Temujin
Creating writing
The Mongols originally had no writing and only relied on knotting grass and carving wood to record events. During Temujin's campaign against the Naiman tribe, he captured a Uighur named Tata Tonga. He was the seal official of Taiyang Khan of the Naiman tribe. Taiyang Khan respected him as the master of the country and asked him
Mongolian writing [31]
to master the gold seal and Qiangu. Temujin asked Tata Tong'a to stay by his side, "From now on, whenever there is an edict, the seal will be used and the order will be handed down." Soon, Temujin asked Tata Tong'a to spell Mongolian with Uighur characters and teach the princes and kings to learn. This is the so-called "Uighur script book". From then on, in the documents of the Mongol Khanate, "Those who travel in Huihui use the word Huihui." "The word Huihui only has twenty-one letters, and the rest are made up of radicals. [19-20] [32]
The Han, Khitan, and Jurchen people who have subjugated their countries only use Chinese characters." For a considerable period of time, "only small wood" was used in Mongolia. "Hui Hui Zi" refers to the "Wei Wu Zi Book". Although Kublai Khan once asked the state teacher Pasiba to create the "New Mongolian Characters", it was basically no longer used after the Yuan Dynasty withdrew from the Central Plains. However, after the reform in the early 14th century, the "Weiwu Character Book" became more perfect and has been used ever since. to this day. Tata Tonga created Mongolian writing, which was a pioneering work in the history of the Mongol Khanate. It was precisely because of this kind of writing that Genghis Khan was able to promulgate written laws and green books. The first ancient history of the Mongolian nation, "The Secret History of Mongolia", which was written shortly after his death, was written with this kind of Uighur writing. Done. [19-20] [32]
Promulgation of grammar
Before Genghis Khan unified Mongolia, since the Mongols did not have writing, it was impossible to have written laws. When Genghis Khan founded the country in 1206, he ordered Shiji Hutulu to start formulating the Qingju. This was the beginning of the formal promulgation of written laws by the Mongolian people. However, the first written law of the Mongolian people, the "Zhasa Dadian", was formulated more than ten years later, before the Western Expedition to Khwarezm. According to the "Historical Collection", in 1219, "Genghis Khan held high the banner of conquering the world and set off for Khwarezm." Before leaving, "he convened a meeting and held a huril platform among them to discuss his leadership rules, The laws and ancient customs were re-stipulated." This is the so-called "Zhasa Dadian". In "History of the World Conquerors", Zheffini wrote a special chapter on "The Laws and Regulations Formulated by Genghis Khan and the Zhasa Promulgated after his Rise", which said: "Because the Tatars did not have their own written language, he ordered Mongolian children to learn Write the Weiwu text and record the relevant Zhasa and laws on the scrolls [19-20] [33]
These scrolls are called the "Zhasa Dadian" and are kept in the palace of the first king. In the treasury. Whenever a new Khan ascends the throne, the army is mobilized, or the kings gather to discuss the affairs of the country and the government, they will take out these volumes, act according to the words above, and deploy the army according to the methods prescribed in it, and destroy the state. "Counties and towns" "Zhasa Dadian" has been lost, but some of its provisions are still recorded in fragments in Chinese and foreign historical records. In Mongolian society, the Great Khan and Hehan were the supreme rulers and enjoyed supreme authority. The words and orders of the Great Khan were laws. The "Great Zhasa" promulgated by Genghis Khan recorded Genghis Khan's orders. Genghis Khan's "Instructions" are also called "Great Decrees". [19-20] [33]
Kublai Khan
Kublai Khan's restored administration healed the wounds of a century-long war. After the fall of the Song Dynasty, the Yuan Dynasty retained the institutions and all administrative officials of the Song Dynasty, and made every effort to obtain the personal loyalty of the officials who served at that time. [5]
During his reign, Kublai Khan paid attention to the selection of talents and emphasized Han ministers, such as Dong Wenbing (Kublai called him Dong Da), Liu Bingzhong, Zhang Hongfan, etc., and appointed the Minister of Color and Eyes Ahema to take charge National Finance. Adopt Han law and establish various political systems. For example, provinces were established locally, and Zhongshu Province was established at the central level, marking the beginning of the provincial system in our country. He established agencies such as the "Agricultural Affairs Department" and the "Agricultural Encouragement Department" to deal with agriculture, and used the performance of agricultural agriculture as the main criterion for evaluating officials. He also had the "Nongsang Ji Yao" compiled and promulgated in the 23rd year of the Yuan Dynasty. Nationwide. In order to strengthen the management of border areas and open up transportation between China and foreign countries, inns were established in various places to consolidate the rule over all parts of the country. [5]
Ethnic Policy
Kublai Khan tried to maintain good relations with Confucianism.
