Scripts
Mongolian Script
mon-GOH-lee-un
Also Known As Hudum Mongol Bichig
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Origin from 1200
The traditional Mongolian script was the first writing system created specifically for the Mongolian language and remained the most widespread until Cyrillic was introduced in 1946. It derives from the Old Uyghur alphabet, brought to the Mongolian Plateau and adapted for Mongolian in the early thirteenth century by Tata-tonga, a Uyghur scribe captured by Genghis Khan. It is traditionally written in vertical lines from top to bottom, the lines themselves running left to right, and is also known as the Hudum Mongol bichig, or simply the Old Script in contrast to Cyrillic, the New Script.
Facts
DirectionalityVertical, top to bottom, with lines running left to right. 1 In Use Since (Year)Early thirteenth century, traditionally credited to Tata-tonga's adaptation of the Old Uyghur alphabet for Genghis Khan's chancery. Cross-Tradition Connections
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