A member of the Onon clan of Daur Mongols, growing up he was interested in shamanistic beliefs and rituals still surviving amongst his people.
In Tokyo Urgunge became fascinated with the West, having had access to foreign films and newsreels for the first time.
Upon his return to Inner Mongolia he moved to Sonid Right Banner and worked for the Mongol Prince Demchugdongrub as a teacher and bodyguard.
In Nanking he made contact with Owen Lattimore, who was to be a major influence in his life, and with his help obtained a one-year fellowship at Johns Hopkins University.
Upon moving to the United States in November 1948 he was one of just a few Mongolian scholars resident there, including John Gombojab Hangin and Diluwa Khutugtu Jamsrangjab.