasy universe of the game, where players can develop and control their character’s actions. Unlike a video game, RPG encourages live action role-playing, similar to interactive theatre. Though few RPGs are set in Asia, Kapaj was disappointed that none of the RPGs were set in Mongolia. Seeing an opportunity to increase Mongol interest in the gaming community, he recently wrote a supplemental RPG manual titled YASA: The Law of the Steppe. The book, due out in 2009, is designed to aid Mongol enthusiasts in creating their own fantasy universe based on the Mongol Empire. “[YASA] provides a fantasy setting where Asian myths and legends are the main inspiration,” Kapaj said. “[I designed] character templates for creating a Baatar and Shaman, instead of a Knight and Priest, and [the book] also provides some description of a nomadic lifestyle to better role play the character and even let a player build up their own powerful tribe.” Above all, Kapaj believes in embracing the fun in history. His passion for the Mongol Empire has won him fans both in America and abroad. “[During] my first trip to Beijing, I was in a hotel with several Inner Mongolians who do not speak any English and could not read the Cyrillic Mongolian dictionary I had,” Kapaj recounts. “So I grabbed a piece of paper and started writing what I wanted to say in the classical Mongolian script. Imagine their surprise!”