2018. Vol. 6, no. 1. Pochekaev R.Yu.

2018. Vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 6-17

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22378/2313-6197.2018-6-1.6-17 

   “KING” GODAN: STATUS OF THE RULING CHINGGISID
IN MONGOLIAN AND TIBETAN SOURCES*

R.Yu. Pochekaev
National Research University Higher School of Economics
St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
ropot@mail.ru

Research objectives: Analyzing characteristics of the legal status of Prince Godan, son of Ögedei Khan, who was often mentioned in different imperial, Tibetan, and late medieval Mongolian sources; clarifying the reasons why he was given the title of khan in some sources, though he never possessed this title. The author attempts to define the status, level of power, and real position of Godan among the Chinggisids and in the political structure of the Mongol Empire.
Research materials: The basis for research comprises three groups of historical sources – Mongolian imperial historiography (works of Juwayni and Rashid al-Din, “Yuan shih”, etc.), Tibetan historical works (“The Blue Annals”, “Pagsam-jonsan”, “Debter-chjamtso”), and late medieval Mongolian chronicles created under the influence of Tibetan Buddhist historiography (“Golden Tale”, “Crystal Mirror”, “Yellow History”, “White History”, “Jewel beads”, etc.). The author also used the works of specialists on Mongolian and Tibetan historiography (such as Sh. Bira, R.E. Pubaev, Yu.N. Rerikh, A.D. Tsendina) as well as the works of researchers of political and religious history of the Mongol Empire (such as V.L. Uspenskiy, H. Franke, C.P. Atwood, etc.).
The novelty of the study: It offers a systematization of historical sources of different origins to clarify some aspects of the political biography of Prince Godan, identifying his legal status as a Chinggisid and the ruler of an ulus. At the same time, the author tries to not refute sources with contradicting statements but to clarify the reasons behind such contradictions and to find information which could clarify and complement the data of other sources.
Research results: The author tries to systematize different sources on the status of Prince Godan as one of the key political figures in the history of the Mongol Empire from the 1240s to the beginning of the 1250s and the ruler of a large ulus with substantial level of power, which could be compared with that of rulers of the Golden Horde, the Chaghadaid Ulus, etc. Also, the reasons behind the brief existence of Godan’s ulus and loss of his status already by the time of his direct descendants are analyzed.

Keywords: Mongol Empire, Tibet, prince Godan, religious policy of the Chinggisids, Mongolian historiography

For citation: Pochekaev R.Yu. “King” Godan: Status of the Ruling Chinggisid in Mongolian and Tibetan Sources. Zolotoordynskoe obozrenie=Golden Horde Review. 2018. Vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 6–17. DOI: 10.22378/2313-6197.2018-6-1.6-17

* The research for this article was funded by a grant from the National Research University Higher School of Economics in St. Petersburg, Grant № 18-IP-01.