In 1267, when the construction of Dadu began, he ordered the construction of the Ancestral Temple and the production of ancestral tablets needed to honor ancestors. He also selected the country's calendar, which was an indispensable task for rulers in an agricultural society. The choice of his dynasty name will be the most important signal to Confucian scholars. Adopting a Chinese name rich in Chinese symbols would indicate Kublai Khan's desire to integrate with certain Chinese traditions. In 1271, at the suggestion of Liu Bingzhong, Kublai Khan chose "Dayuan" as the name of the country from the "Book of Changes". The meaning of Yuan is "Qian Yuan - the origin of everything in the world" or "original force", but most importantly, the name of the new dynasty comes directly from one of the traditional classics of the Han people. [14]
Kublai Khan agreed with the proposal to record the history of the Yuan Dynasty in the traditional Chinese way, which also earned him praise from Confucian scholars. Confucianism, which values ??the past and uses historical experience to guide behavior, provides the basis for this officially sanctioned chronological project. He also suggested that the imperial court establish the Hanlin Academy and the National History Academy under the Hanlin Academy to collect records and write the history of Liao and Jin. [14]
Religious policy
Allow Hui people to form virtually autonomous societies with Hui Hui masters as leaders, and Ha's interpreting Muslim law for them. Huihui residential areas have their own markets, hospitals and mosques, and they are not prohibited from using their own national language or following the teachings of Islam. In fact, Kublai Khan appointed Hui people to important positions in the financial institutions and granted them special privileges. He exempted them from regular taxes and recruited them to serve as Daruhuachi, a position that few Han people could hold. [14]
In 1264, Kublai Khan established the Zongzhiyuan to manage Tubo and supervise the relationship between the government and Buddhist monks. Phagsiba became the first chief executive of the Zongzhiyuan. Phagspa's authority in Tibet was challenged during a rebellion led by the rival Buddhist sect the Preakung, but in 1267 Kublai Khan mobilized troops to help restore the young Buddhist imam to power. After Kublai Khan's army defeated the dissidents in 1268, although he restored Pasiba's power, he also installed a Mongolian as a consolation envoy to Tibet to help control Tibet. [14]
Kublai Khan's support of Buddhism in the Buddhist-Taoist debate in 1258 made him unpopular with Taoists. However, he was attracted to Taoism's renowned magical powers and acknowledged their appeal to lower-class people. The imperial court therefore provided funds for the construction of Taoist temples and provided them with the same exemptions and privileges that Buddhism had received. Some Taoist leaders recognized the need for compatibility with Buddhism and the Mongols, and sought first to reconcile Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. [14]
Kublai Khan even sought support and assistance from the small number of Christians in China and foreign Christians. Before Kublai Khan's accession, Christian envoys had arrived at the Mongol court, such as John Plano Gabini and Rubuluqi, and several craftsmen such as the famous craftsman William Bushe served the Great Khan Mongke . But Kublai Khan took a more concerned approach to inviting and recruiting foreign Christians. [14]
Economic Policy
Kublai Khan invented "banknotes", that is, paper money. He introduced banknotes into circulation and made them the basis of finance. In 1264, he issued a decree announcing the use of paper money to calculate the value of major commodities. His first "financial" minister was the Muslim Sayyid Azhar, who kept the issuance of banknotes within reasonable limits. Successive ministers began to act rashly, and both of them implemented a policy of unrestrained inflation that devalued banknotes. When amassing money, they exchanged coins many times and established a high-profit monopoly. Ahema was assassinated in 1282 and was denounced by Kublai Khan after his death. Sango was executed for corruption. In order to stop the decline of the original banknotes, it is necessary to issue new banknotes so that it is not the turn of the new currency to depreciate. This may be something Kublai Khan did not expect when he first used "money". [5]
Grain control policy
In order to prepare for famine, Kublai Khan restored the national grain control policy that had been canceled after Wang Anshi. In good years, the state purchased surplus grain and stored it in the national warehouse. . When grain prices rise in lean years, warehouses are opened to distribute grains for free. He also organized public relief, regularly distributing rice and corn to families in desperate need. The 1260 decree required local governors to provide relief to old scholars, orphans, and the sick and weak.