Temujin
Hero, Young Chinghiss Khan
What can be said about Washington Post's man of the millenium?
His story, much of which is legend, is the timeless, hardscrabble, impossibly rags to riches tale, with a woman beside him.
He was a revolutionary thinker with enough charisma, smarts and toughness to pull off the greatest land grab in world history. Even though Temujin died in 1227, by 1241 AD, the empire stretched from the Pacific Ocean in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, the largest contiguous chunk of territory ever assembled.
In this excerpt from Chinghiss Khan's letter of invitation (really, a summons) to the holy man Ch'ang Ch'un, the Emperor (Chinghiss Khan) introduces himself:
"... Heaven has abandoned China owing to its haughtiness and extravagant luxury. But I, living in the northern wilderness, have not inordinate passions. I hate luxury and exercise moderation. I have only one coat and one food. I eat the same food and am dressed in the same tatters as my humble herdsmen. I consider the people my //p.38 children, and take an interest in talented men as if they were my brothers. We always agree in our principles, and we are always united by mutual affection. At military exercises I am always in the front, and in time of battle am never behind. In the space of seven years I have succeeded in accomplishing a great work, and uniting the whole world in one empire. I have not myself distinguished qualities ..." translated by E. Bretschneider (1888)
This letter was written in the year 1219 while Chingghis was on campaign in Central Asia near the city of Samarkand. The letter was a summons to his court to find out the holy man's secrets to eternal life. Alas, Ch'ang Ch'un was not able to imbue the Khan with immortality, but the Khan rewarded Ch'ang Ch'un's forthrightness with the title 'shen sien' which means 'the immortal.'
Relationships
History
Borte and Temujin were betrothed as children. They played together at her forest home as their fathers haggled over the terms of the marriage agreement. Theirs was a forty year partnership that was also, most assuredly, a love match.
