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Khan Accepts Confucianism

By: Valeria Aedo

Mongols Time: China Edition

December 16, 1272

DADU-- 1272, Kublai Khan is now ruler for both Mongolians and Chinese. How will he decide which religion to make his people follow? Among all Chinese religions that was being followed in the previous years, during this time the main religion is Confucianism. Confucianism is a philosophy,which is based on the different levels of honesty. Does Kublai accept this religion for the Mongolians as well?

The conquest of South China’s Song Dynasty under Kublai Khan was the final step to  “take over all of China” according to the mongols. Although they didn’t actually take over all of China, they did claim a good majority of the country. As ruler, Khan was able to mange the entire country. He very much enjoyed the religion of Confucianism, though there were also some big conflicts that everybody living in the Yuan dynasty didn’t enjoy.

Although Kublai Khan did adopt and promote Confucianism there were other Chinese traditions Khan did not necessarily like. For example, Khan divided the population into four social classes, making the Mongols top class. Yong Shong, a peasant in the village of Guangxi said, “I don’t enjoy these smelly barbarians controlling my country, although i have hope. Confucianism gives me and my family faith.”

“I always wondered how my people thought about me. I dress in Chinese robes on formal occasion and encourage Confucian rituals.” said Khan. Batukhan says “I really think that Kublai, my great friend, is a powerful, fair and open minded king.  I feel like he wants to keep the rituals because I've once heard him saying that they fascinate him, maybe its all an act. I highly doubt it.” Over all, Kublai Khan is a wonderful leader and shows that he cares and wants to develop cultures and religions around the country.

Confucian Scholars and Their Part in the Yuan Dynasty

Confucian Scholars Know Whats Best For China?

Kublai Khan has followed Genghis Khans footsteps to becoming a ruler, and he has influenced China’s religion to change in many ways. The first good thing is, that Kublai in 1272, accepts the Chinese traditions. The evidence is in his clothing, the traditional Confucian robes and with him practicing the traditions says it all. Khan does like Confucianism, he must continue to keep Confucianism as a Chinese tradition.

A reason why Kublai Khan should keep the philosophy of Confucianism is because Confucianism is based on the different levels of honesty. It’s good to be honest to his empire and his people, it will make the Chinese and Mongols have a reason to trust him. By studying the religion, many have realized that Kublai wasn’t the first to be modest about learning the Confucian ways. It is to be said that the Khans were very religion tolerant. Which means, to show willingness to accept the religion. Therefore, Kublai Khan had the choice force the Chinese people to follow the Mongolian religion. But Kublai Khan understood that it wasn’t necessarily that easy to change someones thinking as it is to change someones way of dressing.

It help the Yuan Empire that the Khans were religion tolerant because it helped preserve the Confucianism beliefs, which means to keep in existence. We may be a strong military group but it is also good to keep our religion strong. Even though Kublai is the ruler, he has put in mind that Genghis Khan used to consult with Confucian scholars about how to rule China. Even though the Confucian scholars are one of the last groups of social class, they are very smart and know the right way to be honest about things. The Mongols successfully conquered cultures from Europe to China and their tolerance allowed such a huge empire to be successfully known as the Khanate of The Great Khan.

All in all, Kublai Khan should continue to promote Confucianism and leave it to stay as a tradition because it would be fair for everybody in the land. Mongols keep their land and the Chinese keep their religion.

Yuan Dynasty Map

http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t219965.html

MAP

Here you can see the map of where the Yuan Dynasty was located. The key tells you the route of Marco Polo, and the it shows the borders of the Mongol Empires. The light green shows the Khanate of Kipchak. They were invaded in the early thirteenth century by the Mongols. In blue you can see the Khanate of Persia. This was a part of land ruled before Kublai Khan. It was ruled by Genghis Khan, Kublai’s grandfather. In the orange you will see that it says Khanate of Chagadai. That is now present Central Asia. Finally in yellow, you see the Khanate of The Great Khan. This is also known as the Yuan Empire. These were all the different part of the Mongol Empire. The capital of the Yuan Empire is Dadu, located near the North Eastern part of the Empire. It has a few major rivers. For example, the Yellow River and the Yangtse River. The Yangtse River is the largest River in Asia. The Yellow line shown on the map is the Great Canal. This canal is where Marco Polo traveled in. Overall, the Yuan Empire was located East of Europe divided by the Mediterranean Sea.

