Öndör Gongor

Lore & Background

According to an interview with his daughter G. Budkhand published in 1997, Gongor was the third child of a herder named Pürev, who lived in a place called Dalai Choinkhor wangiin khoshuu, today Jargalant sum of Khövsgöl Province. He was not particularly big as a child, only having long fingers. Because he always ate a lot, he became unpopular with his parents and was eventually sent to Ikh Khüree. One day, he was summoned to the Bogd Khan, given fresh clothes, and after a while was made to marry a woman who worked as one of the Bogd Khan's seamstresses, on the grounds that their fates were connected according to a horoscope by the Bogd Khan.

There is uncertainty around Gongor's occupation at the Bogd Khan's court: he may have been an accountant and keeper of the Bogd Khan's elephant, the Bogd Khan's bodyguard, or a wrestler. In 1913, he traveled to Russia with a delegation headed by Sain Noyon Khan Namnansüren. Later, he is said to have worked at the toll office. Gongor had four children. He died in his home area in the late 1920s, before reaching the age of 50. His corpse is said to have been stolen during the funeral – at that time, the deceased were laid out in the steppe to be devoured by birds and other animals.

Reader's Guide

Öndör Gongor is a notable figure in Mongolian history primarily due to his extraordinary height, which resulted from gigantism. His stature made him a subject of interest for both Mongolian society and Western travelers in the early 20th century. His life at the court of the Bogd Khan, though clouded by uncertainty regarding his exact role, illustrates the intersection of physical anomaly and royal patronage in pre-revolutionary Mongolia. The story of his marriage, arranged based on a horoscope, reflects the cultural and spiritual practices of the time. His death and the reported theft of his corpse during a traditional steppe funeral add a layer of mystery to his legacy. Today, he is remembered across Mongolia, and his grandson D. Davaanyam is a well-known children's author, linking Gongor's personal history to modern Mongolian culture. The conflicting accounts of his height and occupation underscore the challenges of historical documentation, but his enduring fame highlights his impact as a folk figure.

Did You Know?

• Öndör Gongor was measured at 2.36 m (7 ft 9 in) by Roy Chapman Andrews, though some sources give 2.45 m (8 ft).
• He was sent to Ikh Khüree because he ate a lot and became unpopular with his parents.
• His marriage to a seamstress of the Bogd Khan was arranged based on a horoscope.
• His corpse is said to have been stolen during his funeral, when the deceased were laid out in the steppe.