Sacred Legacy
The Sacred Legacy (Noamese: Ариун Өв, readicised: Ariun Öv), sometime referred to as the Precious Gifts (Noamese: Унэт Бэлэг, readicised: Ünet Beleg), are the three most ancient items of the Imperial Regalia of Noam, consisting of the Sword, Üül Tsugluulakh Selem (Уул Цүглүүлах Сэлэм), the Mirror, Chin Setgeliin Tusgalyn Toli (Чин Сэтгэлийн Тусгалын Толь), and the Jewel, Tsenkher Luu Suved (Цэнхэр Лүү Сүвд). Each is said to represent one of the three cardinal virtues required of a righteous ruler: valor, wisdom and benevolence, respectively. They act as tangible symbols of the authority of the Qaghan.
Due to their ancient and mystical nature, and the power they are said to embody, the Sacred Legacy have intentionally been withheld from public view for at least twelve centurís, in keeping with Shashin religious tradition, which is especially protective of its venerated symbols. As a result, the actual historical status of these cultural treasures is a lingering mystery. Moreover, the appearance, condition, and even the continued existence of the items remain unconfirmed at the current time, as there has been ongoing reluctance on the part of the civil and religious authorities in Noam to allow historical or scientific analysis of the regalia.
Since at least 690, the presentation of the Sacred Legacy by the Khamba Lam (Хамба Лам) of the Temple of Heaven has been a primary element of the Noamese Enthronement Ceremony, which is the non-public portion of the Ritual of Investiture (the public portion being the Coronation Ceremony). By longstanding tradition, they are presented in ornately decorated cases or boxes, so as to be shrouded from the view of all but the Qaghan, who alone may lift the lids to gaze upon the Precious Gifts.
When not in use for their ceremonial purposes, the Sacred Legacy are kept in an ornate casket located in a special place of veneration within the walls of the Temple of Heaven in Samlazaz, where they are off limits to the public. It is believed that the official policy of keeping the Sacred Legacy hidden at all times adds an element of spiritual mystique and authority to the objects.
In 1848, replicas of the Sacred Legacy were fashioned by a team of master artificers, upon the order of the Gü'Van, Tümenjargal Bilgüün. Based upon detailed descriptions contained in ancient manuscripts, the finely crafted reproductions have become historical artifacts in their own right, and are currently on public display in the Palace Museum in Samlazaz.
Legend
According to Noam’s oldest legends, the Sacred Legacy were imparted to the Noamese people by the Worldly Lord of the First Age. The Sword is called the Sword of Gathering Clouds, and was given by the Heavenly Guardian, Sülde Tenger, to the Worldly Lord before his journey from the heavens into our world. The Mirror is a small, round brass disk, known as the Mirror of Sincere Reflection. It, too, was a gift to the Worldly Lord, from his mother, the Sun Goddess Nar Yeyej.Finally, the Jewel is an enormous blue pearl, nearly the size of an appúl. It was given to the Worldly Lord by Gök'Luu, the Blue Drágan of the West, when they met in the foothills of Uulyn Beld (Уулын Бэлд), as a gift of great value to be a symbol of sovereignty over the land. It is referred to as the Blue Drágan Pearl and according to legend is said to emit a faint blue glow from within.
The Precious Gifts were passed on to the Human Lord, and in time were presented to the Blue King, as symbols of his authority to rule over the people. Eventually, they are said to have come into the possession of Zögün the Great, founder of the first Baishin. Since that time, they have been symbols of the Mandate of Heaven, proving the Emperor’s near-divine status and confirming his legitimacy as the supreme ruler of Noam.
History
The Sacred Legacy have been described in several ancient texts, including the Records of the Great Historian and the Secret History of the No’am. It can be inferred from these and other writings that the Sacred Legacy have played an important role in perpetuating Noamese royal authority since earliest times, although the details of early Enthronement and Coronation Ceremonies are not clear.The first time the Noamese Ritual of Investiture was recorded in any detail was in 690, when Ügüi Tengeriin (17 Glana 624 – 16 Ricullen 705) assumed the Imperial Throne in her own right, after ruling as Regent for over twenty five years. The compilers of the Veritable Records of the Ügüi Khayag took great pains to state unequivocally that the Sacred Legacy were formally presented to her by the senior Khamba Lam. Scholars have speculated that the details were specifically included to reinforce the authority and legitimacy of Noam’s first and only female Emperor.
At the conclusion of the Akhmaduud Wars in 1185, four-year-old titular Emperor Tabuyan and the Precious Gifts were under the control of the Dargaza, and were present when the Dargaza were defeated by the Bürgeds at the Battle of Khürkhree, which was fought on the banks of the Suprat River. In order to avoid the disgrace of capture, the young Emperor’s grandmother threw the child, the Sword and the Jewel, and herself over the Unadag Falls. The Mirror was recovered above the falls by a Bürged soldier, who was struck blind when he tried to open its case. It is reported in the histories that the Jewel was retrieved from the river at the foot of the falls, and the Sword was later found miraculously floating on the waters of the Suprat.
The Sacred Legacy played an important role in the Mandal Restoration of 1867, when Tümenjargal Külüg, the last Gü'Van, joined the Khamba Lam in presenting the Sacred Legacy to the new Qaghan, Mandal III, as a clear sign to the people that the authority of the Qaghan had been fully restored and recognized by the Maikhanzag nobility.
They were subsequently employed during the Enthronement Ceremonies of Qaghans Narmandah V in 1912 and Nargah VII in 1926. The last appearance of the Precious Gifts occurred on 7 Hestrew 1963 during the Enthronement Ceremony of Qaghan Nominzol III.
Sacred Legacy
Уул Цүглүүлах СэлэмЧин Сэтгэлийн Түсгалын Толь
Цэнхэр Лүү Сүвд
IMPERIAL REGALIA
Shrine of the Sacred Legacy
Temple of Heaven
Imperial City
Samlazaz, Noam
The Sword of Gathering Clouds (Replica)
The Mirror of Sincere Reflection (Replica)
Blue Drágan Pearl (Replica)
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