≪蒙韃備錄≫ 飜譯과 註釋

Abstract

In 1211, as the Mongol Empire intensified its conquest of the Jin dynasty, fierce debates arose within the Southern Song court regarding future diplomatic relations with the Jin. Some argued that since the Jin dynasty was already on the path to collapse, there was no longer any reason to continue offering tribute, and that the Song should instead align with the Mongols to oppose Jin. Conversely, others insisted that in order to check the rapidly rising power of the Mongols, it was necessary to maintain friendly relations with the Jin. Amid this situation, the Southern Song dispatched an official envoy to the Mongol Empire for the first time in 1221. One of the envoys, Zhao Gong(趙珙), documented his observations, which became known as MengdaBeilu(蒙韃備錄). Although only 17 sections of this work remain today, it remains a crucial historical source that provides detailed insights into the early Mongol Empire, including Genghis Khan(成吉思汗), his family, the founding officials, and the political institutions and customs of the Mongols at the time. However, Zhao Gong’s records contain certain discrepancies from actual historical facts, and the names of Mongol figures often appear differently from those found in other sources. Furthermore, as existing records on the early Mongol Empire are limited, and due to my own limitations, there are aspects of this translation that may lack clarity, including instances where the identity of certain figures remains unknown.