I've always associated Genghis Khan's name with bloody wars and brutal massacres. Based on the new exhibit "Modern Mongolia: Reclaiming Genghis Khan," at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, I have changed my opinion. The exhibit itself is not about Genghis Khan the man, but how he symbolizes the changing politics of Mongolia as it went from monarchy to democracy.
Walking into the exhibit, I am greeted by a replication of a ger--or a round hut--in which Mongolians lived during the 1100s. Inside the hut are displays of the clothing of a Mongolian family. The most striking clothing display is the Ehner Huvtsas, which is a married woman's outfit complete with a winged hairdo that maintains its shape with jeweled metal sheaths. The rest of the ger hut is a simple, uncluttered place of living.
Two more displays offer a historically accurate glimpse into the everyday life of a modern Mongolian family. One diorama reflects Soviet influence on the clothing and furniture from around 1960. Another illustrates how the Western world influenced Mongolian dress while the Asian nation sought finally to establish a democracy in 1989.
The exhibit is highly edifying, with detailed historical commentaries that are not overly factual. Each display enhances a period of Mongolia's ever-changing history and, ultimately, the viewer comes away with the sense that Mongolia has reclaimed Genghis Khan as a symbol of equality forever.
