몽골제국 초기 勅令制度의 형성과 그 특징

Abstract

This study examines how the Mongols adopted and used the imperial decree institution, and its characteristics. Chinggis Khan unified the pastoral nomadic tribes of the Mongol Plain in 1206. Afterwards, the Mongol Empire rapidly expanded its territories, and it incorporated ethnically and culturally diverse people. The old traditional way to give orders was not sufficient to rule them efficiently. Therefore, Chinggis Khan introduced the imperial decree institution based on letters and documents, which were unfamiliar to the Mongols. Although it was originated from the sedentary culture, it became an important way for the Great Khan to wield his power and govern his state. Consequently, the Great Khan and the ruling group did not leave the management of the imperial decree institution absolutely in the hands of sedentary subjects, but they actively participated in it. Above all, the Great Khan selected the most appropriate script and language to write his edict to have his recipients understand it without errors. First, his original edicts were written in Uyghur-Mongolian script, and then, it was translated into recipients’ scripts and languages. The original document and the translated one were usually both given to them. High ranking officials who enjoyed the Great Khan’s confidence oversaw the whole translation procedure. They translated the original edict “word by word” into other languages, and they checked each sentence and the entire text repeatedly to avoid mistranslation. Afterwards, the Great Khan’s seal was put to the final draft for its authenticity. Also, ulugh bitikchi, great scribe, used to countersign on it. The original edict or its copy was stored for future reference. When a new khan ascended the throne, he decided the validity of the previous khans’ edicts. A new khan recognized them considering his personal and political relationship with previous khans, or they refused to accept them. The imperial decree institution was an essential way to run the Mongol Empire. Thus, the Great khan and his governing group paid particular attention to it. It is possible to find some influences by Uyghur, Chinese, and Islamic cultures, but it had never been changed on how to run and use it from the time of Chinggis Khan. To the Mongols, he was a symbolic person and he became a model to his descendants. Therefore, although it did not originate from the nomadic culture, we could define it as an ‘imperial institution’ of the Mongol Empire.