Paper Mula

Paper Money

The most famous Chinese creator of paper money was Kublai Khan. Soon after the Mongol took over China and established the Yuan dynasty, it followed the example of its previous dynasties the Tang, Song and Chin, in using paper money. The first paper money issued in the Yuan dynasty was in 1260. Different kinds were printed, ranging from a face value of two standard coins to the highest kind which is of two strings. Fast printing year after year soon took over the market with unappreciated paper money until the face value of each amount overtook the competition to illegal silver. In 1272 the new issues were printed with copper plates instead of wood blocks, as had been the case before.

Paper money was made in China, where it than had gotten most popular. People all over the world use paper money. Paper traveled through the “Silk Road”. The Silk Road is a trade route that linked some parts of Asia to the Mediterranean and European parts of the world. It was named the Silk Road because, China's most valuable product to trade was silk. Many people over the world now use the paper money. This includes, North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. All in all, paper money is very important and is used all over the world.

            Paper money changes peoples lives by letting people buy stuff. Without money the world would’ve been drastically different. People would loose track of how much money they have, loose their money, and probably make fake replicas. Money now is so important that without it being invented I personally think that there wouldn’t be as many conflicts in the world. But yet, without money we wouldn’t be able to have some of the things we have now. Also, it would be better to carry around pieces of paper instead of rock or gold, people would’ve been rich without knowing it.

College Letter to Mommy!

March 17, 1279

                              Dear Mom,

I’m doing great here in China. Here are some things that I had adapt, since the day I left for my adventure.

      My favorite thing to do here in China is to run. Did you know that it is a way for the generals to determine the fitness of his troops. I was thinking to actually go into the military in a couple of years. I enjoy listening to poetry and traditional Chinese music here. The music is much more relaxing than American music. The beautiful accents of their voices make me feel like I'm floating in the air or something.

In my new classes here, we needed to write about our “Chinese Idol”. I researched and my idol here is Wang Shifu, I enjoy his play Romance of the West Chamber. Its a romance comedy. I really don’t understand what they are saying, but I can sound out a couple of Chinese words. For example, wēi, which means hello.

Here in China, we use characters and pictures to write. We call it calligraphy. Its so difficult, mom! It frustrates me on how much patience I need. I enjoy learning here, I’m glad I had the opportunity  to come here, especially with all my classmates. I also, enjoy feeling the silk here. Silk, in china is very important. Silk was traded for other goods or services as they traveled the "Silk Route." I haven’t realized how important their resources are to us, I also learned that the silk that they have was sailed and have been through amazing journeys to get to Europe.

      Here in China we have Chinese rulers, called emperors, based on the government on the Confucian model, which taught that the best ruler was a virtuous man who led by example. As far as I can remember I grew up in America with having presidents. Recently the Mongol took over and Kublai Khan is now the ruler here. We were told to not be afraid about our religion, because the Khans are very religion tolerant. Right now we are battling Yeman. I really don't know why, but i think that's just because I'm not into the war kind of stuff.

      Recently, the Europeans have traveled into China. They are very beautiful people. My classmates and I have seen pictures given to us from our professor. My teacher says that these pictures were hand drawn. It was so amazingly detailed, I was fascinated. Maybe the next place I will go to Europe. I'm not quite sure where yet though. I don't know much about over there. Anyways, I hope you mail me back.                   

                                          Love your daughter,

                                                      Valeria Aedo. 

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