“1180, on a mountain in northern Mongolia: it all starts here…” When it comes to the history of Asia, one of the most common names to come to mind is that of Genghis Khan, who by the year 1206 was proclaimed ruler of all Mongols.
Born as Temujin, he who would become Genghis – the Great Kahn and founder of the Mongol empire – believed that the gods were in his favour, and the divine right to lead the Mongols to world domination fell to him. He is worshiped with a god-like status in modern-day China and Mongolia; the Mongolian parliament having him enthroned as a guardian, giant figures of Genghis staring down at his army in Holinol serving as only two examples of his legendary status, more than just tourist attractions in our modern world. Genghis transitioned, in Man’s words, “after death, to demi-god, and now to a spirit of universal harmony”, but what few people seem to realise is that Genghis was more than a simple “barbarian” (despite some simple beliefs) and that his conquests shaped the world we know today. Furthermore, what even fewer people realise is that by the death of his grandson Kublai in 1294, the size of the empire Genghis had left behind had spread. The empire of the Mongols included what Man described as habitable areas of Russia, as well as parts of Vietnam and Myanmar, Ukraine, what is now North Korea, and several failed attempts at invading Japan.
In relation to the text as a general work of literature, I must note that Man’s style of writing is one to be admired. He does not hold back on his vast knowledge of the subject, but still makes the text easy to read and understand.
John Man, an historian who holds a particular interest in Mongolian history, describes through a range of sources including “the secret history of the Mongols” (the oldest surviving piece of Mongolian literature, written after 1227) what can only be described as a fascinating period of history. Here, he follows not only how Genghis rose to power and the Mongolian relations with China during his and his heir’s time, but how the Empire Genghis shaped the map; how events influenced history and today’s societies, and how a man running for his life in 1180 became a household name.
I personally think that one of the most interesting points of information about the Mongolian empire is the fact that, like the Romans, they had spread their rule across an almost unimaginable area – though, as Rome was not built in a day, neither was it destroyed in one. On today’s maps, Mongolia is a country located between China and Russia. Despite what it once was, it is no longer the size it used to be. Although, in contrast to the empire formed by the Romans, Man states in this text that “on his death, Genghis ruled an empire four times the size of Alexander’s, twice the size of Rome’s, larger than any nation today except Russia.” That brings forth a reasonable question; what happened to the Mongols? For one, the expanded empire assimilated to other cultures, Kublai himself was – debatably – more Chinese than Mongol; it got to the point where people of Mongolian origin were no more of a Mongol than a second, third, or fourth generation New Zealander is a British citizen. Contributing factors include broken-off pieces of the Mongol empire after Genghis’s death separating themselves from the rest, or late resistance from China. Aside from that, an historian could argue that the empire expanded too quickly.
As for the Mongolian interactions with China, it is impossible to talk about Genghis, Kublai, or the Mongolian empire in general, without coming across Chinese history. While the Chinese today adopt Genghis as a strong part of their own history, and the Mongolian empire is a key part of the Yuan dynasty, the relationship – as you can guess – involved sieges, invasions, and claiming parts of China through interactions with (in Genghis’s case) Jin, Song, and Western Xia. Note that Tibet is also counted as a part of China due to the Mongols; Man rounds that off nicely, stating how the Chinese considered the Mongolian empire as a part of their own – to an extent – resulting in the Tibetan area taken by the Mongols being considered as a part of their own borders.
While we gain a lot of understanding about China and its relations with the Mongol empire – all of modern day China being under the Mongol Empire during Kublai Khan’s years – another particularly fascinating point is the fact that the Mongol Empire was never able to take Japan. Despite what could be described as a rush to claim Japan during Kublai’s later years and having an empire spreading to Korea, which is geographically located notably near to Japan, the Mongols never managed to spread their rule to the land of the rising sun. There were two major attempts to take Japan; the second being most notable for failing miserably after a storm destroyed the Mongol’s Korean/Chinese-built ship, although it could be argued that with Kublai’s failing health and the warriors on board were debatably unmotivated. This storm was called “kamikaze”; the divine wind. And do not worry, it’s not just you, this does in fact link to the WWII kamikaze pilots, which were named as such for the belief that they were the new “divine wind” protecting Japan’s borders.
Within the pictorial sources included in the text are several Japanese scroll paintings dating from around 1274 (at least that was when the events they recorded occurred). One of these features a Japanese warrior – Suenaga – presenting Mongolian heads to his commander. Though this was what an historian could refer to as a noteworthy loss on behalf of the Mongolian empire, which further comes down to what Man describes as “Japanese fighting” spirit as well as in the case of kamikaze having elements on their side, I respect Man’s reminder that what information on this is mainly recorded by Japanese sources. As we all know “history is recorded by the victors”. Even in the Mongol’s first attempt at invading Japan, Man uses his distinguishable writer’s flair to title chapter eighteen “burned by the rising sun” (I sincerely hope that I am not the only one to be more than mildly amused by this) as he introduces “Kublai looked outwards across the ocean” after his hunting of Song loyalists educated him and his commanders of seafaring. I personally think that both Mongol losses to Japan are intriguing. Japan had no large army, nor did it possess a navy, and as Man describes the “samurai warriors [were] more interested in chivalry than national defence.”
Basically, there is more to Mongolian history than Genghis Khan. Not that it makes the role he played any less significant. I appreciate the detail Man cares to portray; the vast list of sources (remembering that history is recorded in multiple languages, and major parts of Mongolian history are recorded in Chinese, Mongolian, and Persian, among others, so for an English speaker I must add that his thoroughness and referencing is well done) and personal experiences recorded. Imagine looking out over a valley within Mongolia from a steep hill perch where Genghis himself (supposedly) once sat.
Overall, this book – to describe in simplest form – is intriguing. From the start of the empire, to its relevance today “what the Mongols did for us” and everything in between: read this text. For historical, political, or general interest, I assure you that you will not regret it.