Genghis Khan

Author: You Zhanhong, Liu Songbin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: We are delighted to recommend the "Giant Biographies Series" to young friends. At the turn of the century, having such a fine series accompany you is a joy for the mind. We believe that from the footsteps of these giants and masters, you can learn how to properly handle success and failure, comfort and hardship, joy and pain, smoothness and tribulation, and understand how to approach life, how to learn to be a person, how to seek knowledge, how to shape oneself, and how to shape the future.
Principal of Peking University, Zhao Yulin, Secretary of the Party Committee, Dong Lingsheng
Every great figure with global influence holds a deeply moving story within them. Their rich experiences and life journeys, their spirit of struggle and elements of success, their character for pursuing excellence and their ability to seize opportunities, undoubtedly have a tremendous inspirational and educational role for today's youth.
Principal of Tsinghua University, Zhao Qinggang
Giants are the elite of humanity, who have made outstanding contributions to the progress and civilization of human society. Their spirit of struggle and extraordinary achievements are deeply admired by people, becoming models for others to learn from. Giants are human, not gods; they come from ordinary people yet surpass them. Their lofty ideals and the belief in serving the motherland and humanity drive them to persevere and fear no difficulties.
Principal of Tianjin Nankai Middle School, Kang Xiuyan
To carefully read this series of books is like seeing their appearance, speech, and actions, and feeling their ideals, beliefs, aspirations, and moral character. This will help you learn to be a person, to pursue knowledge, and to build a career.
Principal of Fudan University, Cao Tianren
Genghis Khan, the founding monarch of the Mongol Empire and a renowned military commander. Known as Temüjin, his surname was Borjigin, and his clan was Qiyad. He was a Mongol. The Yuan Dynasty posthumously honored him with the temple name Taizu. Genghis Khan was born into a Mongol aristocratic family. Around 1170, his father Yesügei was poisoned by the Tatar people. Yesügei's widow, Hoelun, led Temüjin and his brothers through several years of difficult life. The hardships of his youth cultivated Temüjin's resilience and courage. After the death of the Mongol leader Khutula Khan, most Mongol tribes were under the control of Jamukha. Temüjin joined Jamukha and lived a nomadic life with him. Temüjin won people over and recruited followers, eventually breaking away from Jamukha to establish his own ulus. Around the 1980s of the 12th century, Temüjin proclaimed himself khan. Jamukha led thirteen tribes, including the Jataghar and Tcherigür, to attack Temüjin. Temüjin fought with thirteen wings but was defeated due to insufficient strength, a battle known as the Thirteen Wings Campaign. In 1196, Temüjin and the Kereit Khan Toghrul helped the Jin Dynasty in an attack on the Tatar people, defeating them at the Onon River (now in the eastern part of Hulunbuir). The Jin Dynasty appointed Temüjin as the chief (Chagurul) and granted Toghrul the title of Wang Khan (later mispronounced as Wang Khan). Temüjin and Wang Khan allied to attack the Naiman tribe, but on their return journey, they encountered the main Naiman forces. Seeing the enemy's strength, Wang Khan retreated without notice, leaving Temüjin exposed to the Naiman threat. Temüjin realized this quickly and withdrew to his pastures in Saliin Gol (west of the upper reaches of the Khulun River in modern-day Mongolia), leaving Wang Khan exposed to the enemy. Wang Khan suffered a major defeat. Because many Mongol tribes were with Wang Khan, Temüjin feared they would be swallowed by the Naimans and become a threat to him. He sent the Four Heroes—Borokhul, Muqali, Boroqul, and Chilüün—to rescue Wang Khan, defeating the Naimans. In the tribal struggles, Temüjin skillfully exploited contradictions, maneuvering and gradually breaking free from his subservient position to Wang Khan. Between 1201 and 1202, Temüjin and Wang Khan allied to defeat Jamukha's coalition (including the Tatar, Naiman, and other tribes), and Jamukha surrendered to Wang Khan. In 1202, Temüjin destroyed the four Tatar tribes, seized the Khingan Plateau, and significantly increased his power. In 1203, Wang Khan launched a surprise attack on Temüjin, forcing him to retreat north of the Halha River. Soon after, Temüjin ambushed Wang Khan's camp and destroyed the Kereit tribe. That same year, the Wanggu tribe also allied with Temüjin. In 1204, Temüjin destroyed the Ordu of the Naiman Sunan Khan, becoming the greatest ruler of the Mongolian Plateau.