Genghis Con - Part II
There was much secrecy surrounding Genghis Khan (see Genghis Con). For example, there were no portraits on him during his lifetime, nor did anyone even dare to attempt one until he was 50 years deceased. So it was up to the imagination of the teller to conjure up images of him in legend and fame, or infamy. Also, there were no written documents known to exist about him that historians could draw on. They could only draw data from the sequence of events chronicled by the conquered territories and defeated armies. However, there was a rumored document that purported to write of all aspects Genghis Khan's life and conquests, but it was shrouded in mystery. For example the Persian historian Rashid al-Din claims to have seen the document a century after Khan's death, but said it was locked up in a Treasury and outsiders were not allowed to see it. When the Mongol Empire collapsed, it seemed to have disappeared and only retained the status of a myth.
Perhaps it is because of this lack of information about Genghis Khan that historians filled in data about him with all manner of imaginative and fanciful stories. And it seems most of these stories paint a picture of a uncivilized, cruel Barbarian. Other conquerors such as Caesar, Napoleon, and Alexander, for example, are treated more fairly by historians by comparing their accomplishments against their darker side. However, this does not seem to be the case with Genghis Khan. Perhaps it is because he so easily and completely defeated the best the Western World had to offer that bitterness overcame equanimity in portraying him as an evil conqueror.
It is interesting that in the West that this venom toward our one-time conquerors even went to the extreme of seeding new derogatory words into our language. The tribes of Genghis Khan were known by the various names of Mongol, Moghul, Mughal, Moal, Tartar, and Tatar. 19th century scientists, wishing to degrade conquered Asian and American Indian populations, classified them as Mongoloid. White women who gave birth to retarded children were told they must have had ancestry who were raped by Mongols, explaining the genetic defect. Rich capitalist who were considered anti-democratic and abusive of those lower in status were called moguls.
It is also interesting that the Mongols have become the scapegoat of many nations in their failures. China blamed its lagging behind Japan and Europe on the cruel repression by Mongol overlords. When India succumbed to British colonization it was the greed of Moghul rule as the cause. When Russia could not keep up with Western technology the yoke of Tatar rule by Genghis Khan was the cause. When Persia had problems it was because the Mongols destroyed their irrigation system. More recently, Arabs have said the reason they didn't develop the atomic bomb before the West was that the Mongols had destroyed their cities and libraries. Even as recent as the 2002 with the invasion of Afghanistan by the U.S., the Taliban compared the the U.S. to the Mongol invasion. And so on. It is amazing that such residual hate and venom persists for over 8 centuries, yet so little is known about the object of their hate.
But that state of ignorance has changed. In the 19th Century the document of legend concerning the life of Genghis Khan was discovered in China. The document was in Chinese letters, but even though it could be easily read, it was in code, and could not be deciphered. Apparently, the Chinese letters represented the sound of Mongolian words. A hint of what the book contained, somewhat as a tease, was available in standard Chinese as summaries of each Chapter. Because of all the mystery surrounding the book, the document became known as The Secret History of the Mongols.
For most of the 20th Century the Communist government kept the book out of the hands of scholars and others, apparently fearing that a translation might present data that conflicted with their political views and the official history of what the Mongols were supposed to be. The people of Mongolia became quite inspired by the prospect of recovering their real history, and even printed some stamps in 1962 to commemorate the 8th anniversary of Genghis Khan. But the Soviet Communists cracked down on these upstarts for reveling in their history, and banished and exiled the perpetrators. Genghis Khan was anathema to the Communists. An archaeologist was imprisoned for studying Genghis Khan. Teachers, artists, poets, and historians were in danger if they studied the history of the Mongols. Some were executed, and other scholars lost their jobs and had to move out of the country.
Nevertheless, scholars from other countries continued to work on the translation of the book. Gradually, chapter at a time, translations started to appear in the 1970s. But even though by the 1980s, complete translations were available, the book was still not understood. There were many local references and contexts that could not take on true meaning without understanding more of the customs of the people and the terrain, which was such a big part of their life. For example, Genghis Khan was a Shaman and he and his people had a complete set of religious beliefs which is little understood. Many of their beliefs intertwined with nature and the land.
