Contradictory moralities: alcohol consumption in Inner Mongolia

Abstract

Alcohol consumption is a central aspect of social life among Mongols in Mongolia and Buryatia as well as in Inner Mongolia. Despite its prominence, however, it has not yet been addressed as a phenomenon deserving anthropological attention in its own right. Drawing on material collected in Inner Mongolia (PR China), this article tries to fill this ethnographic gap by describing the deeply contradictory moral values associated with alcohol as well as the social and affective dynamics generated by the ambivalent role of drinking in the construction of a moral self. It thereby draws attention to the inherent contradictions in local systems of moral values and their anxiogenic impact on social interaction, particularly in rural settlements. At the same time, it provides a new perspective on old topics within the anthropology of Mongolia, such as notions of morality, the maintenance of a rigid social hierarchy, and uncertainty.

Keywords::

• Mongolia
• China
• alcohol
• morality
• uncertainty

Notes

^1. Mongolia and Inner Asia Studies Unit (MIASU), Division of Social Anthropology, University of Cambridge, UK.

^2. This sequence is peculiar to Barga Mongols in Hulunbuir. In the south of Inner Mongolia and Mongolia the display of respect during Tsagaan Sar takes different forms.

^3. This might be exaggerated and there are no statistical data about men's average life expectancy. However, during my fieldwork five men aged between 39 and 62 died due to alcohol-related accidents or health problems. Furthermore, at birthday celebrations of people over 60, women notably outnumbered men.

^4. Wolves' teeth are highly valued by all Mongolian peoples. They are used in rituals, are believed to have the power to heal, and are often worn as protective amulets. In the New Barga Right Banner, one tooth can reach prices up to 200–300 RMB ( ≈ £20–30).

^5. The number of professional women is steadily increasing and hence also women's participation at banquets. Older people furthermore complain that young women “like to drink just like men,” thereby contributing to the general process of moral decay. My material, however, does not support this view.

^6. People's hün chanar is often judged by referring to that of their father and paternal ancestors; references to the mother and maternal relatives also occur rather frequently.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Paula Haas

Paula Haas (BA Ca'Foscari University of Venice; PhD University of Cambridge, UK) worked in Mongolia for several years following her graduation. Her doctoral research explored the conceptual and discursive dimensions of trust and mistrust, as well as their impact on social dynamics among Barga Mongols in Inner Mongolia (PR China). She currently holds a post-doctoral position at the Department of Mongolian and Tibetan Studies at the University of Bonn, Germany.