Regions with significant populations | |
---|---|
China | 100 000 (2009) |
Languages | |
Khoshut dialect of Oirat Mongolian | |
Religion | |
Tibetan Buddhism and Shamanism | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Oirats, Mongols, Mongols in China |
The Upper Mongols (Mongolian: Deed mongol Дээд монгол, Mongolian Script: ᠲᠡᠭᠡᠲᠦ ᠮᠣᠩᠭᠣᠯ), also known as the Köke Nuur Mongols (Mongolian: Хөх нуурын Монгол, Mongolian Script: ᠬᠦᠬᠡ ᠨᠠᠭᠤᠷ ᠮᠣᠩᠭᠣᠯ, "Blue lake Mongol") or Qinghai Mongols (Chinese: 青海蒙古) are ethnic Mongol people of Oirat and Khalkha origin who settled around Qinghai Lake in so-called Upper Mongolia. As part of the Khoshut Khanate of Tsaidam and the Koke Nuur they played a major role in Sino–Mongol–Tibetan politics during the 17th and 18th centuries. The Upper Mongols adopted Tibetan dress and jewelry despite still living in the traditional Mongolian ger and writing in the script.