It is to Jack Weatherford's great credit that he and other scholars arranged to actually visit and track the paths through the lands described in the book. He got first hand information and observations and talked to descendants in the area. The vast and difficult enterprise allowed him to piece together the most complete picture ever assembled of the life of the Mongols over 8 centuries ago. His book is Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World. If any of this interests you, I highly recommend you read his book.
Perhaps it is because of this lack of information about Genghis Khan that historians filled in data about him with all manner of imaginative and fanciful stories. And it seems most of these stories paint a picture of a uncivilized, cruel Barbarian. Other conquerors such as Caesar, Napoleon, and Alexander, for example, are treated more fairly by historians by comparing their accomplishments against their darker side. However, this does not seem to be the case with Genghis Khan. Perhaps it is because he so easily and completely defeated the best the Western World had to offer that bitterness overcame equanimity in portraying him as an evil conqueror.
It is interesting that in the West that this venom toward our one-time conquerors even went to the extreme of seeding new derogatory words into our language. The tribes of Genghis Khan were known by the various names of Mongol, Moghul, Mughal, Moal, Tartar, and Tatar. 19th century scientists, wishing to degrade conquered Asian and American Indian populations, classified them as Mongoloid. White women who gave birth to retarded children were told they must have had ancestry who were raped by Mongols, explaining the genetic defect. Rich capitalist who were considered anti-democratic and abusive of those lower in status were called moguls.
It is also interesting that the Mongols have become the scapegoat of many nations in their failures. China blamed its lagging behind Japan and Europe on the cruel repression by Mongol overlords. When India succumbed to British colonization it was the greed of Moghul rule as the cause. When Russia could not keep up with Western technology the yoke of Tatar rule by Genghis Khan was the cause. When Persia had problems it was because the Mongols destroyed their irrigation system. More recently, Arabs have said the reason they didn't develop the atomic bomb before the West was that the Mongols had destroyed their cities and libraries. Even as recent as the 2002 with the invasion of Afghanistan by the U.S., the Taliban compared the the U.S. to the Mongol invasion. And so on. It is amazing that such residual hate and venom persists for over 8 centuries, yet so little is known about the object of their hate.
But that state of ignorance has changed. In the 19th Century the document of legend concerning the life of Genghis Khan was discovered in China. The document was in Chinese letters, but even though it could be easily read, it was in code, and could not be deciphered. Apparently, the Chinese letters represented the sound of Mongolian words. A hint of what the book contained, somewhat as a tease, was available in standard Chinese as summaries of each Chapter. Because of all the mystery surrounding the book, the document became known as The Secret History of the Mongols.
For most of the 20th Century the Communist government kept the book out of the hands of scholars and others, apparently fearing that a translation might present data that conflicted with their political views and the official history of what the Mongols were supposed to be. The people of Mongolia became quite inspired by the prospect of recovering their real history, and even printed some stamps in 1962 to commemorate the 8th anniversary of Genghis Khan. But the Soviet Communists cracked down on these upstarts for reveling in their history, and banished and exiled the perpetrators. Genghis Khan was anathema to the Communists. An archaeologist was imprisoned for studying Genghis Khan. Teachers, artists, poets, and historians were in danger if they studied the history of the Mongols. Some were executed, and other scholars lost their jobs and had to move out of the country.
Nevertheless, scholars from other countries continued to work on the translation of the book. Gradually, chapter at a time, translations started to appear in the 1970s. But even though by the 1980s, complete translations were available, the book was still not understood. There were many local references and contexts that could not take on true meaning without understanding more of the customs of the people and the terrain, which was such a big part of their life. For example, Genghis Khan was a Shaman and he and his people had a complete set of religious beliefs which is little understood. Many of their beliefs intertwined with nature and the land.
It is to Jack Weatherford's great credit that he and other scholars arranged to actually visit and track the paths through the lands described in the book. He got first hand information and observations and talked to descendants in the area. The vast and difficult enterprise allowed him to piece together the most complete picture ever assembled of the life of the Mongols over 8 centuries ago. His book is Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World. If any of this interests you, I highly recommend you read his book.
posted by Eclectricz at
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