Khubilai 'built four great cities'
Editorial contextThe chronicle credits Khubilai, who took the throne in 1260, with building four great cities: Daidu (Beijing), Chagan (Chagan Balgasun), Huriyetu and Lanfin (Kaiping, the later Shangdu), and with appointing able prefects. For this Mongol author, the khans were founders of cities, not tent-dwellers only.
He built four great cities: the city of Daidu, the city of Chagan, the city of Huriyetu and the city of Lanfin, and appointed capable men as prefects.
Working translation
Original wording
Er erbaute vier grosse Städte: die Stadt Täitu, die Stadt C'agan, die Stadt Hnriyet'u und die Stadt Lanfin, er- nannte tüchtige Männer zu Präfekten
About Mongols (Khubilai Khan)
Keep in mind
Written more than five centuries later; the identification of all four cities is not certain.
Wooden horses and dog carts on the snow
Editorial contextThe gazetteer quotes the Yuan imperial geography: the people of Kaiyuan were strong, warlike and practised archers and hunters, and had 'wooden horses' (skis) tied to both feet that could keep up with a galloping horse on snow and ice, and light boat-shaped wooden 'dog carts' pulled by several dogs. The editors add that in Manchu these are called suntaha and sherhe, in Chinese pali (sledges), and that they are still used throughout Jilin and Heilongjiang.
The people of Kaiyuan are strong, good fighters and practised at archery and hunting. They have the convenience of dog carts and wooden horses, which are light and quick. The wooden horse is shaped like a bow... one on the left and one on the right, tied to the two feet; pushing off, they glide along and on snow and ice can keep pace with a galloping horse. The dog cart is made of wood; it is light and simple, shaped like a boat... and pulled by several dogs.
Working translation
Original wording
開元勁健善戰習射獵有狗車木馬輕㨗之便木馬形如彈弓…一左一右繫於兩足激而行之雪中冰上可及奔馬狗車以木為之其制輕簡形如船…以數狗拽之
About Peoples of the lower Sungari and Amur
Continue in this sourceThe Imperial Gazetteer of Shengjing (Manchuria)1684 · 4 passagesJordanus on the 'Great Tartar' of China
Editorial contextThe Dominican bishop Jordanus, who never went to China, repeats what 'trustworthy people' told him of the Great Tartar: very rich, just and generous, with paper money and monasteries like Europe's. Some subjects keep their dead unburied at home for up to ten years, serving them food as if alive, and great lords are buried with a horse and one or two favourite servants alive.
Of the Great Tartar I tell what I heard from trustworthy people … There they do not burn their dead; nor do they bury them, sometimes for ten years … but they keep them in their houses and serve them food as if they were alive. Great lords, when they die, are buried with one horse and with one or two of their favourite servants alive.
Working translation
Original wording
De Magno Tartaro, quod audivi à fide dignis narro … Ibi, mortuos suos non comburunt; non etiam sepeliunt, aliquotiens per decem annos … sed tenent eos in domibus, et ministrant sibi cibaria, sicut si esset vivus. Magni domini, cùm moriuntur, sepeliuntur cum equo uno, et cum uno vel duobus suis servitoribus vivis sibi magis dilectis.
About Mongol emperor of China and his subjects
Keep in mind
Explicit hearsay: Jordanus served in India and never reached China.
Chagan-balgas: a Mongol emperor's capital abandoned after a year
Editorial contextCrossing Chahar country, Bichurin passed the ruins of Chagan-balgas, 'White Wall', known in Chinese history as Shahen. He says it was begun as the Middle Capital for Chinggis Khan's descendants ruling China, but the work was stopped the next year as too heavy a burden on the people, and it had lain in ruins ever since: an earthen rampart seven li round with four gates. A real Mongol-built city, identified from Chinese records.
This small town is known in Chinese history under the name Shahen. They began to build it … and designated it to be the Middle Capital (in Chinese Zhongdu) for the descendants of Chinggis reigning in China; but in the following year this work, as excessively burdensome for the people, was stopped, and since then it has lain in ruins to this day. This town consists of an earthen rampart and is seven li in circuit
Working translation
Original wording
Сей городокъ извѣстенъ въ Китайской Исторіи подъ названіемъ Ша-хенъ. Его начали строить … и назначили быть Среднею столицею (по-Китайски Чжунъ-ду) для потомковъ Чингисовыхъ, царствовавшихъ въ Китаѣ; но въ слѣдующемъ году сія работа, какъ чрезмѣру отягчительная для народа, прекращена, и онъ съ того времени донынѣ лежитъ въ развалинахъ. Сей городъ состоитъ изъ землянаго вала и въ окружности содержитъ семь ли
About Mongols of the Yuan dynasty; Chahar Mongols
Keep in mind
The founding year is illegible in the OCR and is omitted. Bichurin passed the ruins at a distance; the history comes from Chinese sources.
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