REFERENCES

  1. Ata Malik Juvaini. The History of the World-Conqueror. Boyle J.A. (trans.). Manchester, Manchester University Press, 1997. LXVIII + 764 p.
  2. Atwood C.P. Encyclopedia of Mongolia and the Mongol Empire. New York, Facts of File, Inc., 2004. X + 678 p.
  3. Baldanzhapov P.B. (trans.). Čaɣan teüke – «Belaya istoriya» – mongol’skiy istoriko-pravovoy pamyatnik XIII–XVI vv. [Čaɣan teüke – “White History” – Mongolian historical and legal monument of the 13th–16th]. Ulan-Ude, Buryat Scientific Center of Siberian branch of RAS Press, 2001. 200 p. (In Russian)
  4. Bartol’d V.V. Sochineniya [Collected works]. Vol. I: Turkestan v epokhu mongol’skogo nashestviya [Turkestan down to the Mongol invasion]. Moscow, Vostochnaya literatura Publ., 1962. 760 p. (In Russian)
  5. Bira Sh. Mongol’skaya istoriografiya (XIII–XVII vv.) [Mongolian historiography (13th–17th)]. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1978. 320 p. (In Russian)
  6. Biran M. Qaidu and the rise of the independent Mongol state in Central Asia. Richmond, Curzon, 1997. X + 197 p.
  7. ‘Cos lo-tsa-ba gZhon-nu-dpal. The Blue Annals (Deb-ther sNgon-po”: The History of Buddhism in Tibet, VI–XV cc.).M. Roerich (trans.). Calcutta, Motilal banarsidass, 1949 [Russ ed.: Goy-lotsava Shonnupel. Sinyaya letopis’. Istoriya buddizma v Tibete, VI-XV vv. / Per. s tib. Yu.N. Rerikha; per. s angl. O.V. Al’bedilya i B.Yu. Khar’kovoy. St. Petersburg, Evraziya Publ., 2001. 768 p.]
  8. Dugarov R.N. «Debter-Chzhamtso» – istochnik po istorii mongolov Kuku-nora [“Debter-jamtso” as a source on history of the Mongols of Kuku-Nor]. Novosibirsk, Nauka Publ., 1983. 95 p. (In Russian)
  9. Dylykova V.S. Tibetskaya literature [Tibetan literature]. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1985. 240 p. (In Russian)
  10. Elverskog C.J. Buddhism, History and Power: The Jewel Translucent Sutra ad the Formation of Mongol Identity. D. Diss. Bloomington, Indiana University, 2000. XVII + 572 p.
  11. Farquhar D.M. The Government of China under Mongolian Rule: A Reference Guide. Stuttgart, Franz Steiner Verlag, 1990. 594 p.
  12. Franke H. From Tribal Chieftain to Universal Emperor and God: The Legiti­mation of the Yüan Dynasty. Munich, Verlag der Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1978. 85 p.
  13. Friar Giovanni di Plano Carpini. The Story of the Mongols whom we call the Tartars. Hildinger J. (trans.). Boston, Branden Publishing Co., 1996. 136 p.
  14. Istoriya, imenuemaya «Erdeniyn erikhe» [History named “Erdeniyn erikhe”]. P.B. Baldanzhapov, Ts.P. Vanchikova (trans.). Ulan-Bator; Ulan-Ude, ADMON, 2012. 442 p. (In Russian)
  15. Hambis L. Le chapitre CVII du Yüan che. T’oung Pao, 2nd ser, vol. 38, 1945, pp. I–XII + 1–181. (In French)
  16. Iakinf, monk. Istoriya pervykh chetyrekh khanov iz doma Chingisova [History of the fist four khans of the house of Chinggis]. St. Petersburg, K. Kray’s printing house, 1829. XVI + 440 p. (In Russian)
  17. Jambadorji. Khrustal’noe zerkalo [The Crystal Mirror]. Korol’ B.I., Tsendina A.D. (trans.). Istoriya v trudakh uchenykh lam [History in the Works of Learned Lamas]. Moscow, KMK Scientific Printing Association, 2005, pp. 62–154. (In Russian)
  18. Khrapachevskiy, R.P. (trans.). Zolotaya Orda v istochnikakh. Kitayskie i mongol’skie istochniki [The Golden Horde in the sources, Vol, 3: Chinese and Mongol sources]. Moscow, 2009. 335 p. (In Russian)
  19. Kuchera S. Zavoevanie mongolami Tibeta [Mongol conquest of Tibet]. Tikhvinskiy S.L. (ed.). Tataro-mongoly v Azii i Evrope [The Tataro-Mongols in Asia and Europe], 2nd rev. and suppl. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1977, pp. 260–281. (In Russian)
  20. Larichev V.Ye.(ed.), Tyuryumina L.V., Kamenskiy P.I. (trans.). Istoriya Nebesnoy imperii. Istoriya pervykh pyati khanov iz doma Chingisova [The history of the Celestial Empire. Vol. I. The history of the first five khans from the generation of Chinggis]. Novosibirsk, Institute of archaeology and ethnography of Siberian branch of RAS, 2011. 220 p. (In Russian)
