Zodog a shuudag
Зодог / Шуудаг
Costume of Mongolian wrestlers in bökh: a short vest with sleeves and an open chest (zodog) and tight short trousers (shuudag).
Quick Facts
Term typeClothing
LanguageMongolian
Formphrase
Pronunciation[zoh-dog / shoo-dag]
Alternative NamesMongolian wrestling costume
Readings and romanizations
Other spellingzodog / šuudag
Definition
Zodog is a short vest with long sleeves that covers the back and arms but leaves the chest bare. It is tied at the front with a cord. Shuudag are tight short trousers. The outfit also includes tall gutal boots and a cap. According to a traditional legend, the zodog has an open chest because a woman in disguise once won the tournament, and since then wrestlers must show that they are men. The costume is worn mainly at the naadam festival, where bökh wrestling is one of the three men's games, alongside archery and horse racing.