國家地理:蒙古族生活日漸消失

The herdsmen of Inner Mongolia have freely roamed the plains for many centuries with their livestock grazing on fertile grasslands stretching across the horizon. But now their age-old customs are being stamped out because of relocation the Chinese government claims will help curb environmental damage.
In 1949, the ratio of Mongols to Han Chinese in this Northern China province was reported to be 5 to 1; now there is only one Mongol for every six Han Chinese. Along with mass migration came assimilation, as Mongolians were required to give up their nomadic lifestyles and to move to permanent settlements.
“It was better before when we were free to roam the grasslands. Now if we ventured into other people's grasslands, our sheep would be confiscated. Things are controlled now.”
Han Chinese are cultivating crops and raising animals here, competing with the Mongolian herdsmen. Modern technology has also impacted the grasslands in a profound way. While some do ride motorcycles rather than horses and others have more modern conveniences, other reports claim that it's the Han Chinese agricultural practices that are causing the most damage.
The Genghis Khan Mausoleum in Erdos City serves as a cultural reminder of the Mongolians' proud heritage before the Chinese government exercised its control. The Mongolians have a long and unique history and multifaceted culture.
“During Genghis Khan's era, he used people of different religious faiths. He didn't discriminate different races or religious beliefs. I think they have the ability to assimilate and adapt well to different environments. Mongolian culture is very open and embracing.”
Climate change and overgrazing have rendered huge swathes of land barren and caused frequent sandstorms in Inner Mongolia and its neighboring provinces.
“I think it will take barely seven...”
【Glossary】
1. stamp out: end or extinguish by forceful means
2. nomadic:(a.) migratory
3. confiscated:(a.) Seized by a government; appropriated
4. Mausoleum of Genghis Khan: located along a river in Kandehuo Enclosure, Xinjie Town, Ejen Khoruu Banner, Ordos Prefecture-Level City (鄂爾多斯市伊金霍洛旗新街鎮(zhèn)甘德爾敖包), Inner Mongolia. The Mausoleum is not the real burial place of the Khan, which has never been discovered; it is a cenotaph, where the coffin contains no body, but only headdresses and accessories. It was built between 1954 to 1956 by the government of the PRC in the traditional Mongol style.
5. multifaceted: (a.) Having many facets or aspects
6. swathe: (n.) a long narrow strip of land
幾百年來，內(nèi)蒙古的游牧民族一直在廣闊的草原上徜徉，牲畜在延伸到天邊的草原上吃著鮮美的嫩草。但是，由于政府希望控制環(huán)境惡化，進行了重遷計劃，這個古老的傳統(tǒng)馬上就要消失了。
1949年，在中國的北方省份，蒙古人和漢人的比例是5比1;而現(xiàn)在，蒙古人和漢人的比例僅僅是1比6.隨著大規(guī)模的遷移，蒙古人也被同化，蒙古人不得不放棄游牧的生活習慣，永久定居下來。
“以前我們可以在草原上自由游蕩的時候比較好?，F(xiàn)在，如果我們闖入了別人的草原，我們的羊會被沒收?，F(xiàn)在一切都受到控制。”
漢人也在這里種植作物，養(yǎng)殖牲畜，與蒙古牧民競爭?，F(xiàn)代科技也對草原有著深遠的影響。有人騎摩托車，而不是騎馬，還有一些人則使用更現(xiàn)代化的交通工具。有報告說，漢人的耕作習慣造成的危害更大。
鄂爾多斯市伊金霍洛旗新街鎮(zhèn)甘德爾敖包代表了中國政府實施控制以前的內(nèi)蒙古的傳統(tǒng)。蒙古有著悠久，獨特，多樣化的歷史。
“在成吉思汗時代，他重用有著不同宗教信仰的人。他不對任何種族或者宗教信仰產(chǎn)生歧視。我認為他們有同化和適應(yīng)不同環(huán)境的能力。蒙古文化是非常開放和包容的。”
氣候變化和過度放牧使大片的土地變成荒漠，導致內(nèi)蒙古和鄰近省份頻繁出現(xiàn)沙塵暴。