  21. Lubsan Danzan. Altan Tobchi («Zolotoe skazanie») [The Golden Tale]. Shastina N.P. (trans.). Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1973. 440 p. (In Russian)
  22. Munkuev N.Ts. Kitayskiy istochnik o pervykh mongol’skikh khanakh: Nadgrobnaya nadpis’ na mogile Elyuy Chu-tsaya [Chinese sourse on the first Mongolian khans: Epitaph of Yeh-lu Chu-tsai]. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1965. 224 p. (In Russian)
  23. Petech L. Tibetan Relations with Sung China and the Mongols. M. Rossabi (ed.). China among Equals: The Middle Kingdom and Its Neighbors, 10th–14th Centuries. Berkeley, University of California Press, 1983, pp. 166–194.
  24. Pubaev R.E. (trans.). Pagsam-dzhonsan: Istoriya i khronologiya Tibeta [Pagsam-jonsan: History and chronology of Tibet]. Novosibirsk, Nauka Publ., 1991. 307 p. (In Russian)
  25. Pubaev R.E. «Pagsam-dzhonsan» – pamyatnik tibetskoy istoriografii XVIII veka [Pagsam-jonsan – a monument of Tibetan historiography of the 18th century]. Novosibirsk, Nauka Publ., 1981. 264 p. (In Russian)
  26. Rerikh Yu.N. Mongolo-tibetskie otnosheniya v XIII i XIV vv. [Mongol-Tibetan relations in the 13th and 14th] Rerikh Yu.N. Tibet i Tsentral’naya Aziya. Stat’i, lektsii, perevody [Tibet and Central Asia: Articles, lections, translations]. Samara, Agni, 1999, pp. 140–152. (In Russian)
  27. Rashiduddin Fazlullah. Jami’u’t-tawarikh. Compendium of Chronicles. A History of Mongols. 3 vols. Thackston W.M. (trans.).Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1998–1999. 1540 p.
  28. Ratchnevsky P. Un code des Yuan. 2. Paris, Presses Universitaires de France, 1972. XI + 199 p. (In French)
  29. Schaik S. van. Tibet: A History. New Haven, Yale University Press, 2011. XXIII + 324 p.
  30. Tsendina A. Godan Khan in Mongolian and Tibetan historical works. Studia Orientalia, vol. 85, 1999, pp. 245–248.
  31. Tsendina A.D. … I strana zovetsya Tibetom [… And the country is called Tibet]. Moscow, Vostochnaya literatura Publ., 2002. 304 p. (In Russian)
  32. Tsendina A.D. (trans.). Istoriya Erdeni-dzu [A History of Erdeni Zuu]. Moscow, Vostochnaya literatura Publ., 1999. 255 p. (In Russian)
  33. Tsendina A.D. Mongol’skie letopisi XVII–XIX vekov. Povestvovatel’nye traditsii [Mongolian chronicles of the 17th–19th: Narrative traditions]. Moscow, Russian State Humanitarian University Publ., 2007. 272 p. (In Russian)
  34. Tsendina A.D. (trans.). Zheltaya istoriya (Shara tudzhi) [The Yellow Chronicle (Sir-a tuɣuji)]. Moscow, Nauka – Vostochnaya literature Publ., 2017. 406 p. (In Russian)
  35. Uspenskiy V.L. Mongoly i buddizm v XIII veke [Mongols and Buddhism in the 13th century]. Buddizm i khristianstvo v kul’turnom nasledii Tsentral’noy Azii. Materialy mezhdunarodnoy konferentsii. Bishkek, 3–5 oktyabrya 2002 g. [Buddhism and Christianity in cultural heritage of Central Asia: Materials of international conference. Bishkek, October 3–5, 2002]. Bishkek, 2003, pp. 166–172. (In Russian)
  36. Vokhidos Sh.H. (trans.). Mu’izz al-ansab («Proslavlyayushchee genealogii») [Mu’izz al-ansab (“Glorification of genealogies”)]. Almaty, Dayk-Press, 2006. 672 p. (InRussian)
  37. Vostrikov A.I. Tibetskaya istorichekaya literatura [Tibetan historical literature]. Moscow, Vostochnaya literatura Publ., 1962. 428 p. (In Russian)
  38. Wylie T.V. The First Mongol Conquest of Tibet Reinterpreted. Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, vol. 37, No. 1, 1977, pp. 103–133.

About the author: Roman Yu. Pochekaev – Cand. Sci. (Jurisprudence), Docent, Professor, Head of the Department of theory and history of law and state, National Research University Higher School of Economics in St. Petersburg, ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4192-3528 (17, Promyshlennaya Str., St. Petersburg 198099, Russian Federation). E-mail: ropot@mail.ru

Received  January 10, 2018  Accepted for publication March 12, 2018
Published online  March 29, 2018