National Anthem Comparison
China vs Mongolia
2
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
15
15 years apart
✓
Same continent
Comparison Analysis
China and Mongolia, both Asia nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. China's "March of the Volunteers" was written in 1935, while Mongolia's "National Anthem of Mongolia" dates to 1950.
Both anthems share themes of Unity and Resilience. China additionally explores Battle / War, while Mongolia also touches on Ancestors / Heritage and Independence.
The emotional tones differ: China's anthem is Fierce, while Mongolia's is Proud.
Mongolia changed its national anthem in 2006, reflecting a shift in the nation's identity or political landscape.
Shared themes
China
⚔ Battle / War 🤝 Unity 💪 Resilience
Mongolia
🏺 Ancestors / Heritage 🗽 Independence 🤝 Unity 💪 Resilience
Shared themes:
🤝 Unity 💪 Resilience
Metadata
| China | Mongolia | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1935 | 1950 |
| Adopted | 1949 | 2006 |
| Lyricist | Tian Han | Tsendiin Damdinsuren |
| Composer | Nie Er | Bilegiin Damdinsuren, Luvsanjamts Murjorj |
| Language | zh | mn |
| Region | East Asia | East Asia |
Lyrics Side by Side
China
义勇军进行曲
Original
起来！不愿做奴隶的人们！
把我们的血肉，筑成我们新的长城！
中华民族到了最危险的时候，
每个人被迫着发出最后的吼声。
起来！起来！起来！
我们万众一心，
冒着敌人的炮火，前进！
冒着敌人的炮火，前进！
前进！前进！进！
Translation
Arise, ye who refuse to be slaves!
With our very flesh and blood let us build our new Great Wall!
The peoples of China are at their most critical time,
Everyone is forced to expel their very last cry.
Arise! Arise! Arise!
Millions of hearts with one mind,
Brave the enemy's gunfire, march on!
Brave the enemy's gunfire, march on!
March on! March on! On!
Mongolia
Монгол улсын төрийн дуулал
Original
Дархан манай түвшинийн хилс
Халдаа нэгдсэн энэ түмнэй
Далайн их түүхийн гөл
Дээдсэн манай орон мөнхийн байг.
Хамаг дэлхийн шударга ардуудтай
Ханилан нөхөрлөн дээжлэн байгуулья,
Хатугтайгаа үрстэйн заягаа бидандай,
Хайрт Монгол орон мань мөнхөд мөнхөд бат.
Зовлон бүхнээсээ ундэсний суудал,
Зориг буян дэлгэрүүлэн үүрид
Зөв шударгын хүчтэй дэлхийд мандан
Зөв шударгын хүчтэй мөнхөд мөнхөд бат.
Translation
Our sacred independent state,
The united people of all our lineage,
The great heritage of generations,
Our cherished homeland shall stand forever.
With all the honest peoples of the world,
In friendship and cooperation ever growing,
With our stalwart destiny always at hand,
Beloved Mongolia, our country, forever, forever strong.
The will of the people brought our nation's heritage,
Righteous fortune spreading its bounty,
With the power of justice, let us flourish in the world,
With the power of justice, forever, forever strong.
Interesting facts
China
- 1. Lyricist Tian Han (1898 to 1968) wrote the words while under surveillance by the Nationalist government; he was later imprisoned during the Cultural Revolution and died in custody in Beijing in 1968.
- 2. Composer Nie Er (1912 to 1935) drowned off the coast of Fujisawa, Japan, only months after writing the music, at the age of 23, on his way to study composition in the Soviet Union.
- 3. From roughly 1966 to 1978 the anthem could be played only as an instrumental, because Tian Han's lyrics had been politically condemned; The East Is Red, a song praising Mao Zedong, served as the de facto anthem in many state ceremonies.
- 4. In March 1978 the National People's Congress replaced Tian Han's lyrics with a new text glorifying Chairman Mao and the Communist Party; the original 1935 lyrics were not officially restored until 4 December 1982.
- 5. African American singer Paul Robeson recorded the song in 1941 as 'Chee Lai!' (起来 'Arise'), in Mandarin and English, with Chinese American activist Liu Liangmo, helping to spread the melody worldwide during the Second World War.
- 6. Since the National Anthem Law of 2017, 'malicious modification' of the lyrics or melody, or use of the anthem in commercial advertising or as background music in public spaces, can carry administrative fines and, in serious cases, criminal liability under Article 299 of the Criminal Law.
Mongolia
- 1. The lyrics were rewritten in 2006 to remove Soviet-era references to Marx, Lenin, and communism
- 2. The melody was composed by Bilegiin Damdinsuren and Luvsanjamts Murjorj during the communist period in 1950
- 3. Mongolia's anthem reflects the country's nomadic heritage and the vast steppe landscape that defines Mongolian identity
Listen
China
Mongolia
