Mergen Jonov

Mergen Jonov emerged as a hero in the Volga region, alternativelly known as Ijil Zai in Mongolian, during the Shükhür Daichin Khan’s era. Upon receiving intelligence about an impending attack from another nomadic power, the Torghuts convened their troops and prepared a strategic defence. Not long after, countless soldiers arranged in three rows appeared in distance. The first row rode white and black mixed-coloured horses, the third row exclusively black horses, while the middle row consisted of generals on white horses, with their Khan astride a golden horse. Despite being an ordinary young boy, Mergen Jonov hiked to the top of a mountain where he spotted the attackers from seven sound’s distance - a distance measurement often appears in heroic epics of Oirats. Thinking about their possible reactions, he decided to test his archery skills by aiming at the enemy Khan. His arrow found its mark, piercing the Khan’s right scapula. Observing the troops gathering around their injured leader, Mergen Jonov understood that their march would be delayed for at least seven days. After the attacked Khan had recovered from his injury, he sent a delegation to apologize for his lack of understanding about the capability of Torghuts and their decision to go to war and proposed an alliance. Recognizing the formidable archery skills of the Torghuts, the delegation surmised that the archer must have shot from at least seven sounds’ distance as they searched within a six-sounds’ radius. The delegation offered large amounts of food and gifts in order to achieve their goal. However, they also expressed a desire to see Mergen Jonov’s face, as they hadn’t identified the archer. Following this incident, both Torhgut Khan and their erstwhile enemy agreed to honour Jonov with the prestigious title of Mergen. Mergen Jonov’s renown extended further with an extraordinary hunting feat – capturing a giant Garuda bird from Tibet. Witnessing the Garuda snatching a camel with one talon and devouring it, Mergen Jonov became concerned about the ...