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Journal of Beijing Normal University(Social Sciences) ›› 2019, Vol. 0 ›› Issue (5): 108-117.

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A Study of the Subjection Ceremony and the Establishment of the Monarch-Subject Relationship in The Secret History of Mongolia

SONG Jigang   

  1. School of History,Changchun Normal University,Changchun 130032,China
  • Received:2018-11-03 Online:2019-09-25 Published:2019-11-04

Abstract: Two typical subjection ceremonies in the early Mongolian society are demonstrated in The Secret History of Mongolia and other materials,including to the subjection of servants to Khan or Qahan,and that of the weak to the strong. Although both had oaths,gifts (tributes)and other elements,the latter strengthened the connection more by establishing kinship-like relation. The subjection under the kinship-like relation had the reversal of monarchs and subjects after the translocation between strength and weakness and the reasonable occupation of wealth;it was the important reason why they did not take the initiative to dissolve the relationship like the adopted father and son or the sworn brothers,despite the fought with each other. The appellations such as anda,nökör and darqan,which reflect the original nature of equality and freedom,became gradually servanization in the descriptions in later texts. It reveals the author's intention in The Secret History of Mongolia to highlight the monarchical power and reshape history,and his ultimate goal of giving rationality to the Genghis Khan's Golden Family in governing the grassland.

Key words: The Secret History of Mongolia, Mongolian society, subjection ceremony, monarch-subject relationship

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